Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, today I wish to remember the life of my dear friend, R.J. Corman, and to congratulate a business he started in Kentucky on its 30th anniversary. A man from humble beginnings, Rick started a company at the age of 18 with only a backhoe and a dump truck. With a keen business sense and a tireless work ethic, Rick built his company and earned a reputation for doing work better and faster than anyone else in the business. Today the R.J. Corman Railroad Group employs over 1,600 people and operates in 24 States.

Rick's life was tragically cut short when he passed away in August 2013 at the age of 58 after a long fight with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer. Although his company had to learn how to succeed without him, the signature red locomotives and white cross-rail fences still carry Rick's name and his legacy.

Those who knew Rick could agree that he worked hard, cherished honesty, and had an infectious laugh. In 2011, Fortune magazine published a profile on Rick and his business. It read, ``In the way he operates--and faces the world--Rick Corman is truly larger than life.''

Rick started his company making track repairs for major railroads in 1973. With vision and determination, Rick convinced people to take a chance on him, and he began to expand his company.

This year, one of his businesses, the R.J. Corman Railroad Co., is celebrating its 30th year of operation. It opened in 1987, when Federal deregulation allowed railroads to sell unwanted lines of track. Rick, seeing both a profitable venture and a way to provide an economic boost to rural areas, began purchasing short line railroads. Today the business operates 11 railroad lines and more than 900 miles of track.

When Hurricane Katrina devastated the gulf coast in 2005, Rick's emergency response operation immediately offered to help. Rick personally oversaw the repairing of railways damaged by the storm. Despite the heavy damage, Rick answered the call to help those in need.

Rick's business acumen was impressive, but even more extraordinary was his unstoppable spirit. When he was diagnosed with cancer in 2001, he fought far beyond the doctors' expectations. Rick continued to work, to enjoy life, and even to finish the Boston Marathon. He deeply cared for his employees and his community. When one of his employees lost his home to a fire, Rick sent the family a temporary trailer the next day. Over the course of his life, Rick and his company made numerous contributions to St. Joseph Hospital in Jessamine County. The hospital remembered Rick as the largest philanthropic supporter in its history.

Rick's compassion and love of life inspired so many friends, family, and employees. He may be gone, but his legacy will remain, as we celebrate the 30th year of the R.J. Corman Railroad Co. Rick believed in his employees, and he said, ``It's really the people that make this company so different. It's not me; it's the people.'' Today I ask my colleagues to help me remember Rick for his kindness, his courage, and his undefeated spirit.

The Lexington Herald-Leader recently published an article about Rick's life and legacy. I ask unanimous consent that the full article be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 12 noon, Wednesday, July 12; 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 leader remarks, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Nye nomination with all postcloture time being expired; finally, that if cloture is invoked on the Hagerty nomination, the time count as if cloture were invoked at 1 a.m., Wednesday, July 12.

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 Senators Sanders, Van Hollen, and Blumenthal.

Mr. President, ObamaCare has been hurting toward collapse for years. Today it sits on the edge of a total meltdown. Unless we do something about that, even more Americans are going to get hurt.

These are the men and women we represent--Americans who didn't do anything wrong and Americans who, in too many cases, have been hurt by ObamaCare already--and we have a responsibility to help before ObamaCare literally comes crashing down around them.

I think each of us understands this. Yet, too often, this central fact seems to get lost amidst the din of cable news sound bites and over-the-top attacks. Too many seem to have forgotten the pain ObamaCare has brought to so many families over the years. Too many seem to have forgotten that even more will be hurt if the ObamaCare status quo is allowed to continue.

I recently shared a letter from a constituent in Lancaster who told me about her struggle to make ends meet under ObamaCare. Here is what she said: ``Why is there a law forcing me to pay for something I can't afford,'' she asked. ``Either I can eat and pay my mortgage or [I can] pay for insurance.''

I recently shared the story of a single mom from Berea, a full-time student trying to make ends meet. When she began searching for a plan on the ObamaCare exchanges, she told me she saw a startling picture: high premiums and a staggering deductible.

``At this rate,'' she wrote, ``I would honestly be better not to take health insurance at all and hope for the best. Americans like myself need something better.''

Premiums have been skyrocketing under ObamaCare for years now--by as much as an average of 105 percent in the majority of the States' Federal exchanges. Unless we act, premiums are poised to continue skyrocketing.

Customers are now learning what they can expect next year, and the situation is concerning. ObamaCare premiums could climb by as much as 30 percent in my State, over 40 percent in Tennessee, and over 50 percent in Georgia. Unfortunately, these States are not alone. This is a trend we are seeing all across our country.

To make matters worse, many have been left behind with fewer options as ObamaCare has forced insurance options literally out of the marketplace. Unless we act, choices will continue to decline on the exchanges, just as they have over the past several years.

I recently shared a Lexington native's account about the limited options she found on the exchanges. Here is what she said: ``I live in one of the three largest cities in our state, and I had two options for insurance this year. The lowest deductible option,'' she continued, ``was $10,000.''

I recently shared a Louisville mother's pleas for Congress to bring relief from ObamaCare's limited options. Here is what she said: ``Middle class Kentuckians are hurting because of ObamaCare,'' she said. ``Residents [have] little choice for health plans and our family is not the only one suffering from the high costs of health insurance.''

``I hope,'' she concluded, that ``you will push hard to fix our healthcare system.''

This year, families in 70 percent of counties had just one or two insurance options on ObamaCare. As a survey out just yesterday showed, the number of uninsured grew in 2017, with nearly 2 million people dropping ObamaCare coverage. Now we are hearing even more negative projections for next year.

In fact, it is expected that in 2018, thousands could be left without any ObamaCare options at all in States like Nevada and Missouri and Ohio, while thousands more are left with just one choice, which is really no choice at all.

A new CMS report released just a few minutes ago found that nearly 40 percent fewer insurers have filed to participate in the ObamaCare exchanges next year. This reduction in choice is a trend we have been seeing under ObamaCare, and it seems only to keep getting worse.

Higher prices, fewer options, diminished hope, that is the legacy of

ObamaCare for too many. It has been failing the American people for years, and it will collapse around them if we fail to act.

We will not make things better if we go backward with even more Federal control. We will not solve this problem by simply throwing more money at it. Bandaids just will not work here. The American people deserve solutions that finally empower them in making more of their own decisions about their families' healthcare.

I regret that our Democratic colleagues have made clear they are not interested in working seriously with us to pursue the types of comprehensive reforms needed to improve healthcare for hard-working Americans who have been hurt by this law, but the Senate Republican conference will continue working to help these families because we believe they deserve better than ObamaCare and its years of failures.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 2:15 p.m., Tuesday, July 11; 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 leader remarks, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Nye nomination; finally, that all time during morning business, recess, adjournment, and leader remarks count postcloture on the Nye nomination.

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 Senator Merkley.

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

Mr. President, Senators and the White House are continuing discussions on the path forward for bringing relief from ObamaCare and its collapsing markets. We have made good progress, and we will keep working. As we do, our focus will remain on the major ObamaCare problems that continue to hurt Americans all across our country.

Under ObamaCare, premiums have skyrocketed. Over the past several years, ObamaCare has caused premiums to climb by an average of 105 percent in the vast majority of States on the Federal exchange, and it has caused them to triple in some States.

Next year, ObamaCare is expected to raise premiums again, as high as 30 percent or greater in States like Connecticut and Virginia, by as much as 40 percent or greater in Maine and Iowa, and by as much as an astonishing 80 percent in New Mexico. Obviously, Americans deserve a lot better than that.

Under ObamaCare, choices have diminished, even disappeared, in States all across our country. ObamaCare has left 70 percent of counties with little or no insurance options on the exchanges this year. Even worse, next year, dozens more counties could have zero choice at all-- potentially leaving thousands trapped, forced by law to purchase ObamaCare insurance but left without the means to do so. For instance, as we learned just yesterday, as many as 14 of Nevada's 17 counties could now be left without any insurance options under ObamaCare at all in 2018. Americans deserve a lot better than that.

Under ObamaCare, mandates have forced families into plans they don't want or can't afford, preferred doctors have become less accessible to many

patients, and plans have grown less desirable but more extensive. Americans deserve better than that. That is why we are continuing to work hard. Fixing ObamaCare's failures and protecting families from its consequences is not an easy task.

It is disappointing that our Democratic colleagues made clear early on that they were not interested in joining our efforts in a serious, comprehensive manner, especially given how many of their constituents have been hurt by the law they themselves voted for and continue-- continue--to defend. The Republican conference continues to work through solutions to help those who have been hurt by this failing system because, as we can all agree, ObamaCare's status quo is simply unsustainable and unacceptable. We have to act, and we are.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the provisions of rule XXII, it be in order to move to proceed to executive session to consider the nomination of Executive Calendar No. 104, William Hagerty to be Ambassador to Japan.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider the nomination of Executive Calendar No. 104, William Hagerty to be Ambassador to Japan.

Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum call with respect to the cloture motion be waived.