Floor Statements

Mr. President, I call up my amendment No. 678 and ask that it be reported by number.

Mr. President, despite President Biden's call for unity, with the stroke of a pen, he killed the Keystone XL Pipeline and the thousands of jobs that come with it. He eliminated tens of millions of dollars of tax revenues for communities in Montana for education, for law enforcement, for infrastructure, as well as across the West. Hard- working Americans across our country, dozens of families in Montana have already been given the pink slip. They were told to go home. Their paycheck is gone. This isn't because of a pandemic; this is because of President Biden.

I hope all of my colleagues join me today for the good of American energy and our blue-collar workers, or they can stand with the job- killing Green New Deal agenda. The choice is clear.

I yield back my time.

Madam President, I want to thank my colleague from Utah, Senator Mike Lee, for his remarks.

Last week, with the stroke of a pen, President Biden eliminated critical pro-life protections. He reversed the Mexico City policy and began the process of dismantling title X protections against abortion.

I am glad to join Senator Lee, Senator Blackburn, along with several other pro-life Senators fighting back and calling on the Senate to pass the important bills today to reverse President Biden's pro-abortion actions.

The bottom line is, President Biden's actions were basically a handout to Planned Parenthood. It is no surprise, as Planned Parenthood spent millions to get the President elected. Now they are simply cashing in--this time, on the taxpayer's dime.

The United States should not spend taxpayer dollars to support a radical abortion agenda throughout the world, and we should absolutely not allow a slush fund of taxpayer dollars to line the pockets of Planned Parenthood.

I also want to thank my colleague Senator Inhofe, who urged the Senate to pass his bill today to protect babies with Down syndrome from being targeted for abortion.

Now, I watched what happened here just minutes ago. The Democrats objected. It is truly astounding. This bill should have passed unanimously, and it really exposes a terrible hypocrisy.

Most Republicans and Democrats today in Congress are unified in support for the Special Olympics. We are unified in supporting protecting those individuals with disabilities. Yet my colleagues across the aisle today opposed this commonsense legislation that would stop the most lethal kind of discrimination--the most lethal kind of discrimination imaginable--and that is being singled out and brutally killed simply because of a Down syndrome diagnosis.

Last week, I stood right here to bring attention to this very chilling issue. Today, babies with Down syndrome are the most endangered on Earth. In fact,

sadly, in the United States, 67 percent of babies diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted. That is two out of three.

And, for me, this is personal. Last week, I shared the story of a sweet baby boy named Andrew. He is the son of some of my very good friends. Andrew has Down's. He brings light and joy to his family's life every day. He has an older brother, an older sister. I can tell you, this world, their family would not be the same without him.

I am deeply concerned that for babies with Down syndrome, abortion has become a tool of eugenics. It is the duty of this body to end this lethal discrimination. It is our duty to protect every innocent life, no matter how small, no matter how many chromosomes they may have.

I believe every human being is created with God-given dignity and God-given protection. No court, no legislature, no law can take that away.

I will not give up this fight, and I know many of my colleagues standing here today will not give up as well.

I want to thank Senator Lee.

I yield the floor back to Senator Lee.

Madam President, today I have the honor of recognizing Sarah Moyer of Yellowstone County for serving her community in a time of need.

When schools were shut down in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of children who rely on school for getting their meals were sent home. Sarah saw the need to feed her community and did not hesitate to jump in. Her business, Project Lunch, started to make healthy lunches available to anyone in need. By the end of the summer, Sarah and her volunteers had delivered over 21,800 lunches right to the front doors of Montanans--a truly remarkable act of service for her neighbors.

Her dedication to her fellow Montanans does not stop there. Heading into 2021, Sarah opened a pay-what-you-can restaurant in downtown Billings that employs Montanans who are struggling to find employment elsewhere. The community rallied behind Sarah and donated time, equipment, and resources to help get this restaurant started. Her goal for this project is to create a place for folks to give back and support their neighbors. Sarah has brought her community together, inspired volunteers, helped those in need, and started a legacy of service.

I am thankful for Sarah's dedication and heart for the Billings community. She has truly shown us all what it means to put service above self.

Madam President, today I have the honor of recognizing my good friend Chuck Roady of Flathead County.

It is hard to imagine where the Montana timber industry would be right now were it not for the leadership of Chuck. The last few decades haven't been easy on the timber industry or the communities that rely upon it for good paying jobs. Yet, throughout his career, Chuck has met these challenges head-on, fighting tooth and nail to protect timber jobs and advocate for the proper management of our forests.

Growing up, Chuck loved the outdoors and wanted to find a job that would allow him to be in the woods. After graduating from the University of Idaho College of Forestry, he worked for various timber companies across the Pacific Northwest. In 2003, he became lands and resources manager for F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber Company in Columbia Falls, MT. The Stoltze Mill employs more than 130 hard-working Montanans.

From the beginning of his time with Stoltze, Chuck became a leading voice in the community for our timber industry and proper forest management. Chuck's approach is to build bridges and find common ground amongst groups with different interests. His work has brought people together to find solutions that benefit the mills, the communities that depend on them, and our forests.

Chuck has been a leader on timber issues on the national stage as well. He was a founding member of the Federal Forest Resource Coalition and served as its chair. In this role, he successfully worked to elevate forest management issues to the forefront of our national debates, making real progress along the way. He has given us all a reason to be optimistic about the future.

I thank Chuck for his years of service to this cause and wish him all the best in his retirement.

Madam President, today I have the honor of recognizing Mike, a Montana ranch dog who was crowned this year's runner up for Farm Dog of the Year.

As a dog dad to Ruby, Reagan, and Jessie, I know the important role a dog plays in life. Dogs are there for us through the good and the bad, and they are always happy to see you. Our four-legged friends are a source of laughter and always make for a good hunting partner.

In Montana, our dogs take on another role. They become a trusty ranch hand for many. Tim Feddes, a rancher from Manhattan, knows just how important it is to have a hard-working cow dog. That is exactly why he thought Mike, his border collie, should have a shot at American Farm Bureau's 2021 Farm Dog of the Year Contest.

Out of hundreds of furry applicants, an expert panel chose Mike to be crowned as the runner-up for Farm Dog of the Year. Mike is a special dog that takes his job seriously and makes life on the ranch a little bit brighter.

It is my honor to recognize Mike on this incredible accomplishment. He has represented ranch dogs everywhere, and especially in Montana, with pride.

Mr. President, tomorrow is the 48th annual March for Life. Although this year's march will primarily be virtual, the importance of standing together to protect the unborn, the most vulnerable, and all life, is as important now as it has ever been.

Forty-eight years ago, our country started down a dark path. Forty- eight years ago, the Supreme Court tragically ruled in Roe v. Wade, and since then, we have lost the lives of 62 million people--62 million and counting--unborn babies, precious lives, by abortion.

I believe every human being is born with God-given dignity and potential. No court, no legislature, no law can take that away. Nevertheless, today, babies with Down syndrome are the most endangered on Earth.

For me, this is very personal. Just under 3 years ago, our world was blessed with a sweet baby boy named Andrew. He has Down's. His parents are very close friends. Andrew is a true joy, and his family celebrates his life every single day. Our world truly would not be the same without him.

But in the United States, 67 percent--67 percent--of babies diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted, two out of three. For every person with Down syndrome alive today that you know or you meet--our friends, our family members, loved ones--two more are gone from this world because of abortion. This is chilling.

In Europe, the numbers are even worse. In fact, in Iceland, because of abortion, the population of individuals with Down syndrome is virtually being eradicated. As prenatal screenings increase in availability, mothers frequently learn before birth if their baby has Down syndrome. Rather than giving supportive resources, these vulnerable moms are often pressured to abort the baby. We all too often hear of a false compassion that it would be better for unborn babies with Down Syndrome or other disabilities to not be brought into this world rather than live a life that might be different from other children. But that is not who we are as Americans.

I am deeply concerned that for babies born with Down syndrome, abortion has become ``a tool of modern day eugenics,'' as Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has said. It pains me to think about it.

But we can't just think about this pain and the pain that it causes. We have to do something. We have to protect those precious lives at all costs. It is the duty of this body to end this injustice. That is why I am joining my colleague from Oklahoma, Senator Inhofe, in introducing the Protecting Individuals with Down Syndrome Act, which will prohibit abortions that are sought because of a diagnosis that an unborn child has or may have Down syndrome.

This effort has the overwhelming support of the American public. In fact, just yesterday, a new Knights of Columbus-Marist poll found that 70 percent of Americans oppose aborting a child on the basis that the child will be born with Down syndrome--70 percent. In fact, that includes over half of those who identify as pro-choice.

This issue also sadly exposes a terrible hypocrisy we are seeing among supporters of abortion on demand. In fact, today, most Republicans and Democrats here in Congress are unified in their support for the Special Olympics and for protecting individuals with disabilities. Yet many of my colleagues across the aisle will oppose this commonsense legislation to stop the most lethal kind of discrimination imaginable, and that is being singled out and brutally killed because of a Down syndrome diagnosis. It is shameful.

As Henry Hyde famously said: ``The promise of America is not just for the privileged, the planned and the perfect.''

It is our duty to protect every innocent life, no matter how small, no matter how many chromosomes they may have.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Dale Hankins of Chouteau County for volunteering countless hours to support his fellow veterans.

When Dale was 10 years old, a friend of his father, a WWII vet, carried a diamond willow cane. Dale was so intrigued by the way the diamonds stood out, he couldn't take his eyes off of it. At the age of 17, he made his first attempt at carving a cane, and soon realized and appreciated the effort it took to create such beautiful craftsmanship. By the time he finished, his hands were so full of blisters he decided to pursue other hobbies.

Dale later joined the U.S. Army and served in Charlie Company, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, as an airborne infantry soldier. After receiving his honorable discharge, he returned to Montana and joined the Montana Army National Guard. Having a

renewed appreciation for the sacrifices veterans give, he picked up his hobby again in 2007 and began making diamond willow canes for disabled veterans. Each one is unique and personalized for the veteran, and an American flag is included on the handle of each cane.

Dale hasn't stopped since. He invests 80 hours or more to make each cane beautiful and durable, all at no cost to the veteran. Veterans across the Nation from Florida to Washington are proudly using his gift which has aided in their quality of life.

It is my honor to recognize Dale for his efforts to support and appreciate our heroes for the sacrifices they have made for our great Nation. The compassion and commitment of these extraordinary veterans are an inspiration to us all.

Mr. President, this week I rise to recognize Mike and Tari Conroy for their impact on Ravalli County and the surrounding areas. Through their work as bluegrass musicians, the Conroys have brought delight to the hearts of their Montanan listeners.

The Conroys' devotion to bluegrass extends beyond their respective playing of the banjo, guitar, and other traditional bluegrass instruments. The events the Conroys take part in, such as celebrating the birthday of a 90-year-old U.S. Army veteran or the closing of an essential Missoula landmark, represent the very best of Montana. It is no surprise that Mr. Conroy is the president of the Montana Bluegrass Association.

Additionally, the Conroys have worked tirelessly to share their love of bluegrass music with their fellow Montanans by organizing the annual Hardtimes Bluegrass Festival, which takes place just south of Hamilton, MT. This festival brings numerous bluegrass bands from the Northwestern United States to perform in Montana. Despite the financial and logistical hurdles, the Conroys are committed to sharing their passion with their fellow Montanans. As the festival enters its 11th year, it has truly become a cultural staple of the Bitterroot.

I applaud Mike and Tari Conroy for their work promoting and spreading the joy of bluegrass music across the State of Montana. As the Conroys prepare for the next festival, I wish them all the best.

Mr. President, this week I have the distinct honor of recognizing Troy Witt, of Garfield County, for his selfless actions in helping those in need.

Troy, a rancher and commercial trucker of Sand Springs, spearheaded an effort to send much needed donations to farmers and ranchers impacted by record flooding in Columbus, NE, in March of 2019. He was inspired by Montanans who came to his aid following the Lodgepole Complex fire, Montana's largest fire of the 2017 wildfire season. After losing 85 percent of his ranch, Witt was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and supplies he received from those he had never met.

When the opportunity presented itself, Witt decided to pay it forward. He planned to load up his 53-foot trailer with as much hay, fencing material, water and other supplies as he could and drive the 700 miles to the drop-off site in Columbus. After the Garfield County Disaster and Emergency Services echoed Witt's plans, farmers from around Montana offered to donate supplies. His efforts helped bring hope to a region where hundreds had lost homes and businesses.

Witt's act exemplifies the spirit of compassion and selflessness that Montanans embody. I and many others thank Mr. Witt for his good deed.

Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Dylan Wichman, of Billings, for his impact on the Yellowstone community and surrounding areas.

Dylan, only a rising senior at Billings Central High School, earned second place at the State Science Fair and took first at Montana State University-Billings' regional fair for his wildfire predictive and preventative algorithm, FASTCAT. Dylan also participated in the International Science Fair in Phoenix, AZ alongside 1,800 other students from 80 countries. Dylan earned third place in his category.

Inspired by the tragic Paradise Fire in 2018, Dylan put in countless hours to develop FASTCAT. FASTCAT is an algorithm used to predict the size of wildfires before they even occur, to ensure Montanans will be safer and more prepared during fire season. Dylan's artificial intelligence algorithm utilizes a neutral network model, ensuring the algorithms ability to problem solve as more data is input and analyzed. His innovative creation is an impressive improvement in Montana's existing fire safety and prevention programs. Dylan hopes to see his system implemented State and nationwide and globally in the future. Dylan will continue to work on his program alongside a professor at University of Montana next year.

I congratulate Dylan on his outstanding achievements and willingness to give back to his community. I look forward to seeing his success in his future endeavors.

Mr. President, 1 year ago, we came together not as Republicans or Democrats but as Americans. We passed a major milestone for our veterans. The bipartisan VA MISSION Act brought us a step closer to fulfilling our obligation to care for our men and women who serve in uniform.

In Montana we have one of the highest veteran per capita populations in the United States, and the issue of access to veteran healthcare is one that I hear across every corner of our State.

My dad is a U.S. marine. I am proud we were able to get this important bill signed into law. The VA MISSION Act will help fix many of the problems plaguing the VA Choice Program. The veterans across our rural communities in Montana will have greater and more convenient access to care. Telemedicine services will be strengthened to accommodate those who live a long ways away from traditional hospitals or health clinics. Oversight of opioid prescriptions will be strengthened. There will be greater accountability in how companies manage this new program.

It will help fill the VA's medical professional shortage through scholarship and loan repayment programs for medical and dental students who commit to serving in the VA. The MISSION Act was an important step forward, and I am proud to have helped get this bill across the finish line and onto President Trump's desk.

Now we must hold the VA and the program administrators accountable for ensuring the MISSION Act works for our veterans. I will be in constant contact with local VA leaders and veterans themselves to get firsthand feedback as this is implemented.

As we celebrate this important milestone, we must not slow down our efforts to continue to improve our veterans' healthcare. I look forward to continuing to work on behalf of our veterans and build off the good work that was accomplished here last year. We must ensure that veterans in Montana and across our Nation receive the care they have earned. I am honored to fight this fight for the brave men and the brave women who served in uniform.

Thank you.

I yield the floor.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to engage in colloquy with my Senate colleague.

Mr. President, I am here today to discuss an issue that is very important to Montanans, folks across the Nation, and many of my colleagues here in the Senate, and that is the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program, commonly known as TANF. That is our Nation's cash-assistance and services program for low-income households with children.

I am joined today by my esteemed colleague and my friend, the Senator from Iowa, Mr. Grassley. I have the privilege of serving on the Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Senator Grassley, which has jurisdiction over TANF. Chairman Grassley, like me, knows how important it is to ensure that this program is working as intended and that it is helping families move into jobs and toward self-sufficiency. Of course, it was Chairman Grassley who helped bring about the last significant reform to TANF in 2006. I am glad he is leading the committee as we try to pass meaningful reforms again this year.

We are here today because we cannot ignore that Congress is about to do a straight continuation of funding of TANF for the 39th consecutive time despite the fact that this program needs reform.

TANF, created with bipartisan support in 1996, was a huge success for the American people. Let me say that again--with bipartisan support. After TANF became law, welfare caseloads plummeted, child poverty declined, and employment among low-income parents actually went up. TANF recognized that finding and maintaining a job is the most effective way for families to go from government-dependency to self- sufficiency.

However, more than 20 years after these historic 1996 reforms, Congress has neglected to act on the loopholes that hold States accountable for work requirements. In fact, today, very few States, including my home State of Montana, are meeting the work participation rate that is required by the law. The law calls for 50 percent of welfare enrollees to be engaged in work, but in Montana, they are only reaching one-third of that.

Many States are also using TANF dollars for purposes unrelated to work. States need to be providing families with the support they need, and that is why I am taking action. That is why I introduced legislation earlier this year--the Jobs and Opportunity with Benefits and Services Act, better

known as the JOBS Act--to reauthorize and modernize the TANF Program.

The JOBS Act would help our low-income families find work and have every opportunity to climb the economic ladder. It would require State caseworkers to engage with jobseekers to help them not only find a job but then to keep that job.

My legislation takes into consideration all aspects of a person's life, including mental health, drug addiction, and alcohol addiction. It also increases resources for childcare to refocus dollars back to supporting work.

Congress should be working to help families thrive in this growing economy. In fact, right now in the United States, there are 7.6 million new job openings. In fact, right now in the United States, job openings outnumber the jobseekers. As employers are looking to hire, we need to close the jobs gap and ensure that the Americans who need them most are filling them. This is an opportunity for mobility--to step toward the American dream.

Chairman Grassley, would you agree with me that TANF is no longer meeting its welfare-to-work potential, and would you commit to working side by side with me and other supporters on modernizing TANF to bring about the reforms this program desperately needs?

I yield to Senator Grassley, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

Mr. President, I thank Senator Grassley.

He has been a strong advocate for policies that uplift rural communities, and he gets to all of Iowa's 99 counties every year. I would bet Chairman Grassley probably has a lot of stories to talk about as to what is going on because he is in touch with the folks back home who are in these rural communities. Montana is similar. We both come from States that have strong ag heritages, and we have a lot of rural communities. We need policies that will uplift these rural communities and, importantly, strengthen our families.

It is time we see some real change--to stop kicking the proverbial can down the road and OK these consecutive, short-term reauthorizations. That is something DC is pretty good at--short-term reauthorizations, like the 39 we have seen in the last decade with TANF. What we need are permanent reforms rather than these temporary extensions.

I thank Senator Grassley for joining me today in this colloquy and for his commitment to getting something done.

The chairman is a ``getter done'' kind of leader, and he couldn't have said it any better than in his talking about removing families from being dependent to being independent. We have plenty of provisions here to make sure we take care of those families who, maybe, don't have a choice if there are addiction issues or if there are childcare problems. We have to make sure they will have the ability to get the help they need, but we want to move them into the workforce. With all of these jobs being available right now in this economy, we could solve two problems. That is why we need these TANF reforms.

I thank the Senator for joining me today and for his commitment to getting something done. I am positive TANF reform will lead to great success for people in Montana, for people in Iowa, as well as for people in the rest of the country.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Mike Faber for his significant impact on the community as an educator, coach, and mentor.

Mike Faber has selflessly served his community by educating young Montanans in Cut Bank for 21 years and 6 years in Eureka. Mike taught a wide range of disciplines, from physical education to Native American history, at both the middle school and high school level.

Truly demonstrating a passion for service, Mike was an instructor not only in the classroom but also on the field. While in Eureka, he coached wrestling, football and track and field for 15 years, helping young Montanans build character and a strong work ethic that will serve them well in their adult years.

For almost three decades, Mike has lived a life of servant- leadership, his leadership in the classroom and on the field will be greatly missed by his community. His efforts to help transform young students into good citizens has impacted the lives of nearly 3,000 young Montanans throughout his 27-year career. I applaud Mike for leading a life of excellence in educating our nation's youth and setting a standard for exemplary service.

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