Floor Statements

Mr. President, along with my dad, Clair, who started our family homebuilding business 45 years ago, I wish to congratulate the National Association of Home Builders on reaching its 75th anniversary.

For three-quarters of a century, NAHB has been fighting for the American dream, advocating for those who want to own a home for themselves and their families and advocating for homebuilders who provide jobs and make the homeowners' dreams a reality.

Before coming to Congress, I worked for my dad in our family homebuilding business, and I have great respect for the work their members do in our communities. They truly are job creators, economic drivers, and dream makers.

I have been happy to meet with some of their members when they have come to Capitol Hill. I can tell you that it is helpful to have face- to-face meetings with their team to talk about the issues that matter to them the most. Though I have a background in homebuilding, many congressional and Presidential staff do not. It makes a difference to hear from folks on the ground in their business.

When it comes to homebuilding and homeownership, we all share the same goal--let's keep home prices affordable.

Their advocacy has enabled millions of American families, like mine, to make one of the most important purchases of their lives: a home.

As you know, when people achieve the American dream of homeownership, they are on the path to wealth creation and upward mobility, not to

mention the sense of pride that comes with having a place to call their own.

That sense of pride overflows to the way people invest in their communities, and we all benefit from a more engaged neighbor. As they know better than anyone and Sir Winston Churchill once said, ``We shape our dwellings, and afterwards our dwellings shape us.''

When the times are good or times are tough and through the general cyclical nature of the industry, NAHB has remained a steady advocate for the importance of affordable and quality housing, both for homeowners and renters. Thanks in part to them, builders and consumers are back up on their feet.

I am grateful for their commitment to serving our Nation by building safe and beautiful homes, and I am grateful for the 75 years of advocacy from NAHB.

Congratulations again on achieving this major milestone.

Mr. President, this week, I have the distinct honor of recognizing the University of Montana Grizzlies softball team for their outstanding performance at the Big Sky Conference softball tournament. This team has come a long way in a short time, and their journey this season is something that all Montanans can appreciate.

Last week at Ogden, UT, the Grizzlies won the Big Sky Conference softball championship for the first time in the school's history. This accomplishment is highlighted by the fact that the softball program is only in its third year on campus. Four years ago, there was no team or coach; today they are conference champions.

Jamie Pinkerton, the Grizzlies' coach, was also voted the Big Sky Conference ``Coach of the Year'' for the second year in a row.

As conference champions, the Grizzlies will represent Big Sky in the 2017 NCAA Division I softball championship this Friday as they travel to Washington to challenge the Huskies in the regional qualifying round. The Grizzlies will have both the Big Sky State and the Big Sky Conference rooting for them.

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

Mr. President, the travel and tourism industry is a pillar of Montana's economy. Our wealth of public lands, first-class fishing, hiking and skiing, and our breathtaking natural landscapes make Montana a special place for people to visit. Last year alone, visitors to Montana spent $3.46 billion in our state. And Montana is not alone. The travel and tourism industry plays a significant role in the United States economy as well, contributing over $503 billion to the U.S. GDP just last year.

With advancements in technology and the increased use of online marketplaces, travelers have the ability to do more research, plan trips, and book reservations online. Online platforms allow customers to compare thousands of brands in one place and as a result the number of hotel reservations made online has surged over the past several years, many of which are on legitimate third-party websites. However, as the ease and number of online bookings has increased, so has the number of online booking scams.

Illegitimate reservation sellers pose as hotel websites, leading consumers to believe they are booking directly with the hotel, when in fact they are booking with an unrelated third party. Transactions on these sites can result in additional hidden fees, loss of expected loyalty points, or even confirmation of reservations that were never made. One study found that as many as fifteen million bookings a year are affected by fraudulent websites. In Montana, you expect to get what you pay for. When you book a hotel online only to find out you are not on the list when you arrive, you not only lose your money, but you lose the positive experience tourism awards.

That is why I am proud to introduce the Stop Online Booking Scams Act of 2017 along with my colleagues Senators Nelson, Fischer, and Klobuchar. This bill requires third-party sites to disclose that they are not affiliated with the hotel, providing clarity and transparency to consumers booking online. It also empowers State attorneys general to pursue cases on behalf of consumers who have been scammed. Providing clear disclosures that reveal the true identity of websites will give confidence to the millions of consumers who make reservations online every year. I ask my colleagues who have not yet done so to join me in cosponsoring this much-needed legislation. Thank you, Mr. President.

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

Mr. President, the travel and tourism industry is a pillar of Montana's economy. Our wealth of public lands, first-class fishing, hiking and skiing, and our breathtaking natural landscapes make Montana a special place for people to visit. Last year alone, visitors to Montana spent $3.46 billion in our state. And Montana is not alone. The travel and tourism industry plays a significant role in the United States economy as well, contributing over $503 billion to the U.S. GDP just last year.

With advancements in technology and the increased use of online marketplaces, travelers have the ability to do more research, plan trips, and book reservations online. Online platforms allow customers to compare thousands of brands in one place and as a result the number of hotel reservations made online has surged over the past several years, many of which are on legitimate third-party websites. However, as the ease and number of online bookings has increased, so has the number of online booking scams.

Illegitimate reservation sellers pose as hotel websites, leading consumers to believe they are booking directly with the hotel, when in fact they are booking with an unrelated third party. Transactions on these sites can result in additional hidden fees, loss of expected loyalty points, or even confirmation of reservations that were never made. One study found that as many as fifteen million bookings a year are affected by fraudulent websites. In Montana, you expect to get what you pay for. When you book a hotel online only to find out you are not on the list when you arrive, you not only lose your money, but you lose the positive experience tourism awards.

That is why I am proud to introduce the Stop Online Booking Scams Act of 2017 along with my colleagues Senators Nelson, Fischer, and Klobuchar. This bill requires third-party sites to disclose that they are not affiliated with the hotel, providing clarity and transparency to consumers booking online. It also empowers State attorneys general to pursue cases on behalf of consumers who have been scammed. Providing clear disclosures that reveal the true identity of websites will give confidence to the millions of consumers who make reservations online every year. I ask my colleagues who have not yet done so to join me in cosponsoring this much-needed legislation. Thank you, Mr. President.

Mr. President, this week, I have the distinct honor of recognizing Jack Young, a U.S. Army veteran and teacher at Harlem Public Schools. Whether serving our Nation inside an Abrams tank or serving his local community at the front of a classroom, Jack has represented the character of the Treasure State in both settings.

After graduating from high school, Jack enlisted in the Army. He served our Nation on Active Duty for 4 years and completed two overseas assignments. Not long after finishing his military service, Jack attended Montana State University--Northern and trained to become a teacher. In 2006, he began teaching at Harlem Public Schools. Since arriving in Blaine County, he has grown into a fixture in the local community. Jack has taught history and government to both high school and junior high school students. During the warm months, you will find Jack in the classroom teaching summer school, helping students rise to the next level academically. For the past 4 years, he has taught government courses at the Aaniiih Nakoda College. Earlier in his teaching career, Jack was an assistant coach for the Harlem Wildcats football team. Through all seasons and across multiple academic levels, Jack has served his fellow Montanans by teaching the historic context and hard-earned value of our constitutional system of government.

Jack has excelled in his transition from a tanker to a teacher. The best part of Jack's story is he loves what he does and plans to continue doing it for a long time. Montanans are grateful for folks like Jack who make our communities stronger. Thank you, Jack, for your service, and I wish you the best in the years to come.

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

Mr. President, under current law, twenty-percent of our military dual-status technicians in the National Guard, Army Reserve, and Air Force Reserve will become federal civilians on October 1st. This will leave the state Governors to respond to wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters with twenty-percent fewer people. The benefits of this conversion are unclear. In fact, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau testified that no formal analysis has been conducted as to whether there is any benefit at all. It seems prudent to me to take a pause, bring all of the affected stakeholders together, and figure this problem out before we take any irreversible action. Today, I'm introducing the ``Armed Forces Reserve and National Guard Dual-Status Review and Modernization Act,'' to do exactly that.

As I've studied this situation, I understand there are a number of valid concerns involved. The current statutory construct for dual- status military technicians is nearly 50 years old and the role of the Reserve components has changed dramatically just in the past 15 years, let alone the last half-century. I agree we should update the statute to better meet the needs of the total force and my bill addresses this concern. Similarly, many Guardsmen and Reservists feel that personnel management practices under this aging construct doesn't fit the needs of a 21st century workforce. My bill addresses those concerns as well.

Most importantly, the bill ensures that there is no adverse impact to the Guard's ability to respond to domestic emergencies on October 1st, by postponing that date until Department of Defense leadership conducts a thorough, comprehensive review on the requirements of a 21st Century total force, and how our current structure should be aligned to meet those requirements. This will allow Congress to make an informed and measured judgement on how to update current law. I urge my colleagues to give this matter their full consideration and support.

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

Mr. President, under current law, twenty-percent of our military dual-status technicians in the National Guard, Army Reserve, and Air Force Reserve will become federal civilians on October 1st. This will leave the state Governors to respond to wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters with twenty-percent fewer people. The benefits of this conversion are unclear. In fact, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau testified that no formal analysis has been conducted as to whether there is any benefit at all. It seems prudent to me to take a pause, bring all of the affected stakeholders together, and figure this problem out before we take any irreversible action. Today, I'm introducing the ``Armed Forces Reserve and National Guard Dual-Status Review and Modernization Act,'' to do exactly that.

As I've studied this situation, I understand there are a number of valid concerns involved. The current statutory construct for dual- status military technicians is nearly 50 years old and the role of the Reserve components has changed dramatically just in the past 15 years, let alone the last half-century. I agree we should update the statute to better meet the needs of the total force and my bill addresses this concern. Similarly, many Guardsmen and Reservists feel that personnel management practices under this aging construct doesn't fit the needs of a 21st century workforce. My bill addresses those concerns as well.

Most importantly, the bill ensures that there is no adverse impact to the Guard's ability to respond to domestic emergencies on October 1st, by postponing that date until Department of Defense leadership conducts a thorough, comprehensive review on the requirements of a 21st Century total force, and how our current structure should be aligned to meet those requirements. This will allow Congress to make an informed and measured judgement on how to update current law. I urge my colleagues to give this matter their full consideration and support.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to display water samples from the State of Montana on the Senate floor.

Mr. President, today our friends across the aisle have decided to hold up Senate committee meetings. Because the Democrats object to the dismissal of James Comey from the FBI, they have chosen to play politics and prevent scheduled hearings from occurring. That means everyone who has taken time to fly to Washington, DC, to testify before Congress--per our request--and update us on important issues that face the Nation will not be heard.

One of those scheduled hearings is in the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power, of which I am a member. This hearing was going to investigate the Dry-Redwater and the Musselshell- Judith Rural Water Systems. This is a critically important issue to Montana.

This hearing was going to focus on water from Circle, MT. These are water samples from different families in the Circle, MT, area. This is from the Arensons' tap. This yellow-tinted water here is from the Goods' tap. This cloudy sample here is from the Hances' tap.

These are all from Circle, MT. This is from the Carlsons' tap. You probably can't see it--perhaps on camera and on the floor--but there is particulate in here, floating, something you wouldn't want to drink. This is water from the Rosaaens' tap. These samples all came from a small town in Eastern Montana, Circle, MT, and the image here to my left is from Roundup, MT. This unacceptable, unclean tap water is in the homes of Montanans and North Dakotans right now as we speak.

The mayor of Harlowton, MT, a town of about 1,000 in rural central Montana, is here today to testify. I met with him just yesterday. He came to our Montana coffee this morning. He spent over $1,000 on a flight. He spent almost $600 on hotel accommodations, not to mention the cost of other incidentals. Now the Democrats will not let him speak.

Why? As the chairman of the Senate Western Caucus, it is shameful--as other witnesses have flown and spent thousands of dollars--to prevent improving water quality in our States. The Arizona witness, for example, spent $2,400 and 3 days out of the office to come back and testify today. The North Dakota witness spent $1,300.

Yes, the FBI needs to regain the trust of the American people. In fact, Senator Schumer on November 2 said: ``I do not have confidence in [Comey] any longer,'' and on that very same day, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said: ``Maybe he's not in the right job.''

But this water, as we can see these samples in front of me, has nothing to do with the FBI. There are over 36,000 Americans spread across Montana and North Dakota without access to clean water. If the mayor of Flint, MI, flew here to testify about the quality and challenges facing their water system, no one would have blocked that hearing. Frankly, this is just another sign of the marginalization of rural Montana and rural America. I was sent here to fight for rural Montana, to stand for rural America, and that is what I will continue to do. This hearing needs to happen today.

Mr. President, I have a request for the Energy Committee to meet at 2:30 p.m. today. I ask unanimous consent that the committee be allowed to meet.

Mr. President, if I could respond to my colleague from Hawaii.

The folks who have been derailed today are the men and women who have traveled thousands of miles to be here from very small communities across our country. They have taken time away from work and their families to be here to show our committees what is going on in rural America and the unacceptable quality of water.

Water is a basic need. We have water samples here that I think would be shocking to most Members in this body. I am just saddened to see that Democrats are going to derail these hearings this afternoon. Yes, let's have a fight about the FBI and the firing of Comey. We can have a good-spirited debate about that. But why are we preventing these folks from rural America, who have traveled thousands of miles, to testify today at our request.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, tomorrow, May 5, Hanna Harris should have been 25 years old. Instead of celebrating a birthday, we will be celebrating her memory. Hanna was a 21-year-old member of the Cheyenne Tribe. She lived in Lame Deer, MT, with her 10-month-old son. The last time she was seen alive was the Fourth of July of 2013. After that, she went missing, and 5 days later, her body was found. Hanna was found to have been raped and murdered.

For too long, the stories of missing and murdered American Indian and Alaska Native women have gone unheard. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, homicide was the third leading cause of death among American Indian and Alaska Native women between the ages of 10 and 24 years and the fifth leading cause of death for American Indian and Alaska Native women between 25 and 34 years of age.

According to a study commissioned by the Department of Justice, American Indian women face murder rates that are more than 10 times the national average. Let me repeat that. American Indian women face murder rates 10 times the national average. If this were the case in any other community outside of Native communities, there would be public outcry, but there hasn't been until now. In fact, yesterday the Senate approved my resolution to designate May 5, Hanna Harris's birthday, as a day of remembrance. It will be a day to join together to commemorate the lives of those we lost tragically, like Hanna. It is a day to validate the pain Tribal communities have felt and feel every day. It will mark a national day of awareness for Native women and girls who have gone missing or have been murdered.

I was joined by 12 of my colleagues in passing this resolution to declare that the tragic loss of Native women and girls is not just an issue, it is an epidemic, and I thank them for their support.

Tomorrow, on Hanna's birthday, I will walk with Melinda Limberhand Harris, Hanna's mother, and with Tribal leadership, as well as members in Lame Deer, MT, who have also lost a mother, a daughter, a sister, or a friend. On May 5, we will remember RoyLynn Rides Horse, we will remember Kenzley Olson, and we will remember the thousands of other American Indian and Alaska Native women who have been killed or have disappeared without a trace. And we will remember Hanna Harris on her birthday tomorrow as we walk together in Lame Deer, MT.

Mr. President, I yield my time.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, this week, I have the distinct honor of recognizing the Thomas family for giving their time and talent to serve as foster parents for children in Lake County. J.P. Thomas and his wife, Tiara Thomas, have done honorable work by providing structure and consistency in many young lives.

J.P. and Tiara began serving as foster parents in their early twenties. The young couple took a short break from fostering as their own family began to grow, but soon returned to serving as foster parents in order to help their community. They have provided a positive environment for 15 Montana children in their home on the Flathead Indian Reservation. Throughout the challenging journey of serving as foster parents, J.P. and Tiara give credit to the Cornerstone Faith Center in St. Ignatius for helping them find the balance to meet the demands of faith, family, fostering, youth sports, and work.

Montanans that provide structure and consistency to youngsters in need are deserving of our support. When those Montanans are like J.P. and Tiara and simply do what is needed in a humble and gracious manner, their service can inspire others. Thank you, J.P. and Tiara, for all you have done and are still doing to help others.

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.

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

Mr. President, I have some good news from Montana. A week ago yesterday, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to be our next Secretary of Agriculture. When we met prior to his confirmation hearing, Secretary Perdue and I discussed Montana ag and the need to expand agricultural access to foreign markets. I know he will prioritize the ag industry during his time in office, and I am pleased to share that I will be hosting the Secretary in Montana for the Montana Ag Summit that is going to be held in Great Falls at the end of this month.

Back in March, during the Secretary's confirmation hearing, I extended an invitation to join us in Montana's Golden Triangle as we discuss the issue of strengthening international relationships for Montana's agriculture. The Golden Triangle is where my great-great- grandmother homesteaded as she moved from Minnesota--a Norwegian immigrant--to Montana.

At the Ag Summit, we will showcase the technological advancements that are changing the way we produce crops and livestock, promote the next generation of ag producers, and discuss the challenges ag producers face as a result of our Federal policies and regulations. The Montana Ag Summit will bring together leaders from across the agricultural industry to hear from our keynote speakers, which include Secretary Perdue and my colleague and friend and the chairman of the U.S. Senate Ag Committee, Senator Pat Roberts from Kansas. Nothing takes the place of hearing directly from Montanans and seeing our great State with your own eyes.

I have been a strong advocate for Montana ag since coming to Washington, DC, and it is a privilege to serve as Montana's only representative on the U.S. Senate Ag Committee. Whenever I get the chance, I talk about Montana's ag industry and advocate for regulation reform and for additional opportunities for our ag producers to compete on a level playing field.

Another critical issue for farmers and ranchers in Montana and around the Nation is opening up more market opportunities for the ag industry. In fact, earlier this past month, 38 of my colleagues and I wrote to President Trump asking him to prioritize reopening China's markets to U.S. beef in his discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping. China is Montana's third leading trade partner after Canada and South Korea.

It is important to remember that 95 percent of the world's consumers live outside of the United States. While the Chinese ban on U.S. beef imports was lifted last fall, more needs to be done to actually see U.S. beef on the shelves of Chinese grocery stores. You see, China is the second largest beef import market in the world.

I can say it was an honor to personally present some of Miles City's famous and finest beef to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang from Fred Wacker's ranch out of Miles City. I will get Montana beef in China if I have to take it over myself.

Montana's No. 1 industry and economic driver is agriculture. With over 27,000 farms in the State, Montana ag is nearly $5 billion strong. By the way, Montana is now the leading pulse crop producer in the Nation.

Last week, President Trump unveiled his tax reform plan, which, among many proposals, includes a full repeal of the death tax--a full, permanent repeal of the death tax. This is a tax that directly impacts many Montana farm and ranch families. In fact, I heard a story from a Montana rancher a couple of weeks ago of his having the sudden, unexpected passing of his mother and his father. It is a multigenerational ranch operation in Montana that had a huge tax liability--in the millions of dollars--that it had to pay to the IRS because of the death tax.

I have been calling for a repeal of the death tax since I first came to Washington, DC--one of the most immoral taxes on the books--because I understand how these taxes can cause family farms and family ranches to break up and to be sold off.

The bottom line is this. You cannot feed a nation without farmers and

ranchers, and you cannot have opportunity economies without actual opportunities to meet the needs of not only our State, of not only our Nation but of the world.

As the U.S. Congress and the Trump administration continue to work together, I am excited to see that ag is a priority. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the U.S. Senate, as well as in the Trump administration, to advance policies and solutions to the barriers that our Nation's ag producers face, and I really look forward to the upcoming Montana Ag Summit in Great Falls later this month.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.