Floor Statements

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Madam President, I rise today to recognize Lt. Gen. Steve Basham, who recently departed his position as Director of Air Force Legislative Liaison and assumes his new duties as Deputy Commander of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces in Africa.

As the Director of Legislative Affairs of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Basham worked directly with the Senate and the House of Representatives on all aspects of organizing, training, and equipping our airmen to project global combat power abroad. Throughout this time, then-Major General Basham prepared the Secretary and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, as well as other senior Air Force leaders, for engagements on Capitol Hill, to include extensive testimony before congressional committees.

A product of some of these strategic engagements was the decision to select Ellsworth Air Force Base as the first unit to host the B-21 Raider bomber, a strategic decision that I personally thank the Secretary of the Air Force for making. I also thank Lieutenant General Basham for his steadfast efforts in the deliberate decision-making process.

In 1989, following his graduation from Western Kentucky University, Lieutenant General Basham was commissioned through Air Force Officer Training School and achieved his flying wings. Over the course of his distinguished career, he has attained a command pilot rating with more than 3,400 flying hours in the T-37, T-38, B-1, B-2, and B-52 aircraft. He holds the honor of being one of the first four pilots to fly the B-2 stealth bomber in combat.

Throughout his career, Lieutenant General Basham has held numerous other positions of strategic importance, including Deputy Director of Requirements for the Joint Staff at the Pentagon and as the Director of Strategy, Plans, and Programs for Headquarters Pacific Air Forces at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii.

Of course, none of this could be done without the support of his wife Angie and their two daughters, Lauren and Sarah.

On behalf of the U.S. Congress and a grateful Nation, I extend our deepest appreciation to Lt. Gen. Steven L. Basham and his family for their dedicated service to the Air Force and to our Nation. We wish them all the best as they move on to his next assignment and continue working to keep our Nation and our allies safe from potential Russian aggression in Europe, as well as violent extremists in Africa.

There is no question that the Air Force, the Department of Defense, and the United States will continue to benefit greatly from Lieutenant General Basham's outstanding leadership.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Madam President, today I would like to remember the life of retired U.S. Army National Guard SSG Jordy James Soesbe. Staff Sergeant Soesbe passed away on May 20, 2019, at the age of 44.

Jordy Soesbe was born in Burke, SD, and raised on his family's farm and ranch in Gregory, SD.

Soesbe spent more than 20 years in the U.S. Army and Army National Guard, retiring in 2017 at the rank of staff sergeant in the National Guard. He completed two tours of duty in Afghanistan, serving as a gunner on a Humvee, sniper, and prison guard. He served with the Army's 82nd Airborne Division and 25th Infantry Division and the South Dakota National Guard's 235th Military Police Company.

During his time in the military, he earned numerous commendations and medals, including the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with ``M'' Device and 10-year Hourglass Device, Army Commendation Medal, and four Army Achievement Medals.

Aside from his career in the military, he also served as a reserve sheriff's deputy with the Meade County Sheriff's Office.

In his spare time, he was an avid pheasant and deer hunter. He also enjoyed spending time at his local shooting range.

Staff Sergeant Soesbe was not only a hero in life, but also a hero in death. As an organ donor, he saved at least three lives. I commend this hero for his service, both in life and death, and offer my sincerest condolences to his family and friends. He is survived by his mother Virginia; brother Brett; daughters Alexandra, McKenna, and Alyssa; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and in-laws.

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

Mr. President, I have 4 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 Foreign Relations

The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Monday, May 20, 2019, at 5 p.m., to conduct a hearing

Subcommittee on Airland

The Subcommittee on Airland of the Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Monday, May 20, 2019, at 5 p.m., to conduct a hearing.

Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support

The Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support of the Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Monday, May 20, 2019, at 4 p.m., to conduct a hearing.

Subcommittee on Strategic Forces

The Subcommittee on Strategic Forces of the Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Monday, May 20, 2019, at 5:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing.

Mr. President, today I recognize Peter Petrasko, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all the hard work he has done on behalf of myself, my staff, and the State of South Dakota.

Peter is a graduate of O'Gorman High School in Sioux Falls, SD, and Brown University in Providence, RI. He is currently pursuing his master of data science degree through Harvard Extension School. Peter is a dedicated and diligent worker who has been devoted to getting the most out of his internship experience and has been a true asset to the office.

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

Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, today I recognize Jessica Heinz, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all the hard work she has done on behalf of myself, my staff, and the State of South Dakota.

Jessica is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. She is currently pursuing her master of science degree in terrorism and security policy at American University. Jessica is a dedicated and diligent worker who has been devoted to getting the most out of her internship experience and has been a true asset to the office.

I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Jessica for all of the fine work she has done and wish her continued success in the years to come.

Mr. President, I first thank my colleague from Montana for his powerful message. I can assure him that I believe strongly in the same approach as he does with regard to life.

I rise to discuss an issue of vital importance to our society, and that is the intrinsic value of human life. Very shortly, every Senator will have an opportunity to stand up for human dignity and condemn infanticide when we vote on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. This should not be a difficult vote for any of us.

I believe in the value of every innocent human life, beginning at the moment of conception to natural death. Life is a gift from God that should be respected and treated with dignity from the very beginning to the very end.

I have worked to enact pro-life policies throughout my time in public service based upon this principle. While working as Governor, I signed legislation to ban abortions in South Dakota, except when necessary to save a mother's life.

``Humanae Vitae,'' written by Pope Paul IV and later expanded upon in ``Evangelium Vitae,'' written by Saint Pope John Paul II the Great, teaches that there can be no true democracy without a recognition of the dignity of every person. It goes on to teach that respect and dignity must be given to each human life for true peace and freedom to exist.

We must demand respect for the rights of all. This includes those in the womb, as well as mothers carrying a child who are facing difficult challenges. Both deserve our utmost compassion and care. While this should be common sense to everyone, we recognize that in this country there are individuals who are pro-life and individuals who are pro- choice.

While I and millions of other pro-life Americans continue to work to end all abortions and support measures that strengthen the dignity of life, recent actions at the State level have been deeply troubling. Pro-choice individuals are actually now supporting measures that will allow doctors to commit infanticide even after a baby has been born alive. For example, last month, the State of New York repealed section 4164 of the State's public health law which provided protections for an infant born alive after a failed abortion. Subsequently, in Virginia, legislation has been introduced that would legalize abortion up to term and even after the birth has begun. In Rhode Island, the Governor has vowed to sign legislation legalizing abortion even after the child is viable.

These examples of abortion extremism at its worst--radical, abhorrent acts of infanticide--should horrify all of us. While I am troubled by the thought of any baby being killed at any stage, at a bare minimum every one of us should be able to agree that infanticide--or the killing of a baby after it has been born alive--is unacceptable. This is a separate issue from abortion, which is abhorrent in itself.

In the history of the world, the true test of a society is how well we treat the most vulnerable among us. That is why we must pass this legislation, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, of which I am an original cosponsor, and I would like to thank Senator Sasse for bringing this legislation forward.

The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act simply protects newborns who survive abortions by requiring appropriate care and admission to a hospital. When a failed abortion results in the live birth of an infant, our legislation makes clear that healthcare providers must exercise the same degree of professional skill to protect the newborn child as would be offered to any other child born alive at the same gestational age. A baby who survives an abortion deserves the same rights under the law as any other newborn baby and should receive proper medical care, not to be left to die or be killed.

It is also worth mentioning that President Trump stood up for life during the State of the Union Address earlier this month, calling on Congress to pass legislation to prohibit late-term abortions of children who feel pain in the mother's womb. President Trump urged:

Let us work together to build a culture that cherishes

innocent life. And let us reaffirm a fundamental truth: All

children--born and unborn--are made in the holy image of God.

I couldn't agree more. All life is sacred. We must seek to protect and save lives whenever possible, however possible. I urge my colleagues to support the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I understand there is a bill at the desk, and I ask for its first reading.

I now ask for a second reading, and in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to my own request.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m., Wednesday, January 9; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; further, that following the leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S. 1; finally, that the Senate recess from 12:15 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly conference meetings.

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it stand adjourned under the previous order, following the remarks of our Democratic colleagues.

Mr. President, today I recognize Maj. Steven Fowler for all of his hard work on behalf of myself, my staff, and the State of South Dakota while working in my Washington, DC, office.

Steven entered military service in 2004 and has devoted his career to the U.S. Air Force. Before his time in my office, Steven served as a full-time National Guard officer in the National Guard Bureau. He also received a master's degree in public administration from the JFK School of Government at Harvard University. Steven's experience and expertise have been a true asset to my office.

I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Steven for his service to our country. I wish Steven, his wife Cara, and their daughters MaKenna, Alexandra, and Abigail all the best in the years to come. As he continues his career of service, he bears the esteem of a grateful State and my utmost gratitude for a job well done.

Mr. President, today I recognize Darren Hedlund, a legislative assistant in my Washington, DC, office for all of the hard work he has done for me, his colleagues, and the State of South Dakota.

Darren is a native of Wall, SD. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of South Dakota before receiving his master of public and international affairs from the University of Pittsburgh. While working on his undergraduate degree, Darren also served as president of his fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha.

Darren was one of the first people I hired after being sworn in as Senator in January of 2015. He began his career at the front desk in my office, answering phones. Through hard work and dedication, Darren worked his way up to legislative assistant, handling cybersecurity, Veterans Affairs, foreign affairs, telecommunication, and homeland security issues for my office. Darren has played an instrumental role in my office by providing insight and guidance into these issues.

Darren has been a dedicated and faithful public servant during his time spent here in the Senate. I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Darren for the fine work he has done. I wish him and his wife Reagan well as they take on life's new challenges together. As he continues his career of public service, he bears the esteem of a grateful State and my utmost gratitude for a job well done.