Floor Statements

Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing George Ostrom of Flathead County, on his 90th birthday, for his 60-plus years of contributions to news broadcasting and journalism in Montana.

A native Montanan, George spent the beginning of his formative years on a ranch in Sanders County and then in a mining camp near Kila. At age 17, George left Flathead High School to enlist in the Army and served his country for the next 3 years while stationed in Frankfurt, Germany. Following his return to the States, George spent a few years as a Forest Service smokejumper before an injury led him to seek employment at a newly founded radio station in Kalispell.

Ever since landing the gig as an announcer for KOFI radio in 1956, George has been a staple in Montana broadcasting. After rising up the ranks to eventually become co-owner of the station, George purchased the Kalispell Weekly News in 1974, which he grew into the most circulated weekly in Montana. He was also the host of a KCFW-TV program. George is the author of three books and writes a weekly column for the Hungry Horse News. He continues on-air in the Flathead with his own ``George Ostrum News & Comment,'' a key component of the KGEZ 600 AM Good Morning show.

He has served on countless boards including the Red Cross, ALERT, the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, and, for more than 20 years, the University of Montana president's advisory council. Now known as the dean of Montana radio broadcasters, he has been inducted into the Montana Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Presently, George resides in Kalispell with his wife, Iris, and has 4 children, 3 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild. He still finds time to go on weekly excursions with the ``Over-the-Hill Gang'' in Glacier National Park. I congratulate and thank George for his continued dedication to sharing his voice with his fellow Montanans.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order to call up the following amendments to amendment No. 3399: Moran No. 3433, Udall No. 3414. I further ask consent that at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25, the Senate vote in relation to the Moran and Udall amendments in the order listed and that there be no second-degree amendments in order to the amendments prior to the votes.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m., Wednesday, July 25; 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 resume consideration of H.R. 6147.

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.

Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Andy Henry of Prairie County for his impact on the Terry community while working at the Roy Rogers Saloon.

Andy has spent the last 17 years of his life in Terry. After Andy graduated high school in Terry, his mom Amelia and her husband, John, bought the Roy Rogers Saloon. Following that, he began working at the Saloon. He has been working there since his family took it over, just under 6 years.

Andy's work at the Saloon brings the community together. Whether it be a friend or an old elementary school teacher of his, folks from all over the community come together at the Saloon. He enjoys spending time with their regulars and making sure the experience at the Saloon is as pleasant as it can be.

I congratulate Andy on his role in growing and contributing to the Roy Rogers Saloon. I look forward to seeing that success continue to grow and enjoying the hometown bar soon.

Mr. President, as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 572; that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

I object.

Mr. President, I live in a State--the State of Montana-- that has a northern border. ICE agents keep our border secure, and I want to thank them for the very important work they are doing.

Far too many people are coming into our country illegally and putting the safety and security of American citizens at risk. In fact, in Montana, the effects of unsecured borders are very personal. All across our State, communities at this moment are torn apart by the meth and opioids that are trafficked through the southern border. In fact, just last year, ICE seized nearly 50 tons of narcotics, nearly a million pounds of heroin, fentanyl, and other deadly drugs that criminals and cartels are smuggling into our country.

At a time when America is suffering from a drug epidemic, how many more lives would be lost if ICE agents were not protecting our borders? How many more innocent Americans would be harmed or murdered if we did not have ICE agents to arrest illegal immigrants with criminal convictions? These are the questions that those who call for the abolishment of ICE should be asking.

It is outrageous. It is irresponsible to call for abolishing one of our country's most critical security measures. Abolishing ICE would give terrorists, gang members, drug dealers, and other criminals a field day.

I stand for protecting American security. I stand for upholding the rule of law. That is why I stand with ICE.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the provisions of rule XXII, all postcloture time on Executive Calendar No. 595 be considered expired at 2:25 p.m. and the Senate immediately vote on the nomination; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid on the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and that following disposition of the nomination, the Senate vote on cloture on the Oldham nomination.

Mr. President, I have 7 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the majority and minority leaders.

Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized to meet during the session of the

Senate on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at 10:15 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Sharks''.

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``the semiannual monetary policy report to the Congress''.

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing.

Committee on Environment and Public Works

The Committee on Environment and Public Works is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at 9:45 a.m., to conduct a hearing.

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Reducing Healthcare Costs: Eliminating excess healthcare spending and improving quality of value for patients.''

Select Committee on Intelligence

The Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at 12 p.m., to conduct a closed hearing.

Select Committee on Intelligence

The Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a closed hearing.

Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Betsey Hedrick of Dawson County for her contribution to the community through Betsey's Badlands Catering.

Betsey was born and raised in Bozeman. After graduating from high school, she attended culinary school in Portland, which led her to work at a local country club and eventually run a steakhouse back in Bozeman. She and her husband, Phil, moved to Glendive 14 years ago, had their son Sam, and shortly after, she opened Betsey's Badlands Catering.

Fixing food has always been Betsey's passion. Her favorite part about cooking is not what she is cooking or who she is cooking for; it is the impact that food has on people. No matter people's backgrounds or history, food brings them together. She loves being a part of something that brings joy to people's lives, and that is why she continues to do it daily.

I congratulate Betsey on her significant contributions to Glendive and the greater Dawson County. I look forward to seeing her business grow and trying some of her famous seasonal dishes soon.

Mr. President, I am very glad my Senate colleagues joined me in supporting the Senate farm bill, in fact, with a very strong vote of 86 to 11.

This farm bill is good news for Montana farmers and for Montana ranchers, and it is going to help to provide certainty for Montana agriculture in these most difficult times because agriculture is Montana's No. 1 industry, and it supports tens of thousands of jobs in our State. Yet, with more than 25,000 family farms and ranches in Montana alone, it is clear that ag is more than just an economic driver in our State; it is very much a way of life.

That is why, as Montana's Representative on the U.S. Senate Ag Committee, I fought to ensure that this farm bill reflects the priorities that Montana farmers and Montana ranchers have shared directly with me. Some of these priorities are the crop insurance and the sugar program; ag research funding at Montana State University, as well as ag research stations all across Montana; and prioritizing rural broadband for Montana's underserved communities, as well as supporting and maintaining conservation programs that are important to our farmers, to our ranchers, and to our sportsmen.

This farm bill is also critically important to the health of our national forests. Last year in Montana, catastrophic wildfires harmed numerous communities, and it cost our State millions of dollars. I am glad to have secured important forest reforms that are critical to healthy forests, to Montana timber jobs, and to wildlife habitat, such as encouraging the coordination among the Forest Service and State forestry agencies to restore our forests to reduce the risk of wildfire and allowing the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to enter into agreements with counties, as well as with States and Tribes, to implement forest management projects on national forests and public lands. Additionally, there is a provision that will support more innovation, as well as to develop new markets for Montana's timber industry.

These are important wins, but I want to make something very clear that there is still so much more we can do to help improve the health of our forests and support Montana's farmers and ranchers. In fact, in Montana, as well as across the West, we are seeing extensive collaboration. Groups are collaborating--conservation groups, wildlife groups, wood products stakeholders, along with our counties--and they are working together to determine responsible forest management practices.

These partners know very well that active management is critical to restoring a healthy forest and that it helps to reduce wildfire risks. It is important that we don't allow extremists to hinder this most important work because, today, it takes 18 to 24 months to do many of these environmental reviews. After that is done, many projects in Montana are litigated, and this can add years of delay.

In fact, listen to this: There are 29 timber sales in Montana that are currently impacted by fringe litigation. Just today, we were informed that another timber project in Montana has been delayed by a restraining order because of litigation. That makes 30. This project was scheduled to start this coming Monday, July 2, and now those folks will be out of work. Reducing redtape and combating chronic litigation doesn't erode public trust. In fact, it safeguards it. It does so by ensuring that the public feedback of the majority isn't obstructed by a few extreme dissenters.

This disastrous Ninth Circuit Cottonwood ruling must also be addressed because it imposed unnecessary paperwork that even the Obama administration has said had the ``potential to cripple'' Federal land management without conservation benefit.

My amendments would address this excessive redtape while continuing to ensure that robust, science-driven environmental review and public engagement would remain. Many similar provisions are found in the House bill as well.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the inclusion of these amendments as we work together now, with the House, in a conference of the final farm bill.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, this week I have the honor of recognizing Tom Labrie of Phillips County for his 18 years of serving his community as the head chef at the Great Northern Restaurant.

Tom was born and raised in Malta. After graduating from Malta High School, Tom began working at the Great Northern Restaurant where he is a self-taught chef. He has since worked at the Great Northern Restaurant for 18 years, working his way up the line to head chef. He and his wife Anna have two kids and are active members of the Malta community.

Tom's time at the restaurant stands out for two reasons: his hard work and his skills in the kitchen. Although he is the head chef, he does more than cook the food. Other employees and customers find him filling in wherever help is needed, including cashing out customers. While he is a self-taught chef, the food he creates makes the Great Northern Restaurant and Hotel stand out in Malta and the greater Phillips community.

Tom is the secret ingredient to the success of the Great Northern Restaurant. The employees are grateful for his leadership and hard work as it keeps the restaurant running smoothly.

Congratulations, Tom, on your successful career and impact on Malta's community. I look forward to my next stop at the Great Northern Restaurant to try your famous chicken fried steak.

Mr. President, for Montanans, nothing beats getting outside and getting outdoors for hunting, fishing, skiing, backpacking, snowmobiling, you name it. It is our way of life in Montana. That is why I am excited to announce that June is National Great Outdoors Month.

The outdoor life in Montana has a very special meaning for me. I grew up fishing, hunting, hiking, and skiing, in fact, all over the State of Montana. In fact, in July of 1986, I proposed to my sweet wife Cindy after we hiked to the top of Hyalite Peak, just south of Bozeman. It is a peak a little over 10,000 feet. Seven and a half miles from the trailhead to the top and back was a long 15-mile day, and I am grateful she said yes.

In fact, during the summer, I spend a lot of time backpacking in the Beartooths with our family. We bring along our mini Australian shepherds and bear spray. It is good practice.

In Montana, outdoor recreation isn't just our way of life; it is also our economy. In fact, outdoor recreation directly supports some 71,000 Montana jobs and generates $2.2 billion in wages and salaries and an estimate of over $7 billion in consumer spending.

We see it every summer, every winter, and now every shoulder season that people from around the Nation and around the world come to visit America's great outdoors, but in Montana, it is all right here, in our very own backyard. Whether it is hiking in Glacier, fly fishing in the Gallatin, Jefferson, Madison, Stillwater, Yellowstone, Missouri, the Big Horn, or skiing in places like Big Mountain, Red Lodge, Bridger, or Big Sky, or floating in whitewater float trips, we are lucky to have all of that right at our fingertips.

That is why it is important to recognize the value of the outdoors during National Great Outdoors Month. I think, when you spend time outdoors, you are not only experiencing Montana's great outdoors, but you are giving back to our local economy and creating jobs. For our young people, getting them outside, off their phones, and out into the wilderness is a good thing.

I encourage everybody to recognize National Great Outdoors Month by joining me in getting away from the TV, away from the phones, and getting outside--get out there and experience all that the outdoors has to offer.

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

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.