Floor Statements

Mr. President, today I wish to honor the men and women of the USS Billings Commissioning Committee and their notable contributions to our State and Nation. The USS Billings Commissioning Committee is a group of volunteers from Montana's largest city, who have dedicated themselves to promoting awareness and fostering support for the future commissioning of the USS Billings and all those who will sail aboard her in defense of our Nation.

Upon commissioning, the USS Billings will be the first U.S. Navy warship to bear the city's namesake, a historic moment for our State. Montana has a proud heritage of military service. Some 3,500 Active Duty servicemembers currently serve at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, and another 4,500 citizen-soldiers serve in the National Guard and Reserve at various locations across the State. Beyond the borders of our landlocked home, more than 2,200 U.S. Navy sailors currently call Montana home, adding 134 new Montanans to their ranks in the past 12 months. Montana also proudly boasts the highest percentage of veterans per capita in the contiguous United States.

A Freedom Class littoral combat ship, the USS Billings will be among the fastest, most technologically advanced, and agile efficient ships in our naval fleet. The USS Billings will project power near the shoreline and conduct a wide range of missions, including mine countermeasures, antisubmarine warfare, and surface warfare missions. We wait with great anticipation as her August 3 commissioning quickly approaches.

In keeping with time-honored naval traditions, the USS Billings Commissioning Committee on behalf of the city of Billings is making preparations to host the commission ceremony and a series of celebrations. Determined to accomplish this ambitious goal, the committee has made great strides in rallying support across the State. The city has had the honor and privilege of hosting the crew of the USS Billings at the of the committee, and we look forward to their return in the weeks ahead. These efforts have made great strides in fostering a strong and enduring relationship between the city of Billings, the State of Montana, and the U.S. Navy.

In recognition of these and other notable accomplishments, I ask that the following names who have volunteered for the USS Billings Commissioning Committee be entered into the Record: Mayor Bill Cole, Chairman; Councilman Mike Yakawich, Co-Vice Chair; Commissioner Denis Pitman, Co-Vice Chair; Ron Spence, Committee Coordinator; Councilman Larry Brewster; Brent Brooks; Dan Brooks; Councilman Dick Clark; Sue Davidson; Katy Easton; Mike Jennings; Al Swanson; and Nancy Swanson.

Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Jo Laughlin and Doris McCorkindale for their impact on Fergus County and surrounding areas.

Jo and Doris serve their local community as volunteers at the Central Montana Community Cupboard. Folks all over the community are grateful for the joy and light Jo and Doris bring to the families they serve. They have set a great example for all Montanans with their time and dedication as volunteers.

For over 20 years, Jo has tirelessly served in various capacities at the Cupboard, as both a board member and volunteer. Her lighthearted attitude and selfless nature brings joy to the people she serves. At 89 years old, Jo continues to serve as head volunteer, coordinating all food orders and overseeing the day to day operations at the Cupboard.

Doris has served at the Cupboard as both a board member and volunteer for almost 20 years. As volunteer coordinator, she works to ensure an adequate number of volunteers are available to aid in daily operations. At the age of 91, she is still committed to the families she serves and does not intend to slow down anytime soon.

I applaud Jo and Doris for leading a life of excellence and serving the struggling and the hungry of their community. Their commitment to their fellow Montanans, as well as their happy optimism towards life, is a shining example of the Montana spirit. Fergus County is lucky to have these two incredible women in their community as selfless leaders.

Madam President, 2 years ago, I exposed the Democrats' plan for socialized medicine and allowed every Senator here to take a clear stand and reject this disastrous idea once and for all. Unfortunately, very few Senate Democrats were willing to oppose socialized medicine then. Well, they are back at it again today. So now I am here again to shed some much needed light on what seems to be a never-ending game to score political points and, even worse, to set the stage for terrible policy--a continuing call for socialized medicine.

We are seeing this false narrative of ``free socialized medicine'' making headlines, but you see, it is not actually free; somebody has to pay for it. In fact, every single one of us and our kids and our grandkids will be paying for it for a long time if this nonsensical plan becomes reality.

Montanans face enough hardships with rising prescription drug costs and rising premiums. The Democrats' socialized medical scheme will cost the American taxpayer $32 trillion over 10 years--$32 trillion--not to mention that this scheme would kick millions off their healthcare plan and eliminate private health insurance.

In combination with the left's absurd Green New Deal, what we are seeing here today is a pattern when it comes to the Democrats' very liberal and leftist agenda. They don't blink an eye when their liberal policies cost the taxpayers trillions of dollars, and they aren't coming up with feasible solutions.

In fact, too many Montanans are faced with the very tough choice of choosing between health and putting food on the table. Prescription drug prices are out of control. Montanans are sick and tired of being sick and tired. They want Congress to do something. They want results. They want outcomes. That is why I have been fighting for a commonsense solution like my bill, the CREATES Act, which addresses high prescription drug costs and improves access to care in our rural communities.

The left's pie-in-the-sky proposal promises a great deal, but we all know the extent of empty promises in this town. These proposals do nothing but throw hard-working Montanans under the bus, foot the massive tax bill to the taxpayers, and prop up failed policies just to appease a radicalizing base across this country in the Democratic Party. The people of Montana want better than this. They deserve better than this.

To my colleagues who are attempting to make a hard run to the left to score some points within your base, I simply ask this: Will you please put your country over your party? Will you put the interests of the people over your own self-political interests, or will you continue to peddle the lie of socialized medicine to the American people?

I think it is time we get to work, hunker down and roll up our sleeves and produce real results that the people of Montana and across our Nation deserve. They deserve serious answers, and they deserve serious solutions, and it is long overdue that we give them that.

Thank you.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing the University of Montana Western women's basketball team for their first ever NAIA Division I national championship.

The University of Montana Western women's basketball team won the NAIA Division I national championship game 75-59 over Oklahoma City University and finished their season with 30 wins and only 4 losses. These ladies have done an incredible job exemplifying the hard work that all Montanans are known for.

The team also received several individual awards for coaches and players. Their head coach, Lindsay Woolley, was awarded the NAIA Coach of the Year. The Montana Western Bulldogs also had the NAIA Player of the Year, Brianna King. Ms. King set a University of Montana Western single-season scoring record with 771 points.

Congratulations to the University of Montana Western women's basketball team on an incredible season and a memorable outcome as the NAIA Division I National Champions.

Mr. President, Future Farmers of America, FFA, is a noteworthy educational program that makes a difference in the lives of young Montanans by helping members navigate their future careers and enhancing their leadership skills and personal growth. FFA isn't only for those who want to end up in production agriculture, but for those who want to become teachers, businessowners, and leaders in their communities. I have had the privilege of meeting many FFA members over the last several years and have enjoyed hearing about their experiences. It is my pleasure to honor the 205 members receiving their State FFA Degree this year. The State Degree is the highest degree that can be given and requires members to complete several critical benchmarks, including 360 hours of agricultural education in high school, 10 procedures of parliamentary law, more than 25 hours of community service, and they must serve as a chapter officer or a committee chair. Receiving the State Degree underscores a member's dedication to learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live and living to serve.

Congratulations to the 205 FFA Members receiving their State FFA Degree this year: Wilson Paytyn of Bainville, Bradly Kallevig of Baker, Sean Loutzenhiser of Baker, Brayden Hankinson of Beaverhead, Harleigh Johnson of Beaverhead, Terye Noble of Beaverhead, Anthony Tatarka of Belgrade, Joe Tatarka of Belgrade, Kaydee Ann TeSelle of Belgrade, Grace Finke of Big Sandy, Bailey Gasvoda of Big Sandy, Tyler Schwarzbach of Big Sandy, Erin Taylor of Big Sandy, Georgia Wortman of Big Sandy, Laramie Haug of Big Horn, Makiko Reisig of Big Horn, Jacob Husman of Big Horn, Tayden Gee of Broadus, Beau Kuhbacher of Broadus, Erick McConnon of Broadus, Bailey Smith of Broadus, Callie Williams of Broadus, Trenton Braaten of Broadwater, Andrew Ferrat of Broadwater, Caleb Fix of Carter County, Tori Tooke of Carter County, Jean Blackman of Cascade, Kyle Evans of Cascade, Kolton Lynn of Cascade, Mackenzie Wombold of Cascade, Ryle Elliot of Chinook, Rachel Gunderson of Chinook, Kendra McMaster of Chinook, Cord Schneider of Chinook, Alden Johnson of Choteau, Caroline Roeder of Choteau, Garret Yeager of Choteau, Jessica Adkins of Clarksfork, Desiree Jones of Clarksfork, Tristan Phillips of Clarksfork, Stephanie Skorupa of Clarksfork, Jessly Howard of Columbus, Amber LeBrun of Columbus, Richard Ratzburg of Conrad, Megan Bradshaw of Corvallis, Lacey Gregorie of Corvallis, Michael McKay of Corvallis, Emily Seifert of Corvallis, Tristan Labatte of Culbertson, Carter Nickoloff of Culbertson, Noah Nickoloffof Culbertson, Lucas Oelkers of Culbertson, Augustus Spradley of Culbertson, Kai Underdahl of Culbertson, Jordan Calloway of Custer, Deanna Stieber of Custer, Shane Trusty of Custer, Hans Lampert of Deer Lodge, Kaleb Starr of Deer Lodge, Jessica Ayers of Denton, Kein Carpenter of Denton, Parker Donaldson of Denton, Morgan Ward of Denton, Morgan Zuidema of Electric City, Berit Bedord of Fairfield, Emily Evans of Fairfield, Rachel Foster of Fairfield, Jason Gibson of Fairfield, Trace Gulick of Fairfield, Walker Heckman of Fairfield, Levi Wipf of Fairfield, Jaycie Rau of Fairview, Alex Young of Fairview, Chloe Arndt of Fergus, Grace Holzer of Fergus, Chistopher Fourtner of Forsyth, Mckenzie Mork of Forsyth, Brandon Schnug of Forsyth, Christaen McKelvy of Fort Benton, Mackenzie Dethman of Froid, Hunter Krogedal of Froid, Haley Labatte of Froid, Boone Foos of Fromberg, Maxine Rysavy of Fromberg, Tyler Wilm of Fromberg, Joey Hale of Geraldine, Bentley McCullough of Geraldine, Caleb Meeks of Geraldine, Ryan Seaman of Geraldine, Grant Finkbeiner of Grass Range, Reata Smith of Grass Range, Mattea Tucek of Grass Range, Sarah Boucher of Hinsdale, Chaykota Christensen of Hinsdale, John McColly of Hinsdale, Claire Stevenson of Hobson, Kristen Vincent of Hobson, Dawson Bender of Huntley Project, Codie Bowen of Huntley Project, Colton Hawkins of Huntley Project, Brooke Johnson of Huntley Project, Leslie Lile of Huntley Project, Jacob Siewert of Huntley Project, James White Huntley Project, Walker Anttila of Joliet, Justin Harris of Joliet, Lauren Hoines of Joliet, Brianna King of Joliet, Noah Salo of Joliet, Mallory Simons of Joliet, Kerstin Sweet of Joliet, Ella Thompson of Joliet, Kallie Zinne of Joliet, Thomas Bailey of Kalispell, Sophie Desch of Kalispell, Julie Duffie of Kalispell, Cole Dykhuizen of Kalispell, Jordan Horn of Kalispell, Morgan Kelly of Kalispell, Whitney Levanen of Kalispell, Bethany Lyford of Kalispell, Layton Praxel of Kalipsell, Kayla Praxel of Kalispell, Cassandra Praxel of Kalispell, Amber Reiner of Kalispell, Mabry Shepard of Kalispell, Lynde Shriver of Kalispell, Madeline Sutton of Kalispell, Elizabeth Hill of Lambert, Seth Prevost of Lambert, Tyler Thiessen of Lambert, Jacalyn Wright of Lambert, Ashley Gee of Laurel, Anna Kraft of Laurel, Ryan Robertus of Laurel, Bethany Holm of Malta, Shelby Jones of Malta, Charlee Rhodes of Malta, Thomas DeJaegher of Melstone, Harry Griswold of Melstone, Abby Hansen of Melstone, Matson McClure of Misson Valley, Kylee Billingsley of Missoula, Jarrett Bowman of Missoula, Brianna Bergum of Moore, Josie Jesson of Park, Sidni Payne of Park, Andee Baker of Park City, Jerrica Bursik of Park City, Megan Flemmer of Park City, Kayla Hagan of Plentywood, Randy Heppner of Plentywood, Riley Hilyard of Plentywood, Bryce Osksa of Plentywood, Brenna Osksa of Plentywood, Kacie Wacker of Plentywood, Tyler Weeks of Plentywood, Shayna Ellis of Red Lodge, Katherine Jacobsen of Redlodge, Brylee Brost of Richey, Chase Brown of Richey, Kyler Brown of Richey, Haley Olson of Richey, Abbie Smith of Richey, Leotie Whitehead of Richey, Andrew Beeler of Rosebud, Austin Quinlan of Rosebud, Tyler Eliasson of Roundup, Cassie Hull of Roundup, Rebecca Nelson of Roundup, Renee Parsons of Roundup, Cooper Shaw of Roundup, Victoria Tirado of Roundup, Irene Johnson of Roy, John Gilman of Ruby Valley, Tyler Haag of Ruby Valley, Emma Hill of Saint Regis, Ryan Van Tine of Shelby, Molly Engle of Shields Valley, Rodie Keyes of Shields Valley, Tanner Lykins of Shields Valley, Jack Marshall of Shields Valley, Kade Anderson of Sidney, Emma Torgerson of Sidney, Hannah Silva of Stevensville, Raelynne Barnett of Stillwater Valley, Shea Ostrum of Stillwater Valley, Dylan

Young of Stillwater Valley, Cody Hanson of Sweet Grass Hills, Lane Lerum of Sweet Grass Hills, Dylan Postma of Sweet Grass Hills, Raelynne Hagan of Three Forks, Enola McDonald of Three Forks, Ashley Rauser of Three Forks, Taylor Rochford of Three Forks, Ayden Anderson of Twin Bridges, Cole Escott of Twin Bridges, Aaron Grabil of Twin Bridges, Ashleigh Guinnane of Twin Bridges, Brooke Mehlhoff of Twin Bridges, Kenna Millhouse of Twin Bridges, Joseph Peterson of Twin Bridges, Wyatt Day of Victor, Teasha Johnson of Victor, Anna Slivka of Winifred.

Mr. President, this week, I have the distinct honor of recognizing Dr. Jonathan L. Bingham for his service in providing quality dermatologic surgery care to the folks in Great Falls and his military service in the Montana Air National Guard.

Dr. Bingham graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy. Following the Naval Academy, he went on to medical school at Pennsylvania State University and the Air War College. Dr. Bingham then served with distinction as a flight surgeon and Mohs Surgeon-Dermatologist in the U.S. Navy.

Throughout the course of his career, he has served his country and his fellow citizens with great honor. During his time in the Navy, he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a flight surgeon, and he also served as faculty dermatologist and Mohs Surgeon at the National Naval Medical Center and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to support the White House Medical Unit and the Office of the Attending Physician.

In Great Falls, Dr. Bingham is one of the leading experts on dermatologic care. Despite his successful career as a civilian and servicemember, Dr. Bingham continues his service to our country in the Air National Guard.

Dr. Bingham is an inspiration to any young Montanans seeking to live out a life in service to his or her country. I congratulate Dr. Bingham for his exemplary record of excellence, and I thank him for his continued service to the people of Montana and our country.

Mr. President, I would like to recognize and congratulate Clara Harmon from Helena for winning the 2019 Treasure State Spelling Bee. Clara is an exceptional young woman who attends school through the Helena Area Christian Home Educators.

Clara endured 19 rounds of tough competition which amounted to 3 1/2 hours before she was crowned the victor. Clara is a shining example of the best and the brightest Montana has to offer. This May, Clara will be travelling to National Harbor, MD, to represent Montana at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. I also want to thank Clara's parents, Charles and Dianna Harmon for raising such a talented and passionate daughter.

All of Montana will be rooting for Clara as she represents us on the national stage in May.

Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Phillip South of Sheridan, MT, for his 100 years of determination, bravery, and service.

At 100, Philip South has lived through 18 presidents, two World Wars, the Great Depression, and was born when there were only 48 States in the United States. Mr. South served his country heroically in World War II as a rifleman and scout in the U.S. Marine Corps with the renowned First Marine Division.

In the Guadalcanal, Phillips survived sniper fire and his small regiment of rifleman and scouts found themselves in the heart of the battle for Henderson Field. He held a position not too far from Medal of Honor recipient John Basilone, to hold the line against an onslaught of Japanese troops. Despite being outnumbered, his small group prevailed.

I would like to thank Mr. South for his service to our Nation. He is an inspiration to all young Montanans wishing to serve their country.

Mr. President, this week I have the honor of congratulating Treasure County for 100 years of as one of Montana's 56 counties.

Although one of the least populous counties in Montana, Treasure boasts many historic buildings that incorporate the rich history of Big Sky Country from the Yucca Theater with its beautiful Spanish mission style architecture that provided hope and entertainment during the Great Depression, to the 1950s contemporary style courthouse in Hysham. With a population less than a thousand, Treasure County's rich lands provide a bounty for ranchers and farmers alike.

Treasure County is an important part of Montana's cherished history and remains a vital part of our State's landscape. I congratulate the folks down in Treasure County on celebrating 100 years of excellence in local government.

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

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

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, this week I have the distinct honor of recognizing Sean O'Donnell and Ivanna Fritz of Flathead County for their recent induction into the Montana Forensic Educations Association Coaches Hall of Fame.

Sean O'Donnell, a lifelong Montanan has spent the majority of his life in Kalispell, MT. Mr. O'Donnell attended Carrol College in Helena, MT, and it was here that Sean fell in love with coaching high school speech and debate. After graduation, he went back to Kalispell to teach and went on to join the Flathead coaching staff in 1992. Over the past 22 years, Mr. O'Donnell has gone on to win 10 State championships, as well as winning Class AA coach of the year twice.

Ivanna Fritz, from eastern Montana, fell in love with speech and debate in college, which she took as a requirement for a communication degree. Ms. Fritz then went on to coach high school speech in debate, joining the Flathead coaching staff in 1995, until taking up a teaching position at Glacier High School in 2007, where she teaches and coaches today. Ivanna has won a total of 13 State championships, along with winning Class AA coach of the year.

I congratulate Sean O'Donnell and Ivanna Fritz, for their remarkable journey of 20 years of teaching and coaching in Flathead County. I look forward to seeing their continued success.

Mr. President, I would like to start by talking about one of the best things we are known for in Montana, and that is our great outdoors, whether it be our national parks, our iconic wildlife, hunting, or fly fishing. Like all Montanans, I want the peace of mind that I can continue to enjoy these opportunities with my kids and grandkids, just as my dad and my grandpa did with me growing up in Montana.

In Montana, we know how to foster commonsense, locally driven conservation to protect our environment. I am here to tell you today that there is nothing common sense about the so-called Green New Deal. In fact, the Green New Deal is a representation of everything that is wrong with Washington, DC. It is a radical, top-down idea that disregards the impacts on hard-working Montanans and Americans across our country.

You see, in Montana, we rely on a diverse portfolio of energy and fuel sources to help grow our economy, to create good-paying jobs, and to preserve our Montana way of life. In order to live where you also like to play--that is what we call Montana--you need a good-paying job. Montana is still a State where a mom or a dad, a grandma or a grandpa, or an uncle or an aunt can take a child down to Walmart and buy an elk tag over the counter and be at a trailhead to start elk hunting within 30 minutes. We need our ag production. We need clean coal. We need sustainable timber production. These are all part of our Montana way of life. They are all important to the great State heritage we have. This Green New Deal would uproot all of that.

This Green New Deal sounds more like a socialist wish list than it does some great, bold conservation plan. Calling for an end to air travel, getting rid of all of the cows, and ceasing all production of coal would literally destroy our State's economy. The Green New Deal flat out doesn't work. Montana's rural communities would be left without any power or electricity. In fact, just this month, we saw record cold temperatures in Montana. I was trying to fly back to Washington, DC, a week ago Monday. When I got to our airport there in Bozeman, it was minus-40 degrees. We had to hold the plane for nearly 3 hours because deicing fluid only works at minus-25 and warmer temperatures.

The data that we have now looked at from during that cold snap shows that it was coal-fired generation--in particular, our Colstrip powerplant--that picked up the slack during those low temperatures. It kept the heat on for families across Montana.

Our wind turbines have difficulty working in subzero temperatures, and that is regardless of whether the wind blows. One of the challenges in a State like Montana is that when a high-pressure system moves in, whether in the wintertime or in the summertime--let's take the winter for example. When high pressure moves in, oftentimes that is associated with low temperatures. That usually is when we have a spike in requirements of energy consumption needs on the grid. What happens when a high-pressure system moves in is that the wind stops blowing. There is a reason wind is referred to as intermittent energy.

I am not opposed to the renewables. I think it is wonderful that we have wind energy in Montana. We have solar. We have hydro. We have a great renewable energy portfolio in Montana. But the reality is that during the coldest days of the winter, the wind doesn't blow. In fact, at minus-23 degrees and colder, they have to shut off the wind turbines because of the stress it presents to the materials of the turbines.

In the summertime, when high-pressure systems move in, the temperatures spike on the high side, and the wind stops blowing. At the same time, we have peak load on the grid.

So the commonsense thing to do is to focus on accelerating development of clean coal technology and keeping a balanced portfolio to make sure we meet the spike demands, whether they are in the summertime or in the wintertime.

While we should focus on accelerating investments to help renewables like wind become more reliable, which makes a lot of sense, we should continue to think about how to make renewables better.

The Green New Deal seems to think we all live in a fantasyland. In fact, it states how the United States has a disproportionate contribution to global

greenhouse gas emissions. Reports show that it is Asia, China, India, and other Asian countries. They are the countries that will drive energy consumption 25 percent higher by 2040 and with it, global gas emissions.

The Green New Deal doesn't tell the positive story right here at home that the U.S.--and listen to this--is actually a world leader in technological energy innovation; that is we, the United States, leads the world in reducing energy-related carbon emissions. In fact, since 2007, our emissions have decreased about 14 percent. In fact, it is more innovation, not more regulation, that will further reduce global carbon emissions.

Our world is a safer, more secure place if we accelerate energy innovation here at home, not cut the rug out from under us and cede that leadership to Asian countries. To top it all off, under the Green New Deal, it is the American people and it is Montanans, the hard- working taxpayers, who are going to pick up the bill.

Some estimates have found this radical proposal would cost hard- working families over $600,000 per household over the proposed timeframe of that deal. That is about $65,000 every year.

After only 10 years of implementation, Montanans will be stuck with a $93 trillion tab; roughly, $10 trillion more than the combined GDP of every nation on the planet in 2017. You see, this Green New Deal has nothing to do with conservation and the environment.

The people of Montana believe in smart and efficient conservation. Listen, I am an avid backpacker. I am an avid fly fisherman. I spend more time in the wilderness than many. My wife and I love to put backpacks on and get back in the High Country and chase golden trout, the elk, and cattle. I love pristine environments. Montanans share a similar passion for the outdoors, but Montanans know we need smart and efficient conservation, and there is not one smart or efficient thing about this proposal.

The Green New Deal is not a bold step forward. It is tragically backward. This is taking us back to Lewis and Clark, but don't take it from me. Take it from the hard-working Montanans, like our mine workers, like our pipe fitters, like our labor unions, which say:

We will not accept proposals that could cause immediate

harm to millions of our members and their families. We will

not stand by and allow threats to our members' jobs and their

families' standard of living go unanswered.

That is why I am here today. We will not let this Green New Deal proposal go unanswered.

Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Patrick Armstrong, Jr., of Heart Butte, for his dedication to Glacier County.

A member of the Blackfeet Nation, Mr. Armstrong was born and raised in Browning, MT, where he attended Browning Public School Systems, K- 12. He has been an educator at Browning Elementary for 5 years, where he currently teaches fourth grade. Patrick and his wife, Anna, have three children.

Mr. Armstrong has always been actively involved in sports and has been officiating for 20 years. Since then, Patrick has been heavily involved in officiating high school basketball. He was recently nominated as this year's boys basketball official of the year by the National Federation of High School Association, Montana High School Association, and the Montana Officials Association. To be nominated for this award, you must exemplify upstanding character. Mr Armstrong is a prominent mentor in his community. He is a humble man who knows the value of a strong community.

I congratulate Patrick on his role in bringing together and growing the Browning community.