Floor Statements

Thank you, Mr. President.

My colleague and friend, the Senator from Delaware, is also a former Governor, and it is always enjoyable to listen to the experiences and clearly the understanding about a number of the issues we have in common in terms of things that concern us.

I remember back in 1993, as well when we were looking at healthcare reform in South Dakota, we actually, in our process, adopted the vast majority of what was considered to be the recommendations from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners--guaranteed renewability of policies, guaranteed to be able to move from one group insurance product to another group insurance product, a minimum amount of premium versus maximum amount of premium by any carrier in any single group of policies in one plan. Those provisions actually worked for us for a period up until 2009, when ObamaCare became the law of the land, and at that point we suffered through the same problems most of the rest of America is suffering through right now.

But there are some things that really do bind us together, and one of them is trying to make and produce the best healthcare products for the citizens within our different States that we possibly can. I think in the U.S. Senate there are enough of us who truly believe we can fix, repeal, replace ObamaCare. I think Democrats would like to say we are going to fix it. I think Republicans recognize that we are probably going to do more of a startover because the basic concept of ObamaCare, which was moving more and more into a single-payer system, will not work.

For those of us who believe in the free market, what we want to do is take away the regulations at the Federal level, give them back to the States, and allow the States to actually experiment and make a more competitive healthcare product. That allows for businesses to be able to insure more individuals to help pay for their costs. It also means, then, you can actually get more individuals to receive the benefits of private healthcare rather than being responsible for or at least expecting that the Federal Government is going to subsidize with Federal taxpayer money their healthcare costs. I think that is part of what we need to be concerned with here today.

Mr. President, today I wish to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Andre Larson, who passed away on March 24, 2017, at the age of 74. Dr. Larson grew up in Brookings, SD, and graduated from the University of South Dakota, USD, in Vermillion with a BFA in music education and later, a MM degree in music literature.

A lifelong advocate for fine arts and music, Dr. Larson created the renowned National Music Museum in Vermillion, on USD's campus. Today it has the most complete collection of well-preserved and historically important musical instruments in the world.

The National Music Museum houses and preserves over 15,000 rare musical instruments: Stradivarius violins, and one of the only two Stradivarius mandolins that exist, dombaks and didgeridoos, the oldest playing harpsicord, more than a dozen saxophones made by the instrument's inventor, Adolphe Sax, bouzoukis, hurdy-gurdies, and a bombardon, a 1772 bowlback mandolin, a Javanese gamelan, lutes, flutes, harmonicas, and zithers, the world's oldest cello, called the King cello and created around 1550 A.D., Johnny Cash's guitar, and everything in-between, including a substantial collection of historic instrument documents.

Dr. Andre Larson was inspired by his father, Arne B. Larson, who was a high school music teacher, bandleader, and later a college music professor. Arne began collecting musical artifacts and instruments while serving in World War II, and his passion for music was not lost on his son, Andre. Wanting to share his and his father's passion, Andre conceptualized, planned, and implemented the development of the National Music Museum in Vermillion. In 1972, he was hired as the first director of the museum, then named the Shrine to Music Museum, with his father's 2,500 instruments as the foundation. Andre served as director of the museum until his retirement in 2011.

Under Dr. Andre Larson's leadership, the museum expanded significantly from one room in the Carnegie Library to now occupying the entire building today. His intelligence and great knowledge of instruments and history enabled him to select the best instruments for the collection. He also had a very unique skill in matching instruments to generous donors who would allow the museum to showcase their purchases.

In addition to teaching at the University of South Dakota and running the museum, Dr. Larson also created, produced, and marketed many musical events every year that sometimes included internationally known musicians performing music with the museum instruments. He also created the Nation's only graduate degree program in the history of musical instruments.

Throughout his life, Dr. Larson also served three terms as the president of the American Musical Instrument Society. He edited its newsletter for 18 years, and he was honored with the Curt Sachs Award, the highest honor given by the American Musical Instrument Society. In 2016, he was elected to the South Dakota Hall of Fame for his contributions to the arts in South Dakota.

Dr. Andre Larson's commitment to excellence and his dedication to music have inspired thousands of students and music lovers, not just across South Dakota, but throughout the entire Nation. His work in creating the National Music Museum will continue to inspire others for as long as there is music and there are people.

Mr. President, today I recognize Dallas Humphries, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all the hard work he has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota.

Dallas is a graduate of Douglas County High School in Castle Rock, CO. In August, he will graduate from the University of South Dakota where he studies political science and criminal justice. Dallas is a dedicated and diligent worker who has been devoted to getting the most out of his internship experience and who has been a true asset to the office.

I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Dallas for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come.

Mr. President, today I recognize Robert Travis Wooley, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all of the hard work he has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota.

Travis recently graduated from the University of Michigan, where he studied political science and Portuguese. He is a dedicated and diligent worker who has been devoted to getting the most out of his internship experience and who has been a true asset to the office.

I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Travis for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come.

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

Mr. President, I rise today to offer my strong support for Judge Neil Gorsuch, President Trump's pick to replace Justice Scalia on the Supreme Court. On Monday, his nomination passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and we expect to confirm him before the end of the week. I am tremendously excited to have him on the bench. Throughout his career, Judge Gorsuch has proven time and again that he is exceptionally qualified to serve on the Supreme Court. He has been praised and endorsed by members on both sides of the political spectrum, the left and the right.

As a judge on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals since 2006, after being unanimously confirmed by this body, Judge Gorsuch has proven he is as mainstream as they come. In fact, of the 800-plus opinions that he has written for the Tenth Circuit, less than 2 percent, or 14 opinions, have drawn dissents from his colleagues. In other words, 98 percent of his opinions have been unanimous. That is even more remarkable when you look at the makeup of the Tenth Circuit--12 of the judges were appointed by Democratic Presidents, while only 5 were appointed by Republicans. It does not get much more mainstream than that.

During his confirmation hearings last month, Judge Gorsuch again proved that he is eminently qualified to serve on the bench of our Nation's highest Court. Let me share some of his quotes from his hearing:

``The Constitution doesn't change. The world around us changes.''

``I don't believe in litmus tests for judges.''

``If I'm confirmed, I will do all my powers permit, to be a faithful servant to the Constitution and laws of this great nation.''

One last quote:

As a judge now for more than a decade, I've watched my

colleagues spend long days worrying over cases. Sometimes the

answers we reach aren't the ones we personally prefer.

Sometimes the answers follow us home at night and keep us up.

But the answers we reach are always the ones we believe the

law requires. And for all its imperfections, I believe that

the rule of law in this nation truly is a wonder. And that

it's no wonder that it's the envy of the world.

It is clear that Judge Gorsuch is qualified to serve on the Supreme Court and that he understands the role of a judge: to interpret the law, not to make the law.

To that end, I would also like to highlight Judge Gorsuch's in-depth understanding of the separation of powers doctrine, and I am optimistic that Judge Gorsuch will carefully scrutinize cases and controversies that involve executive overreach.

The past 8 years have seen an unprecedented expansion of the administrative state. This has come at the expense of both the legislative branch, whose purpose is to make laws, and the judicial branch, whose purpose is to interpret the law and decide on a specific law's constitutionality. But more concerning than that, it has also come at the expense of American citizens.

Overreach by executive agencies has led to regulatory expansion that results in the Federal Government involving itself in nearly every facet of our lives on a daily basis. This expansion has been permitted, in part, to U.S. courts relying on the flawed Chevron doctrine to show great deference to agency interpretation of the laws passed by Congress. As a result, agencies have been able to broadly interpret laws in a way that has allowed them to expand their regulatory authority far beyond what Congress ever intended.

Fortunately, U.S. judges are beginning to question the Chevron doctrine and its impact on the separation of powers doctrine relied on by our Founding Fathers and affirmed in the U.S. Constitution. Judge Gorsuch is one of those judges. Regarding Chevron, Judge Gorsuch has written that Chevron seems to be no less than a judge-made doctrine for the abdication of the judicial duty that prevents American courts from fulfilling their constitutionally delegated duty--interpreting what the law actually intends.

Careful judicial scrutiny and interpretation of the law will allow courts to rein in agency actions that are inconsistent with the law and beyond the bounds of what Congress intended.

In his concurrence in Gutierrez-Brizuela v. Lynch, Gorsuch argues that the Administrative Procedure Act vests in the courts the responsibility to ``interpret statutory provisions and overturn agency action inconsistent with those provisions'' and questions the idea that Congress ``intended to delegate away its legislative power to executive agencies.''

Judge Gorsuch takes his duty as a judge with the utmost seriousness. He seeks to interpret the law the way Congress intended, not in the way an executive agency wants it to be.

His careful and academic approach to judicial review is well-suited for our Nation's highest Court. I am confident that Judge Gorsuch will respect and enforce the constitutionally affirmed separation of powers doctrine that in recent years has been diluted by executive agencies broadly interpreting laws, resulting in regulatory overreach. This has minimized the role of Congress in the legislative process. As a result, the voices of American citizens have also been minimized and replaced with unelected Washington bureaucrats who think they know what is best for all Americans.

Judge Gorsuch is one of the finest judges our Nation has to offer. The knowledge and careful deliberation he will bring to the Court will result in rulings that reflect justice, fairness, and an interpretation of what the law is and what Congress intended it to be, not what administrative agencies want it to be.

Despite impeccable credentials, we are in a situation today because of a precedent set in November 2013 by then-Majority Leader Harry Reid and his conference. Former Leader Reid's use of a so-called nuclear option in 2013 meant the Senate could reinterpret its rules via simple- majority vote. Former

Leader Reid accomplished this by challenging a ruling of the Chair with regard to the number of votes needed to end debate on certain nominations.

The Standing Rules of the Senate require the support of a supermajority, or 67 percent of Senators, to change the rules. To challenge the ruling of the Chair, Reid only needed a majority vote to overturn the Presiding Officer's correct interpretation of the written rule. In other words, Former Leader Reid broke the rules to change the rules and, by default, broke precedent to change the precedent moving forward as well.

Based on this new precedent set by Former Leader Reid, the Senate is likely to confirm Judge Gorsuch to the Supreme Court by a simple- majority vote. Because the Senate has always operated on precedent, we will likely follow this new precedent to approve Judge Gorsuch's nomination later this week.

When he is confirmed, Judge Gorsuch will make a tremendous addition to the Supreme Court. His lifetime of defending the Constitution and applying the law as it was written provides clear evidence that he has the aptitude for this lifetime appointment to our Nation's highest Court.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, at 2:15 p.m., the Senate vote on the Friedman nomination and that, if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action with no intervening action or debate.

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

Mr. President, I rise to discuss the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as ObamaCare, on its seventh anniversary of being signed into law by our previous President, Barack Obama.

Looking back at what has happened to healthcare over the past 7 years, there isn't a whole lot of good news to report. Since that time, Americans have been hit with hundreds of billions in new taxes, healthcare costs have risen exponentially, and families have struggled with fewer options and reduced access to healthcare services.

Just in the last year, healthcare premiums have gone up 25 percent for the typical ObamaCare plan. That number is even higher in my home State of South Dakota where premiums have increased 37 percent. ObamaCare has also driven health insurance companies to completely leave the marketplace, leaving Americans with fewer insurance options. Again, I will use my own State as an example. Under ObamaCare, the number of companies offering insurance in the individual market in South Dakota has dropped from 13 to a mere 2 today. While this is unfortunate, we are better off than folks in Alaska, Alabama, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Wyoming, all of whom have no options at all, as only one insurer offers plans in those exchanges. This is also the case for more than 1,000 counties across the Nation, basically one-third of all the counties in total.

As a result of these skyrocketing costs and reduced options, the number of Americans enrolling in ObamaCare continues to drop dramatically. Projections continue to be millions fewer than predicted. Between 2016 and 2017, nearly a half-million fewer Americans signed up for the exchange. All of this has barely moved the number of uninsured South Dakotans between 2010, when ObamaCare was enacted, and today. So the health insurance market was crippled, premiums have skyrocketed for hard-working families, and our economy has suffered tremendously under the ACA, only to have the same number of insured and uninsured individuals in my home State as before we started.

Nationwide, Americans are rejecting ObamaCare in record numbers. We saw this rejection of ObamaCare repeatedly over the past 7 years, when the American people elected into office candidates who at least in part ran on the platform of repealing ObamaCare. ObamaCare's higher taxes, fees, and penalties on businesses and investors have also taken a toll. Meanwhile, consumers who are facing higher premiums and deductibles have less to spend on goods and services. With one-sixth of our economy tied to healthcare, this has been detrimental to growth and to opportunity. It has also been easy to see how the healthcare industry has rejected ObamaCare over the past 7 years, with many insurers pulling out of the market and in other places the markets collapsing altogether. This limits competition and leaves little room in the healthcare industry, which is why ObamaCare is failing to control the cost of healthcare in our country. Cost control is a crucial component in providing truly affordable healthcare, and that begins with the elimination of ObamaCare's added bureaucracy and paperwork. We must get government out of the way and allow competitive markets to work once again, and that is what we are seeking to do with ObamaCare's replacement, which is expected to receive a vote in the House later today.

Since we started the process of repealing and replacing ObamaCare, my office has received a number of calls and emails from South Dakotans who have expressed concerns. I want to make it clear to them and to all Americans that during the period in which we transition away from ObamaCare and toward a more affordable, competitive system, we understand that the continuation of coverage is an essential component. We plan to include a number of items that are very important to the American public: guaranteed renewal of coverage, portability of coverage for those who change jobs or leave the workforce by retiring, and a ban on lifetime limits, because if you bought insurance, you shouldn't run out of insurance.

The provisions of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act which were included in ObamaCare should be included in our plans. There should be no exclusions on preexisting conditions if one maintains insurance from policy to policy, without lapses, and we should include provisions to allow children to remain on their families' plans until they are at least the age of 26.

We understand that there is a way to retain all of these positive provisions

which are vital to ensuring continued health insurance coverage for all American families who want it, while also providing a fair and open marketplace that provides a strong, healthy, competitive market. This, in turn, will bring affordable, efficient health insurance with innovative products that will actually help to control the cost of care. That is what the GOP alternative, while still far from perfect, is seeking to do. One thing we do know is that the end result will be better than ObamaCare.

As a father and a grandfather, I understand how important it is to have access to affordable healthcare. No one should be priced out of healthcare coverage for one's family. But our current system is simply not working. After 7 years of ObamaCare, the American people are dealing with higher healthcare premiums, fewer options, more taxes, and reduced access to care. Health providers are struggling with more bureaucracy, with more time spent filling out paperwork instead of caring for patients, and being frustrated by ObamaCare's crippling new regulations.

As I have said from time to time, ObamaCare is a rapidly sinking ship, and there is simply no hope for a recovery. On its seventh anniversary, it is hurting more people than it is helping, and it must be repealed and replaced before it totally crumbles under its own weight.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the achievements of Paul Iron Cloud of Pine Ridge, SD, who passed away on February 18, 2017, at the age of 76. Paul Iron Cloud was a tribal leader on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and tireless advocate for the indigenous peoples of South Dakota.

In the 1980s, Paul established himself as an unwavering advocate for the Oglala Sioux Tribe, where he rose to the position of chairman and eventually president. During his time in leadership, Paul was a champion for housing on the Pine Ridge Reservation, a fight that would define his career.

Over the course of his career, Paul served as executive director of the Oglala Sioux Housing Authority, as well as its successor, Oglala Sioux Housing. Nationally, he served on the National American Indian Housing Council and was elected chairman of the United Nations American Housing Association Board. In 2015, Paul received the George Nelson Outstanding Lifetime Service Award for his tireless efforts to improve the living conditions of the people of Pine Ridge.

Thanks in large part to his unwavering commitment, Paul was able to make improvements to reservation housing programs. His fierce dedication to the people of Pine Ridge left a lasting impression upon his home, as well as the Native American community across the Nation. He will be forever remembered for his dedication to Native People both in South Dakota and across the United States.

With this, I welcome the opportunity to recognize and commemorate the life of this great public servant, Paul Iron Cloud.

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 100th anniversary of the South Dakota Farm Bureau.

Established in 1917, the South Dakota Farm Bureau has worked tirelessly to promote, uphold, and improve agriculture across our State. What started as a small group of farmers and ranchers, joining together to protect their homes and livelihoods, has grown to represent more than 16,000 families in South Dakota today.

As advocates for rural America, their mission is to ``make the business of farming more profitable, and the community a better place to live.'' They accomplish this by educating consumers, leading grassroots advocacy efforts, and providing youth programs to train the next generation of farmers and ranchers.

I congratulate the South Dakota Farm Bureau on 100 years of successfully supporting South Dakota farmers and ranchers, so they can continue to supply safe, high-quality food to consumers around the globe.

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

Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the life and legacy of Jack Robinson, who passed away on March 1, 2017, in Pierre, SD, at the age of 92.

Jack dedicated his life to public service--first to his Nation in the U.S. military and later to thousands of students as a teacher in Pierre.

When Jack graduated from high school in 1942, he was awarded a scholarship to Yangton College, but instead of furthering his education, he answered the call of duty amidst World War II and enlisted in the U.S. Army.

After transferring from the infantry to the Army Air Corps, he completed navigation school and became a crew member on a B-17 bomber. He and his team were eventually sent overseas to England and completed 27 combat missions over Germany before being shot down on March 2, 1945. Shortly afterward, Jack returned home to South Dakota.

Throughout the rest of his life, he was a strong advocate for the military and a true patriot. With the stories he told and the love of country he shared, he showed what it meant to be a true American hero. For that, he affectionately adopted the nickname ``Captain Jack.''

There are not enough words in a dictionary to describe what we owe to the men and women who fought in World War II to save our Nation and to save democracy for the world. Jack Robinson put his own dreams aside and put his own life in great danger for our country and for all of the future generations of Americans.

After World War II, Jack graduated from Yankton College and taught high school science at Highmore, SD, for 2 years. Then he earned his master's degree in biology from the University of South Dakota. For the next 35 years, Jack was a teacher at Riggs High School in my hometown of Pierre. There, he created advanced biology and aeronautics programs for his students and inspired several young South Dakotans to become doctors. Dr. Brent Lindbloom of Pierre said his father and Jack Robinson were the reasons he became a doctor. ``Mr. Robinson was a great teacher,'' he said. ``He taught us how to study and inspired us to pursue our dreams.''

I couldn't agree more.

As a teenager, Jack taught me navigational skills needed to properly fly an airplane, fueling a lifelong passion that continues today. As Jack would say, ``you have to know the difference between compass course and compass heading.''

Over the years he taught many others navigational skills as well. But he didn't just teach young people how to fly in the skies. He was a tremendous role model for all of us and for all the students he taught.

As a bomber crew member, Jack defended our gift of democracy. As a teacher, he gave us what we needed to become responsible adults and pursue our own dreams. In 1994, Jack was inducted into the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame as a combat crew member. I can state that he was very proud of that moment. But more important than his many achievements as a war hero and as a teacher was his life as a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

We are a better people because Jack touched so many lives with his knowledge, kindness, and passion for living. His loss is felt by countless South Dakotans.

With this, I welcome the opportunity to recognize and commemorate the life of this great public servant and personal role model of mine, Mr. Jack Robinson.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. President, I rise to discuss Mr. Trump's nominee to be Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt.

His background with the EPA regulatory process makes him well suited to lead this Agency. He has an in-depth understanding of the impact regulations have on landowners, American businesses and State and local governments. As attorney general, Mr. Pruitt has been a leader in standing up for the rights of State governments in the face of an aggressive EPA that has imposed increasingly costly and burdensome regulations on the States.

During his time as the attorney general, Mr. Pruitt established Oklahoma's first Federalism Unit in the Office of Solicitor General to more effectively combat unwarranted regulation and overreach by Federal agencies. General Pruitt is a strong believer in federalism and States' rights, which have been often overlooked by the previous administration, often to the detriment of the U.S. economy and our environment.

I am hopeful Attorney General Pruitt will take steps to improve the Federal regulatory process to make certain Federal regulations are promulgated with adequate public participation, underpinned by the best scientific evidence available and in a transparent and open manner. Attorney General Pruitt understands the importance of taking stakeholder, State, and local government comments and expertise into account when promulgating regulations. He understands that listening to and considering the differing viewpoints of stakeholders will improve the regulatory process and lead to better regulations. This will lead to fewer burdensome and costly regulations for South Dakota farmers, ranchers, and landowners, while at the same time making certain we have clean air and clean water.

The Obama EPA's process for considering scientific information was flawed and unbalanced. There was a lack of balanced opinion, geographic diversity in State, local, and tribal representation on EPA's Science Advisory Board, which is tasked with providing scientific advice to the EPA. Attorney General Pruitt understands the importance of relying on the most up-to-date science to underpin environmental regulations.

During his confirmation hearing, he affirmed to me that he would uphold his obligations to use the most current, accurate data and sound science when making decisions, especially when it comes to the renewable fuel standard. The RFS has been successful in South Dakota in encouraging investments and creating jobs in corn ethanol production. Mr. Pruitt understands the importance of corn ethanol to the Midwest.

Throughout his tenure as attorney general, Attorney General Pruitt witnessed firsthand the negative impact that EPA regulations, such as the waters of the United States rule, have on U.S. landowners and on our business owners. He saw how incomplete economic analysis did not account for the full impact of regulations on U.S. citizens, and the regulatory burden was often far greater than what the EPA claimed it would be.

The attorney general can modernize the EPA's approach to regulation and make certain that regulations are promulgated in a deliberate, fair, and

transparent process. A better regulatory process will lead to better regulations. Better regulations will make certain our air, water, and land is protected, our economy continues to grow, and American jobs can continue to be created.

Attorney General Pruitt has had a rigorous vetting process since first being nominated by President Trump. He has answered more than 1,200 questions from Senators, more than 1,000 more questions than nominees for the EPA Administrator from the incoming Obama administration to the Bush administration or the Clinton administration. Additionally, his confirmation hearing was the longest for any EPA Administrator.

I, personally, would like to thank Chairman Barrasso for spearheading this fair and very transparent confirmation process. I would also like to thank Attorney General Pruitt for taking the time to answer all of the questions that were asked of him and meeting with Senators both on and off the EPW Committee.

General Pruitt's impressive background and depth of knowledge on EPA issues make him well suited to be the next EPA Administrator. As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and chairman of the subcommittee which has oversight of the EPA, I look forward to his eventual confirmation and to working with him in the future.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business for 5 minutes.

Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the life and legacy of Clint Roberts, who passed away in the early morning hours of February 13 at the age of 82.

Clint is a former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, the South Dakota State Senate, and a former South Dakota secretary of agriculture. He helped give birth to the Conservation Reserve and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, which have been extremely beneficial to farmers, ranchers, and landowners, not only in South Dakota but across the country. These programs helped increase farm and ranch family incomes at a time of great economic turmoil.

But more importantly, Clint was a mentor and a hero to me and to many others and, I am proud to say, a lifelong friend to me and Jean. I have always looked up to Clint and sought him out for advice.

I first met Clint when I was an intern in the South Dakota State Senate in 1976. He was serving in a leadership position. He taught me many valuable lessons over the years about politics, policy, family, and public service, just to name a few. He also is credited with introducing me to that exquisite combination of water and Scotch over 40 years ago at the Kings Inn in Pierre.

Clint grew up on a ranch near Presho, SD, in Lyman County, and never let go of his cowboy roots, his hat, or his boots. He was an iconic symbol of a cowboy and of the Wild West, so much so that he was one of the finalists to be the ``Marlboro Man'' in the mid-1970s. He also appeared in minor roles in films and even in a Super Bowl commercial.

But even off camera, he was a cowboy through and through. He was down to earth, a straight shooter, and a practical conservative who believed in freedom and helping those in need. He was also a problem-solver who fixed what was wrong instead of just talking about it.

He was one of the true conservationists in South Dakota, promoting wildlife and conservation on his operating farm and ranch. He taught many the importance of the CRP, or the Conservation Reserve Program, and preserving our natural resources. During pheasant hunting season, he always opened his ranch to hunters, and loved making his secret recipe for chili for all to enjoy. But most of all, he understood the importance of family. He was a great husband to Bev, a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, and he was a great friend to all who knew him. He had a tremendously positive impact on the many thousands of people whom he met and touched with his kindness, selflessness, and generosity. South Dakota is truly a better State, and we are a better people because of his hard work and dedication to making things better.

With this, I welcome the opportunity to recognize and commemorate the life of this public servant and my friend, Clint Roberts. We will treasure his legacy for years to come.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I have six requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders.

Pursuant to Rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

committee on commerce, science, and transportation

The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized to hold a meeting during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, February 15, 2017, at 2:30 p.m. in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building. The committee will hold a subcommittee hearing on ``Moving America: Stakeholder Perspectives on Our Multimodal Transportation System.''

committee on environment and public works

The Committee on Environment and Public Works is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, February 15, 2017, at 10 a.m., in room 406 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Oversight: Modernization of the Endangered Species Act.''

committee on foreign relations

The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, February 15, 2017, at 10 a.m., to hold a hearing entitled ``Ending Modern Slavery: Building on Success.''

committee on homeland security and governmental affairs

The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, February 15, 2017, at 2:45 p.m. in order to conduct a hearing titled ``High Risk: Government Operations Susceptible to Waste, Fraud, and Mismanagement.''

special committee on aging

The Special Committee on Aging is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, February 15, 2017, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Stopping Senior Scams: Developments in Financial Fraud Affecting Seniors''. The committee will meet in room 562 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building beginning at 2:30 p.m.

subcommittee on emerging threats and capabilities

The Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities of the Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, February 15, 2017, at 10 a.m.

Mr. President, I rise today regarding the upcoming confirmation on Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama to be Attorney General of the United States. For the past 3 years, I have had the great pleasure of working with Senator Sessions in this body. We served together on both the Senate Armed Services and Environment and Public Works Committees. Within those committees, as well as on other issues that have come before the Senate during that same time period, I have found that Senator Sessions is extremely forthright, hard-working, and Senator Sessions is honest. He has served Alabamans and all Americans well during his 20 years in the U.S. Senate.

In addition to serving on the Armed Services and EPW Committees, he also serves on the Senate Judiciary and Budget Committees, all of which address vital aspects of our Federal system.

Senator Sessions also had a distinguished career before he was elected the U.S. Senator from Alabama. After graduating from the University of Alabama with a law degree, Senator Sessions practiced law in Russellville and Mobile, AL. In 1975, he took the oath to defend the Constitution of the United States as an assistant U.S. attorney--the first step in a long and honorable career as a prosecutor. In 1981, Senator Sessions was nominated by President Reagan and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. He served honorably in that role for 12 years. Senator Sessions was then elected Alabama attorney general and served in that role until his election to the U.S. Senate.

It is clear to me that Senator Sessions is exceptionally and perhaps uniquely qualified to serve as the Attorney General for the United States. He served as a line prosecutor and, as U.S. attorney and Alabama attorney general, as the chief Federal and State law enforcement authority. He has personally handled or managed a wide variety of cases--criminal and civil, trial and appellate. Senator Sessions also has extensive experience in the Federal system and, as a former State attorney general, a deep respect for State and local law enforcement and the role of States in our Federal system.

There is an attribute even more important than experience, in my opinion, and that is integrity. Over the course of his career, Senator Sessions has demonstrated a deep respect for the Constitution and the rule of law, and ultimately, I believe that is what is most important in an Attorney General of the United States.

In 1935, the U.S. Supreme Court wrote this about the role of a U.S. attorney, and I think it applies similarly to the Attorney General:

A federal prosecutor ``is the representative not of an

ordinary party to a controversy, but of a sovereignty whose

obligation to govern impartially is as compelling as its

obligation to govern at all and whose interest, therefore, in

a criminal prosecution is not that it shall win a case, but

that justice be done.''

The Supreme Court continued:

[A]s such, he is in a peculiar and very definite sense the

servant of the law, the twofold aim of which is that guilt

shall not escape or innocence suffer.

I support Senator Sessions as Attorney General of the United States not only because his experience makes him qualified to serve but more importantly because his character makes him qualified to serve. Senator Sessions will, in the words of the Supreme Court, be a certain ``servant of the law'' and will make certain that justice is done for all Americans.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.