Floor Statements

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Madam 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.

Madam President, today I have the honor of recognizing Bob Dellwo of Choteau, MT, for his over 94 years of service to his community, country, and family.

Bob was born in Conrad on August 1, 1924. After his family moved to Choteau, Bob grew up and attended Teton High School, where he was a member of the football team. From 1942-1946, Bob volunteered to serve in WWII. While serving in the Navy, most of his time was spent as a radio man on a dive bomber, where he twice earned the Distinguished Flying Cross.

In January of 1946, Bob married his sweetheart Helen. The two were married for over 55 years. Together, they had four children they raised in Choteau and Helena. As owners of various small businesses throughout the years, they were well known and active in their communities.

Bob took immense pride in his 22 grandchildren and great- grandchildren and rightfully so. In fact, his granddaughter Liz holds a special spot in the Daines office, having worked on Team Daines for many years. A kind and lighthearted spirit, Bob enjoyed being with his family more than anything, and that is how he chose to spend his time.

Bob leaves behind a legacy of friendship, family, faith, and community. His dedication and service to others throughout his life will have a lasting impact for generations to come. I join his family, friends, and community in mourning his death, but we take comfort in knowing he is in a better place now with the love of his life, Helen.

Madam, today, I wish to honor the men and women of the USS Montana Committee and their notable contributions to our State and our Nation in 2018.

The USS Montana Committee is a group of volunteers from Montana who have dedicated themselves to promoting awareness and fostering support for the future commissioning of the USS Montana and all those who will sail aboard her in defense of our Nation. A Virginia Class nuclear fast-attack submarine, the USS Montana will protect carrier and expeditionary strike groups, hunt and destroy enemy ships, and conduct strategic national security missions around the globe. We wait with great anticipation as her 2020 commissioning quickly approaches.

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. Montana also proudly boasts the highest percentage of veterans per capita in the contiguous United States. 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.

Once she is commissioned, the USS Montana will be the second U.S. Navy warship to bear our State's namesake. The first, an armored cruiser, AC 13, was commissioned 1908 and served with distinction in World War I. In fact, her keel was laid 112 years ago this week on December 15, 1906. The bell from that ship is currently on display in the lobby of the University of Montana's Adams Center. It has a legacy of its own, playing a prominent role in one of the oldest college football rivalries in the nation.

2018 has proven to be a banner year for the USS Montana, her crew, and her network of volunteers in Montana. In May, we celebrated the laying of her keel, a proud naval tradition and one of the most significant milestones in the ship's construction prior to delivery. The celebration incorporated a number of Montana themes and traditions, including a Native Blackfeet blessing by Mariah Gladstone of Kalispell. We were also introduced to her command leadership team: commanding officer, CDR Michael Delaney; executive officer, LCDR Jeffrey Kahn; and chief of the boat, SCPO Michael Dassau. We even got a look at the ship's preliminary emblem, which incorporates strong symbolism of the State, the submarine force, and the naval service. The ship also enjoyed prominent recognition on the cover of the 2018 Montana Voter Information Pamphlet distributed statewide in preparation for the midterm elections.

The USS Montana Committee was proudly represented and facilitated these key events by raising awareness and funding across the state. Over the course of the year, the committee held events in Butte, Missoula, Helena, Columbia Falls, Kalispell, Billings, Colstrip, Lewistown, Miles City, Sidney, Great Falls, and Glasgow. In September, the committee facilitated a statewide tour with the commanding officer, with stops in Billings, Helena, Great Falls, and Missoula. These efforts have made great strides in fostering a strong and enduring relationship between 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 Montana Committee be entered into the Record.

The Founding Members and other voting members of the Steering Group: Craig Anderson of Billings, Duane Ankney of Colstrip, Doug Averill of Bigfork, Leo Berry of Helena, Mike Halligan of Missoula, Bill Leininger of Bigfork, Brian Lipscomb of Polson, Greg MacDonald of Billings, Marilyn Olson of Lewistown, Sarah Swanson Partridge of Glasgow, Curtis Pohl of Butte, Gary Purdy of Columbia Falls, Marisa Robertson of Havre, Bonnie Simon of Plentywood, Steven Stahlberg of Kalispell, Monty Wallis of Billings, Bill Whitsitt of Bigfork, and Darren Wilkins of Bozeman.

Honorary Members: the Honorable Marc Racicot, Former Governor of Montana, the Honorable Stan Stevens, Former Governor of Montana, and RADM George E. Voelker, USN (Ret.), First operational commander, USS Helena, SSN 725.

Committee Members: Kelly Addy of Bigfork, Wade & Gee Gee Allred of Bigfork, Chase Anderson of Laurel, Chris Aymes of Kalispell, Liz Bangerter of Helena, David & Dana Bennett of Missoula, Calvin Beringer of Kalispell, Dennis Berklund of Bigfork, Richard & Marilou Berklund of Formerly of Shepherd, Carol Bishop of Huson, David Blade of Helena, Rex Boller of Lakeside, Col. Frank Borman of Billings, Lane & Rachel Bos of Bozeman, Donald C. Bost of Lewistown, Michael Bower of Billings, Jennifer Brien of Formerly of Kalispell.

Katie Brien of Formerly of Kalispell, Bob & Sue Brown of Whitefish, Thomas & Gayle Butler of Deer Lodge, John & Cynthia Cannon of Bigfork, Charles Carroll of Billings, Bill & Valerie Caton of Laurel, Nick Chiechi of St. Marie, Doug & Cindy Coats of Kila, Beth Cohen of Billings, Stuart & Anita Cole of Bigfork, Mayor Wilmot Collins of Helena, Stuart & Anita Cole of Bigfork, Wayne Connell of Great Falls,

Tamara & Joseph Crismore of Libby, Ron & Shelly Davis of Butte, Paul Dragu of Havre, Timothy Dralle of Helena, Dan Eastman of Polson, Dan Ellison of Helena, John Emeigh of Butte.

Victoria Emmons of Missoula, Scott Fisher of Columbia Falls, Aaron & Jessica Flint of Billings, Attorney General Tim & Karen Fox of Clancy, Christopher Gartrell of Formerly of Manhattan and Bozeman, Raymond G. Gavlak The 3rd of Stevensville, Greg & Susan Gianforte of Bozeman, Mark Gilbertson of Formerly of Kalispell, Maury Graham of Glasgow, Ray Godfrey of Bigfork, Gary & Peach Graeff of Bigfork, Jack Griffith of Lakeside, Chris & Francine Hagar of Bigfork, Dave & Karen Helmrick of Troy, Jason & Jamie Hildenstab of Helena, Joe & Julia Hill of Formerly of Ennis, Kristen Inbody of Great Falls, James Irwin of Sweetgrass.

Keith Johnson of Twin Bridges, Kristin Jacobson of Missoula, Tate Jones of Missoula, Max Kalafat of Formerly of Great Falls, Cari Kent of Great Falls, David & Tamara Kiehl of Bigfork, Roger Knoell of Butte, Jay Lamb of Formerly of Billings, Michael Lawson of Butte, Mark & Analyn Lee of Bigfork, Terry Lodmell of Malta, Dale & Kathy Longfellow of Hobson, Lori & David Lynch of Billings, Dan & Mary Carol Marcus of Bigfork, James Mariska of Billings, Grant Mayer of Helena, James McGimpsey of Helena, Pete Mckinley of Helena, Ron & Jessie Merwin of Polson, Cody Miles of Havre.

Steve & Lee Miller of Dayton, Todd Morgan of Missoula, Bob & Penni Nance of Billings, Jack Neergaard of Bozeman, Wayne Newton of Rollins, Robert Nieuwenhuyse of Havre, Bob & Kim Nystuen of Lakeside, Tom O'Connor of Bozeman, Jody Olson of Havre, John & Marilyn Olson of Sidney, Carlene A. & Darrell W. Orr of Libby, Kevin Oster of Miles City, Jon Ottenbacher of Miles City, Robbi Perry of Kalispell, Gwenna Peters of Billings, Carla Peterson of Billings, Debbie Peterson of Billings, Bob Pfouts of Huson.

Jim & Annie Porter of Belt, Chuck & Linda Ream of Bigfork, VDM (Ret) Rodney Rempt of Big Sky, David & Kathy Roberts of Kalispell, Paul Robitaille of Bozeman, Char Ross of Great Falls, Peggy Salitros of Formerly of Colstrip, Mike Schauf of Missoula, Harlan & Judith Schwan of Kalispell, Peter Scott of Bozeman, David Semrau of Kalispell, Jim & Jean Senst of Great Falls, Gayle Shanahan of Helena, Troy Shockley of Helena, Lee Shubert of Helena, John Sisson of Colstrip, Howard & Angie Skjervem of Helena, Brad & Cindy Skramstad of Kalispell.

Steve & Cheri Sloan of Kalispell, Bernie & Thedra Slogotski of Bigfork, Jim Smith of Helena, Tom & Irene Snyder of Bigfork, Arnold Sonsteng of Formerly of Billings and Wolf Point, Leigh Haislip Spencer of Great Falls, Ernie & Anna Steiner of Bigfork, Larry Strizich of Great Falls, Peter Sullivan of Helena, Tom & Toot Sward of Bigfork, Amber Swindler of Glasgow, Rolf Tandberg of Missoula, MG (Ret) Paul & Muffin Vallely of Bigfork, Craig Wagner of Bigfork, Melville (Mel) Walters, III of Stevensville, Chris Walthall of Bigfork.

Aaron Ward of Townsend, Kirk & Angelina Waren of Butte, Arthur Wayne of Missoula, James Wegener of Kalispell, Monte Weisser of Kalispell, Beau & Holly Wielkoszewski of Bigfork, Bernie Windauer of Kalispell, Barry & Pixie Wirth of Lindbergh Lake, Chip & Barb Youlden of Billings, Grant & Mary Zerbe of Frazer, and Ryan & Lola Zinke of Whitefish.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the majority leader and the junior Senator from Montana be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions on Friday, December 21.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 12 noon, Saturday, December 22; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; finally, that following leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of the House message to accompany H.R. 695.

Madam President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it stand adjourned under the previous order.

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

Mr. President, my Montana colleagues, Congressman Gianforte and Senator Tester, and I have worked for years to bring Federal recognition to the Little Shell Tribe, and for the first time, we are just one vote away from making it happen.

Congressman Gianforte championed his bill through the House with unanimous votes in the committee and on the floor. When it came to the Senate, Senator Tester and I pressed it, also by unanimous consent, through the Indian Affairs Committee. Now, with just hours left in the 115th Congress, we need to pass this important bill out of the Senate and get it on the President's desk.

The Little Shell Tribe has waited for lifetimes. It should not have to wait another year to get this done. Therefore, in the fashion of all of the previous votes on this bill that have had strong bipartisan support, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 574, H.R. 3764. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I have great respect for the objection by my friend and my colleague from Utah.

I do feel the need to point out that the Little Shell Tribe meets all of the necessary qualifications for recognition, including its having a long history that predates 1940. Let me enumerate on this.

Little Shell is the only Tribe in the country that has funds held in trust by the Department of the Interior but yet lacks Federal recognition. The Little Shell Tribe is the only Tribe that has had a favorable determination by the Department of the Interior and has had it reversed by a bureaucrat with zero negative comments. That decision, however, was remanded by the previous Secretary, and Secretary Zinke strongly supports our efforts here today. The Little Shell has, indeed, existed as a distinct community--recorded as early as 1863 in the Pembina Treaty with the U.S. Government.

I ask unanimous consent that this treaty, with Chief Little Shell's name on it, be printed in the Record.

The Little Shell entered this treaty with other bands of the Chippewa Cree. As well, they all support Little Shell's recognition.

I ask unanimous consent that these letters of support be printed in the Record

The Little Shell is also unique, and all 12 of Montana's Indian Tribes on our seven Indian reservations also support its recognition. The Little Shell also has the support of the entire Montana delegation. It has the support of our Governor, and it has the support of our Attorney General.

Here are their letters.

In fact, Federal recognition of the Little Shell has enjoyed support from the congressional delegation and our State's Governors since the 1930s and 1940s when our country first began to federally recognize Indian Tribes. The American Indian Policy Review Commission, from later in 1977, also recognized its plight as a distinct entity.

There are more documents for the Record. Clearly, the record has existed in support of this Tribe's Federal recognition. I remember, during my time in the House, looking at what it had been going through--literally, stacks and stacks of paperwork--in following a process. There is, indeed, longstanding evidence supporting its recognition, and I strongly disagree with my colleague's objection.

The Little Shell Tribe has seen lifetimes--not a lifetime but lifetimes--of neglect from our Federal Government. I had hoped we could finally deliver its recognition here today. We are just one vote short in the Senate. I will not stop pushing for our government to rectify this injustice.

I thank the Presiding Officer.

Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Mary Lincoln of Liberty County for her 100 years of determination, joy, and service for others.

At 107, Mary Lincoln has lived through 19 Presidents, two World Wars, the Great Depression, and was born before women could vote. Ms. Lincoln was born in 1911, just north of Rudyard, MT, in a small homestead shack. As an infant, she was placed in a cardboard box with blankets and laid atop of the home's oven to keep warm. From then on, Mary Lincoln has embodied the true spirit of Montana, keeping a light heart and always staying busy.

Mary Lincoln graduated from Havre High School at 16, where she then went

on to get a teaching degree from a small college in Illinois. After college, Ms. Lincoln came back to teach at Juanita County School in Montana. She has out lived all of her students, except for one who, at 91, still visits her. Ms. Lincoln and her husband Donald were married for 60 years and had three children together.

Mary Lincoln is an inspiration to all, she has seized all that life has to offer and at 107 still says that her best years are yet to come. I congratulate Ms. Lincoln for her exemplary Montanan spirit and continual support towards small Montana communities.

Mr. President, I want to share some comments on what we saw happen here tonight as it relates to the public lands package. We saw a glimpse here tonight of, on the one hand, how this institution can really come together--years of bipartisan work, years of collaboration on the ground back in our respective States--and come together to put together a lands package and ask for a simple up-or- down vote tonight in the Senate.

I am very confident that had we had the opportunity to have voted here tonight, you would have seen this lands package pass the Senate by at least a 2-to-1 margin. It would have gone to the House, and it would have passed. It would have gone to President Trump's desk, and I am confident he would have signed it.

We have been fighting for permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund because of what happened right here tonight-- the uncertainty of this institution, where 98 Senators can say ``Let's move ahead for a vote''; 2 Senators say no, and we weren't able to have a vote tonight.

It is OK to oppose legislation. That is the American process--for each of us to come down here and express our respective opinions. Some will say yes; some will say no. What we were asking for here tonight is to have that debate on the floor. Let's have that vote on the floor, and let the Senators respectively speak on behalf of the people who sent them here in the first place to represent their interests.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund--the reason we need to permanently reauthorize it is that tonight you could see that we didn't get it done. In fact, it expired on September 30, and here we are, halfway through December, and we still do not have the reauthorization of LWCF. That is why we need to make it permanent; you can't depend on this institution.

So often, for the transaction required back in our home States, where we use LWCF funds to access our public lands with a checkerboard-nature ownership structure of many, many places out West, it takes years to put together these deals--private landowners, the State, the Federal Government coming together. When the Federal Government--the U.S. Congress--can't get its job done, it creates uncertainty. Consequently, who loses when there is uncertainty? The American people lose.

That is why we need to permanently reauthorize it. It actually creates more certainty in taking care of a lot of these complex land issues out West, and it saves taxpayers' dollars.

By the way, as Senator Burr has said over and over again, LWCF doesn't cost the taxpayer anything. It doesn't cost the taxpayer anything.

That was in this bill tonight to permanently reauthorize it. It didn't get done.

As you read through the titles of these various bills, you hear the stories. There may be what looks like one little line item here in section 1009, S. 1219. There is some little obscure title that a guy from Montana has no idea what is going on in Louisiana or Tennessee or Alaska or Colorado, but I know back in those respective communities, there is a lot of hard work bringing people together, collaboratives to come together to put together a bill that we then bring to Congress. We move it through committees. We have hours of hearings. Literally, there are probably 100 years of effort at least that have gone into this legislation tonight that we were not able to have an up-or-down vote on.

Wildfire Technology Modernization, the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act--those are important to me in Montana. I will tell you what. The people who are closest to the lands ought to have the loudest voice, and I can tell you, the people in Paradise Valley, south of Livingston, MT, don't want to see a large money operation near Chico, MT. It is time to withdraw the rights there and allow that backdoor to Yellowstone National Park to be protected in perpetuity. That was part of this land package tonight.

If you take a look at the Sportsmen's Access to Federal Lands, one of the issues that sets our Nation apart is our public lands. I tell you what, if you go to Europe, you don't see public lands. If you go virtually anywhere else in the world, you don't see public lands. It is a unique American experience that a mom and dad in Montana, a grandma and grandpa, an aunt and uncle can still go down to Walmart and buy an elk tag and jump in the pickup, and within 20 to 30 minutes be in elk country on public lands. That was part of the Sportsmen's Access package.

We had the Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act. In fact, it is something that Senator Barrasso put in place here to ensure we have transparency in the way these funds are spent.

There is the Migratory Bird Framework and Hunting Opportunities for Veterans Act in here.

My point is there are over 100 bills in here with a lot of careful thought, a lot of consideration moving through committees. All we wanted to do tonight is have an up-or-down vote. We didn't get it.

I am grateful that we had a good bipartisan spirit here tonight, that we were working with leadership in both parties here in the Senate, both parties in the House, including the future leadership in the House. We are going to bring this bill back to the floor of the U.S. Senate in January. We are going to move this through. We are going to move it to the House. We are going to fight to get this thing on the President's desk and signed as one of the early acts of Congress in 2019.

It didn't end well tonight with this package, but we are going to start strong in January. We are not giving up the fight.

I want to thank the staff and the committee leadership on both sides for helping us get to this point tonight.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We will be back in January, fighting.

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 that the Senate proceed to a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing two outstanding Montanan men. Kyle Wilson of Richland County and Anthony Byrns of Sanders County for their dedicated service to this country.

Kyle Wilson was born and raised in Sidney, MT. A lifelong Montanan who graduated from Sidney High School in 2011. Kyle, dedicated his life to public service, by joining the U.S. Navy. Hard working and disciplined are a few of the words used to describe those who join the, Armed Forces, and Kyle is the epitome of a hard working seaman.

Anthony Byrns, Montana native, from Hot Springs truly grew up knowing the meaning of small town. Following the footsteps of many in his family, Anthony joined the U.S. Navy directly following his graduation from Hot Springs High School in 2015. Anthony has been a dedicated leader, taking initiative of the opportunities set before him. Proud of his small town heritage, he is honored to represent Montanans.

Kyle Wilson and Anthony Byrns are a part of just 1 percent of the Navy who were chosen to be in the Navy Ceremonial Guard. Upon selection they both went through Ceremonial Guard School, an 8-week program where they learn the protocol for important military ceremonies such as funerals. With the passing the late President H.W. Bush, both Wilson and Byrns were selected to carry his casket during the state ceremony, an honor of a life time.

I commend both Kyle and Anthony for their diligent service to this country and congratulate them for representing Montana with honor and pride. I look forward to seeing their future success as they continue to make all Montanans proud.

Mr. President, as the lead Republican on this bill, I want to thank my colleague Senator Gillibrand for her leadership on this very important issue.

I am a fiscal hawk. I look at every penny spent by the Federal Government. I respect Senator Enzi and Senator Lee and their views, especially on fiscal issues. I urge this body to pass the blue water Navy bill by unanimous consent. This is about justice. This is about a bureaucracy making a decision and really not following the intent of this Congress.

It is correct that something was done wrong in 2002, as Senator Gillibrand has already laid out so eloquently. Our U.S. Navy veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam have been denied proper care through the VA. Even though both Houses of Congress extended presumptive health coverage to all illnesses linked to Agent Orange, the VA thwarted congressional intent by choosing the narrowest possible definition of ``service in the Republic of Vietnam,'' which included the country's territorial waters.

Our veterans deserve much better. It is unacceptable that a technicality in the law and a dysfunctional Federal bureaucracy have resulted in the prolonged suffering of thousands of our Nation's heroes. This legislation will ensure that the victims of Agent Orange- related disease receive the care and compensation they have long deserved. I will continue to fight for our veterans just as they have fought for us.

Thank you.

I yield to my fellow Montanan, Senator Tester.

Mr. President, this week, I have the honor of recognizing Hannah Nieskens of Jefferson County for her tremendous service to Montana veterans and her great impact on Montana's educational system.

Hannah grew up spending time in Montana with her family and then was awarded the Presidential Scholarship to attend Montana State University in Bozeman. After graduating with honors from MSU, Hannah began her career of education in the Billings School District.

During her 4 years in Billings, she met her now-husband Kelly, who served in the Army, and they fell in love. Hannah and Kelly now have three children--two daughters, Charity and Hope, and their adopted son Joshua. Joshua is currently serving overseas in the Air Force.

Hannah has a distinguished career in education. She has served her community as a teacher in Billings, the dean

of Wolf Point High School, and the principal at Northside Elementary School. Now she is the 6-12 principal in Whitehall.

Last year, Hannah was named Montana Principal of the Year, and now Hannah is one of three finalists for the 2019 National Principal of the Year.

In addition to Hannah's career devoted to education, Hannah has a passion for serving Montana veterans. After Kelly was severely wounded while serving in Iraq, Hannah began volunteering to help other veterans in the community navigate the VA. Hannah even earned a law degree to be better prepared to assist Kelly and other veterans struggling with the