Floor Statements

Mr. President, today I wish to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the city of Auburn, ME. Auburn was built with a spirit of determination and resiliency that still guides the community today, and this is a time to celebrate the generations of hard-working and caring people who have made it such a wonderful place to live, work, and raise families.

Auburn was settled in 1786 and first incorporated as a town in 1842. The name was inspired by a popular poem by Oliver Goldsmith that begins with this line: ``Sweet Auburn! Loveliest village of the plain.''

With the mighty Androscoggin River providing power, Auburn soon was home to many lumber, grain, and textile mills. When the factory system of shoe manufacturing was developed there, the people of Auburn formed a skilled and dedicated workforce that built a great Maine industry. The factories attracted many French-Canadian immigrants, whose culture continues to enliven the city. The prosperity produced by hard work and determination was invested in schools and churches to create a true community.

On February 22, 1869, the fast-growing community incorporated as the city of Auburn. Together with Lewiston across the Androscoggin River, an economic powerhouse was created, and the ``Cities of the Androscoggin'' today form Maine's second largest municipal region.

The decline of traditional industries in the 20th century posed a great challenge. Auburn's response is described in words etched into the walls of Auburn Hall: a Latin phrase that translates to ``No Steps Backward.'' Auburn is a community that was built by the power of a great river. Now, the power of community is building a new future on that river with new economic opportunities, wonderful food, vibrant arts and entertainment, and exciting recreation. Auburn cherishes its history as it continues to move forward.

Auburn is a city of compassionate, involved people. It is home to the Good Shepherd Food Bank, the largest hunger relief organization in Maine. The Auburn Police Activities League, which provides educational and athletic opportunities to children and teens after school and during the summer, is an outstanding example of public officials and committed citizens joining together to change lives today to create the leaders of tomorrow. The energy and planning that are going into Auburn's 150th anniversary celebration demonstrate the pride residents have in their city.

The celebration of the city of Auburn's 150th anniversary is not merely about the passing of time. It is about human accomplishment. We celebrate the people who, from the dawn of our Nation to our time, have pulled together, cared for one another, and built a great community. Thanks to those who came before, Auburn, ME, has a wonderful history. Thanks to those there today, it has a bright future.

Mr. President, I am pleased to be here this morning to join my colleagues in saluting the public service of our friend Senator Jeff Flake.

In his remarkable book, ``The Conscience of a Conservative,'' Senator Jeff Flake offered these words that apply to both sides of the aisle and across the political spectrum. Rather than constantly pursuing partisan advantage, he wrote, ``the better path always is to break out of rigid ideological thinking, to listen to reasoned arguments on both sides, and to use your best judgment.''

Reason and courage have defined Senator Flake's 18 years in Congress--12 in the House of Representatives and 6 here in the Senate. Throughout these years of service, he has always been knowledgeable, insightful, and dedicated to America and its values.

It has been a privilege to work closely with him on many vital issues. Senator Flake has always been willing to take on the most difficult challenges and offer constructive solutions, as his work on immigration reform demonstrates. As my colleague from Delaware has said, he is unafraid. He will take on any challenge, no matter the consequences.

As chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, I have appreciated his commitment to the well-being, safety, and security of seniors across the Nation and in his beloved home State of Arizona. Senator Flake was especially helpful in our committee's examination of international criminal cartels that were using unsuspecting American seniors as drug ``mules'' to smuggle narcotics across international borders, not realizing the cargo that they were carrying.

Senator Flake has been an outstanding leader on the Foreign Relations Committee as chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy. His firsthand knowledge of issues from his early mission work in South Africa and Zimbabwe has helped to guide his efforts. I was proud to have been a cosponsor of a bill he authored with Senator Coons to combat the wildlife trafficking crisis, which became law in 2016. In fact, it was on a congressional trip that I first met my friend Jeff Flake, and I remember thinking that he was so fascinating. He knew so many things of which I had very little knowledge.

He talked about his time in Africa, and I will always remember--and this will bring a smile to his lips as well--when he told me that the words for describing it being very cold outside were the equivalent of a phrase that sounded like ``buy a coat.'' I am sure I ruined the pronunciation, but he is nodding affirmatively. I always loved that and will remember that little vignette.

When Senator Flake announced last year that he would not seek re- election, he offered these words on the Senate floor:

``We must respect each other again in an atmosphere of shared facts and shared values, comity and good faith. We must argue our positions fervently and never be afraid to compromise. We must assume the best of our fellow man and always look for the good.

I think it is significant that those words resonated both with the Senator from Delaware and with me, and I am sure with many others.

Senator Jeff Flake always gave his best, and he always helped us to find the good. I join my colleagues in wishing him, Cheryl, and his family well, and in expecting many more contributions from this leader of many gifts and determined principles.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, I stand here today with a heavy heart, as we pay tribute to our friend and colleague, Claire McCaskill of Missouri. Senators represent their State and, not surprisingly, they often reflect their State's heritage, traditions, and values.

The people of Missouri rightly prize their reputation as independent, straightforward, and trustworthy--qualities that define my friend, Senator Claire McCaskill.

To that, I add another quality that defines this accomplished leader from the Show Me State. Like her inspiration in public service, President Harry Truman, Senator McCaskill is feisty. In her two terms in the Senate, Senator McCaskill has demonstrated her belief that no one party holds a monopoly on good ideas. It has been such a pleasure to work with her across the aisle on so many issues. She was always the best of partners: strong, strategic, determined, and she got a lot done.

An issue that brought us together as leaders of the Senate Aging Committee was the extensive bipartisan investigation we launched in 2015 into the extreme spikes in the prices of many prescription drugs. The findings of our investigation were appalling, and the reform legislation we coauthored is producing results in spurring approval of lower cost generic drugs and increasing transparency in the pharmaceutical industry.

Our work together on drug pricing uncovered the gag clauses that industry uses that can prohibit your local pharmacists from telling consumers if their prescription would cost less if they paid for it out of pocket rather than using their insurance. The Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act that Senator McCaskill and I coauthored and that was signed into law this October ends this egregious practice, saving consumers money and improving healthcare.

We also investigated numerous financial scams that attempted to rob seniors of their hard-earned savings. Once again, working together, we were able to get a new law passed that tackled this serious issue as well. There is nobody in this body who is more talented at questioning individuals who came before our committee and were trying to shape the truth or deceive or distract than Claire McCaskill. She, as Senator Blunt mentioned, was always well-prepared; she was always insightful; and she was always tough.

I remember one hearing we had where the GAO was testifying before us, and sure enough, Claire had read the entire GAO report--not just the executive summary, the whole report. Thus, her questions were so penetrating that she brought out information that never would have surfaced in that hearing.

As Missouri State auditor, a prosecutor, and a Senator, Claire McCaskill has always been a champion for accountability, dedicated to rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in government programs. She has always been determined to get to the truth and to get to the bottom of an issue. During the damaging shutdown of 2013, she stepped forward as a charter member of our Common Sense Coalition to help restore the faith of the American people and to reopen government.

I have worked so closely with Senator McCaskill during her entire time in the Senate, and I will miss her so much. She is a tough, no- nonsense leader, a dedicated public servant, and, most of all, a good friend.

Claire, I thank you for your public service, and I wish you, Joseph, and your family all the best in the years to come.

Thank you, Mr. President. This September, at the height of yet another contentious campaign season, Senator Orrin Hatch authored an op-ed for Time magazine which we should all read. Its theme was reflected in the remarks he delivered today in his farewell address to the U.S. Senate and to our country.

With his combination of eloquence and straightforwardness that has enlightened this Chamber for more than four decades, our colleague from Utah called upon all Americans to embrace, as he put it, ``the practice of true tolerance: respecting others' beliefs even, or perhaps especially, when they differ from our own.''

Senator Hatch reminded us that our system of government, crafted by the Founders with great wisdom and understanding of human nature, only works when we recognize ``that the majority of our political disagreements are not matters of good versus evil but good versus good,'' as he put it. He concluded his important essay with these words: ``When we embrace these virtues fully, we can heal partisan divisions, reinvigorate the public discourse and begin to realize the full potential of American democracy.''

To our friend and colleague Orrin Hatch, those are not just words; rather, they have represented his guiding philosophy throughout his 42 years of service in the U.S. Senate. They are why he is such an admired statesman here in Washington, throughout our Nation, and around the world.

They are why he is one of the most effective legislators of modern times. As many of my colleagues have already commented, Senator Hatch's record of having passed more legislation than any Senator alive today is one that demonstrates his commitment to bridging the partisan divides to achieve and advance the common good and to improve the lives of Americans.

I have known and admired Orrin Hatch for nearly all of his time in the Senate. I was on the staff of Senator Bill Cohen, who joined the Senate in 1979, just 2 years after Senator Hatch. I saw from the start, as a staffer observing Senator Hatch, that this gentleman from Utah was brilliant, he was kind, and he was devoted to his duty to serve others. He truly is one who leads by example.

Senator Hatch has placed careful consideration and compromise above partisan politics, time and again. From the landmark legislation to create the State Children's Health Insurance Program, during my very first year in the Senate, to the recent tax reform law to strengthen our economy and grow jobs, I have had the great pleasure to work with this remarkable leader.

In fact, I remember my freshman year in the Senate when Senator Hatch came to see me in my office. He told me about his plan to expand health insurance for the unserved children of our country. He said he was authoring the bill with Ted Kennedy, and I thought, well, that is a surprising combination, but then I learned it was not; that he would work together with his colleagues on both sides of the aisle to accomplish the goals he set. He invited me to be one of the early cosponsors of that bill, and I was so flattered that this senior Member of the U.S. Senate would come to me, a mere freshman, and invite me to join in cosponsoring such legislation that has made such a difference for millions of American children.

In addition to his accomplishments as a legislator, Senator Hatch holds another record that is unsurpassed. In 32 of his 42 years in the Senate, he has been either the chairman or the ranking member of a major committee. He is held in very high esteem by his colleagues. The Presidential Medal of Freedom that he was awarded in November acknowledges the gratitude the American people have for his many contributions.

There is another side of Senator Orrin Hatch. He is also a wonderfully talented musician and successful songwriter. The beautiful song he cowrote for the 2005 Presidential Inauguration, called ``Heal the Land,'' includes this line that describes the mission to which he has devoted his life: ``Keep us ever on the path of liberty.''

Of all of his accomplishments, Senator Hatch is most proud of his family, as he mentioned today. He credits their love and support as the key to his success, and anyone who has met his wonderful wife Elaine will have to concede that Orrin has a point. His wife of more than 60 years, their 6 children, 23 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren, by last count, have much to be proud of as well.

Orrin Hatch has compiled an extraordinary record on issues ranging from tax reform, education, national defense, scientific research, criminal justice, and healthcare. In fact, it is difficult to think of an issue where he has not left his mark. He is a dedicated advocate of our Senate traditions and a fierce defender of our Constitution. His wide-ranging accomplishments are united by a commitment to always move our country forward.

Orrin, our Nation is so grateful for your service, and I am so grateful for your wise counsel, mentorship, and friendship over the years. I offer my best wishes to you and to Elaine for many years to come.

Thank you

Mr. President, In his two terms in the Senate, Bob Corker established a strong reputation as a visionary leader who offered innovative, commonsense solutions and developed an extraordinary expertise in foreign policy. He has served the people of Tennessee and of America with distinction and will always be a good friend.

He certainly was well-prepared when he came to the Senate in 2007. His early work on a charitable mission to Haiti inspired him to serve his home community of Chattanooga as an advocate for the disadvantaged. He built a successful business, providing jobs and opportunity to others. As mayor of Chattanooga, he led initiatives to improve education, reduce crime, grow the economy, and increase accountability in government. Those experiences and accomplishments guided his work in the Senate.

As chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Corker has been a powerful voice for U.S. global leadership and diplomacy, a complement to his visits to more than 70 nations since he took office in 2007. Although he has many accomplishments worth mentioning, I believe his leadership this year in enacting the BUILD Act, which modernizes American development finance to drive long-term economic growth in the developing world, may be among his most lasting contributions to American diplomacy and global security.

Senator Corker does not seek partisan advantage, but common ground. He has been an extraordinary Senator who always did what he believed was right. He has contributed greatly to our country and served his State well. I commend my colleague, Senator Bob Corker, for his outstanding service, and I thank him for his commitment, integrity, and friendship.

Mr. President, as I listened to Senator Heitkamp's farewell remarks to us today, I could not help but think of the fact that she used her final speech on the Senate floor not just to talk about her accomplishments, of which there are many, but to inspire us. It was a call to action. It was a call to the better angels of ourselves to work together in the interests of our country.

Maine and North Dakota are separated by a great distance, but the people of our two States have in common the qualities of hard work, of respect for tradition, balanced by a spirit of innovation and a belief in personal responsibility, always tempered by compassion.

During her years in the Senate, Heidi Heitkamp has demonstrated those qualities time and again. She is passionate, as we heard today; she is energetic, as we have seen in her work; and she is a committed public servant who has worked so diligently for her State and for our country.

Senator Heitkamp has a remarkable record of public service. As her State's attorney general, she fought to protect the people of North Dakota against drug dealers, to defend seniors against abusive scams, and to keep sexual predators off the streets.

Senator Heitkamp has continued those causes, that fight as a Member of the U.S. Senate. Among the many issues on which we have worked together, Senator Heitkamp's determined leadership on efforts to support victims of human trafficking and to prevent youth homelessness stand out. She and I led the charge to increase Federal funding for the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act and the McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program.

She has also been such a strong advocate for children, as you all heard today. She has worked to help teenagers who find themselves without a permanent home or on the street.

I was proud to stand with her in helping to forge the bipartisan path forward on the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, which became law and includes Senator Heitkamp's provision to give safe harbor to victims of human trafficking. She has also shed light on the role healthcare providers can play in identifying and protecting the victims of human trafficking by authoring the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Act--the SOAR Act--on which I was proud to be her lead Republican.

Senator Heitkamp has been such a valued leader in strengthening our agriculture. In fact, the chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee was just talking about the absolutely vital role she has played working with both the chairman and the ranking member. She knows that when we strengthen agriculture, we sustain our rural communities.

The Next Generation in Agriculture Act that she authored and I cosponsored will ensure that new farmers and ranchers have the support and guidance they need.

It has been so rewarding to work with Senator Heitkamp on so many bipartisan issues, such as improving school nutrition, increasing access to healthcare in underserved areas, and expanding mental health services for our rural vets. She was also instrumental in the success of the Common Sense Coalition in preventing a lengthy government shutdown earlier this year.

Senator Heitkamp has been an effective and courageous colleague, but most of all, she has been a dear friend. Our friendship transcends party lines and is rooted in mutual respect and trust.

To my friend, I say thank you for your service to our country and thank you so much for your friendship. I am so grateful that we served together, and I wish you all the best.

Thank you.

Mr. President, I am pleased to be joined by my colleague Senator Angus King in sponsoring this resolution to designate December 15, 2018, as Wreaths Across America Day. Throughout human history, the evergreen wreath has been offered as a tribute to heroes. On December 15, we gather to offer this enduring symbol of valor and sacrifice to America's heroes. In this season of giving, we pay tribute to those who have given us the most precious gift of all, our freedom.

Some who secured that gift did not return home. Some did return but have since passed on. Some remain missing but will never be forgotten. Many still live in honor among us.

We here at home must always respect their service. Often, we do this on those special days we set aside each year--Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Veterans Day. Sometimes, we do this spontaneously because our hearts, rather than our calendars, tell us to. That is the origin of Wreaths Across America.

Twenty-six Christmases ago, Morrill and Karen Worcester took time during their busiest season to donate and deliver 5,000 wreaths from their company in Harrington, Maine, to Arlington National Cemetery to mark the graves of fallen heroes. The people of Maine are proud that this heartfelt expression of America's gratitude began in our State, and I congratulate Karen and Morrill for being awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor Society's Patriot Award this April, the highest award the Society can bestow to civilians.

In the years since, that heartfelt gesture became a national phenomenon and an American tradition. More than six million wreaths have been laid by tens of thousands of volunteers at more than 600 cemeteries, here and abroad, and even on ships at sea. This remarkable effort is made possible by trucking companies across the Nation who donate their services and by the generosity of thousands of volunteers and supporters. With the Patriot Guard escort, the convoy from Maine to Washington is greeted at every stop along the way by grateful citizens of all ages. On December 15--after months of hard work, careful planning, and generous donations--wreaths will be laid where American heroes lie at rest.

This year, for the first time, more than 9,300 Maine-made balsam wreaths will mark the headstones of all American service members laid to rest at the Normandy American Cemetery in France. It has been nearly 75 years since our brave troops stormed those beaches to liberate Europe but they will never be forgotten.

Wreaths Across America honors our departed heroes, but it does even more. It tells our veterans that we honor their service. It tells our men and women in uniform today that we are grateful for their courage and devotion to duty. It tells the families of those serving our country that they are in our thoughts and prayers. And it tells the families of the fallen that we share their grief.

The mission of Wreaths Across America is: Remember, Honor, Teach. Thanks to the spirit of this Maine-made tradition, we remember and honor America's veterans, while also teaching the generations to come of the sacrifices that have been made to secure a future of peace and liberty. May God bless these heroes, and may God bless America.

Mr. President, on Ocean Avenue in Kennebunkport, ME, stands a simple yet powerful monument, a gift from the people of that small community to a friend and neighbor. The monument is a U.S. Navy anchor, and the friend and neighbor was President George Herbert Walker Bush. It is a fitting tribute. President Bush often called the family home at Walker's Point his ``anchor to the windward,'' a special place of unsurpassed beauty in a caring community. Through the years, it has been the place that gave him the strength to face the many challenges he took on in dedicated service to our country. Indeed, every summer of his life George Herbert Walker Bush spent at Walker's Point, except when he was defending our country during World War II.

It is a fitting tribute in another way. As a Navy aviator in World War II, as a Member of Congress, as a Special Envoy to China, as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, as Vice President and President, George H.W. Bush consistently and vigorously demonstrated the values that are the anchor of American society. Courage, duty, honor, and compassion defined his life. As he encouraged Americans to be ``a thousand points of light'' through service to others, he himself shone the brightest. He always answered the call to serve our country.

I had the pleasure of visiting President and Mrs. Bush at Walker's Point many times over the years, and how I looked forward to those annual visits in Kennebunkport. I remember the very first time so well. It was in 1994, and I had just won the Republican primary for Governor of Maine. I received a call from President Bush's staff inviting me to have lunch with him and Mrs. Bush at Walker's Point.

The last time I saw the President was on September 7, just months after President Bush had lost his beloved Barbara and as his own health was rapidly declining. Yet, as the Presiding Officer well knows, the President remained incredibly positive and warm. The qualities that made him such an inspiring leader were undiminished.

Throughout our long friendship, President Bush, by his example and by his words, was always so encouraging, kind, and thoughtful. He taught me that you must always do what your heart tells you is right regardless of the consequences. He demonstrated that every difficulty must be met with strength and determination.

George Herbert Walker Bush was so kind to others. I remember one year when I visited him, he had completely shaved his head in solidarity with a young boy who was the son of a Secret Service agent who was part of his detail. This young boy was undergoing cancer treatments and had lost all of his hair, so President Bush shaved off all of his hair too. That is the kind of individual he was--caring, compassionate, and committed.

The end of a life so devoted to the highest ideals of the human spirit brings to mind the parable of the talents in the Bible. The master, leaving on a journey, entrusts a servant with a portion of his treasure. Upon his return, the master is delighted to find that his wealth was wisely invested and multiplied. George Herbert Walker Bush was entrusted with the great treasure of principles, determination, and courage. He invested that treasure wisely and multiplied it to the benefit of all--not just here in America but throughout the world.

Like the master in the New Testament, to him we say: Well done, good and faithful servant.

May God bless him, and may his memory always be anchored in our hearts.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I have 5 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 Armed Services

The Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, December 04, 2018, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing on the following nominations: Lieutenant General Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr., to be General and Commander, Central Command, and Lieutenant General Richard D. Clarke, to be General and Commander, Special Operations Command, both of the Department of Defense.

Committee on Foreign Relations

The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, December 04, 2018, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on the following nominations: Michael S. Klecheski, of New York, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Mongolia, Matthew John Matthews, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, and W. Patrick Murphy, of Vermont, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia, all of the Department of State; to be immediately followed by a Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy hearing to examine the China challenge, focusing on democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

Committee on Foreign Relations

The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, December 04, 2018, at 2.30 p.m., to conduct a hearing on the following nominations: Carol Z. Perez, of Virginia, to be Director General of the Foreign Service, Arthur B. Culvahouse, Jr., of Tennessee, to be Ambassador to the Commonwealth of Australia, Christopher Paul Henzel, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Yemen, Sarah-Ann Lynch, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, and Lynne M. Tracy, of Ohio, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia, all of the Department of State, and John Barsa, of Florida, to be an Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development.

Select Committee on Intelligence

The Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, December 04, 2018, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a closed hearing.

Subcommittee on East Asia, The Pacific, and International Cybersecurity

Policy

The Subcommittee on East Asia, The Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy of the Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, December 04, 2018, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``The China Challenge, Part 3: Democracy, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Rowan Kurtz and Grant Cummings, interns in Senator Murkowski's office, be granted floor privileges for the remainder of the week.

Mr. President, each year, the 1.4 million members of the National Association of Realtors recognize five of their own with the Good Neighbor Award for their service to others, locally or globally. I am delighted to congratulate 2018 Good Neighbor Elias Thomas of Shapleigh, ME, for inspiring contributions from his hometown to some of the poorest villages in India.

Mr. Thomas, broker-owner of EXIT Key Real Estate in Shapleigh, has spent 40 years volunteering with Rotary International. His compassionate work started with his local chapter, where he helped to build meditation gardens for those with mental illness and developed job and housing assistance programs for newly released prison inmates. His international efforts began in the late 1990s, when he travelled to Cozumel, Mexico, for a project to prevent the island's garbage dump from polluting the water system.

In 2001, Mr. Thomas journeyed to India to assist in Rotary's signature project of preventing and eradicating polio. The deplorable living conditions and the gratitude of villagers for the Rotarians' assistance convinced him that India was where his energy and commitment were most needed.

Mr. Thomas has returned to India every year since then, leading teams of volunteers and personally immunizing about 500 children against polio. He has raised $40,000 to help pay for the corrective surgeries of some 1,000 victims of the disease. Throughout his four decades as a Rotarian, Mr. Thomas has raised more than $350,000 for Rotary International's charitable endeavors.

During a 2008 trip to India, he became aware of another dire situation there: the lack of safe drinking water in desert communities in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan, which can lead to illness and death due to dysentery.

Mr. Thomas assembled a team of 78 volunteers from eight countries and worked with village councils on a plan to build dams to capture the runoff from monsoons for drinking water and crop irrigation. Every year for the last 10 years, Mr. Thomas has led a total of 350 volunteers from around the world, and working with local residents and without mechanized equipment, they have hand-built nine dams that provide clean and safe water to more than 45,000 people.

A fellow Rotarian who has been part of that team describes Mr. Thomas this way: ``Elias has deep faith that we can bring about change. He's a man that has dreams, and while most people talk about what they wish they could do to help others, he does it. To Elias, everyone in humanity is critically important.''

Elias Thomas exemplifies the motto of Rotary International, ``Service Above Self.'' His caring spirit and boundless energy are improving and even saving lives here at home and around the world.

Mr. President. As Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, I rise today to introduce the ``Guardianship Accountability Act of 2018,'' a bill that would assist States in improving guardianship oversight and data collection. I am pleased to be joined by our Committee's Ranking Member, Senator Bob Casey.

Protecting older Americans from financial fraud and exploitation is one of my top priorities. According to the National Center for State Courts, an estimated 1.3 million adults are under the care of guardians--family members or professionals--who control approximately $50 billion of their assets. Guardianship is a legal relationship created by a court that is designed to protect those with diminished or lost capacity. In many cases, however, the system lacks basic protections leaving the most vulnerable Americans at risk of exploitation.

Today, the Aging Committee released a bipartisan report to help change the tide, implement reforms, and restore trust in guardianship. Titled, ``Ensuring Trust: Strengthening State Efforts to Overhaul the Guardianship Process and Protect Older Americans,'' the report is the culmination of the Committee's year-long work investigating the guardianship system.

Throughout the course of the year, we heard harrowing tales from families around the Nation who have struggled with abusive guardians. We also spoke with families who had heartening stories to share--of dedicated and faithful guardians stepping up to protect the assets of seniors with dementia and other conditions affecting capacity. A good guardian can provide years of support for a protected individual, ensuring a full life directed, wherever possible, by the person's own choices and preferences. Once a guardianship is imposed, however, the individual's rights are removed, and oversight to protect the individual from abuse, neglect, and exploitation becomes critical.

Our Committee has gathered information, analysis and recommendations from States, courts, and organizations representing older Americans and those with disabilities around the country, and received more than 100 comments pointing to gaps in the system and, most important, offering solutions. The Committee found a pattern of barriers to proper oversight and a need for greater use of alternatives to guardianship. We identified persistent and widespread challenges that require a nationwide focus in order to ensure the guardianship system works on behalf of the individuals it is intended to protect. The Committee's report outlines policy recommendations at local, state, and federal levels that would improve outcomes for Americans subject to guardianship.

The Guardianship Accountability Act addresses many of our report's recommendations. The bill would direct the Elder Justice Coordinating Council to establish a National Online Resource Center on Guardianship to collect and publish information relevant to guardianship for use by guardians, individuals subject to guardianship, courts, states, local governments, and community organizations. The resource center would also publish model legislation and best practices developed pursuant to the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act, compile and publish training materials for guardians, share research related to guardianship, and maintain a database on State laws regarding guardianship and the use of less restrictive alternatives. In addition, the bill would also expand the availability of Federal demonstration grants, established by the Elder Justice Act, to include use for the development of State guardianship databases, training for court visitors, and sharing of information on guardian background checks.

Combating financial abuse and exploitation of seniors requires law enforcement and social service agencies at all levels of government to work collaboratively together, which the Guardianship Accountability Act promotes. I'm proud to have worked on this bill with Senator Casey, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. President. As Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, I rise today to introduce the ``Guardianship Accountability Act of 2018,'' a bill that would assist States in improving guardianship oversight and data collection. I am pleased to be joined by our Committee's Ranking Member, Senator Bob Casey.

Protecting older Americans from financial fraud and exploitation is one of my top priorities. According to the National Center for State Courts, an estimated 1.3 million adults are under the care of guardians--family members or professionals--who control approximately $50 billion of their assets. Guardianship is a legal relationship created by a court that is designed to protect those with diminished or lost capacity. In many cases, however, the system lacks basic protections leaving the most vulnerable Americans at risk of exploitation.

Today, the Aging Committee released a bipartisan report to help change the tide, implement reforms, and restore trust in guardianship. Titled, ``Ensuring Trust: Strengthening State Efforts to Overhaul the Guardianship Process and Protect Older Americans,'' the report is the culmination of the Committee's year-long work investigating the guardianship system.

Throughout the course of the year, we heard harrowing tales from families around the Nation who have struggled with abusive guardians. We also spoke with families who had heartening stories to share--of dedicated and faithful guardians stepping up to protect the assets of seniors with dementia and other conditions affecting capacity. A good guardian can provide years of support for a protected individual, ensuring a full life directed, wherever possible, by the person's own choices and preferences. Once a guardianship is imposed, however, the individual's rights are removed, and oversight to protect the individual from abuse, neglect, and exploitation becomes critical.

Our Committee has gathered information, analysis and recommendations from States, courts, and organizations representing older Americans and those with disabilities around the country, and received more than 100 comments pointing to gaps in the system and, most important, offering solutions. The Committee found a pattern of barriers to proper oversight and a need for greater use of alternatives to guardianship. We identified persistent and widespread challenges that require a nationwide focus in order to ensure the guardianship system works on behalf of the individuals it is intended to protect. The Committee's report outlines policy recommendations at local, state, and federal levels that would improve outcomes for Americans subject to guardianship.

The Guardianship Accountability Act addresses many of our report's recommendations. The bill would direct the Elder Justice Coordinating Council to establish a National Online Resource Center on Guardianship to collect and publish information relevant to guardianship for use by guardians, individuals subject to guardianship, courts, states, local governments, and community organizations. The resource center would also publish model legislation and best practices developed pursuant to the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act, compile and publish training materials for guardians, share research related to guardianship, and maintain a database on State laws regarding guardianship and the use of less restrictive alternatives. In addition, the bill would also expand the availability of Federal demonstration grants, established by the Elder Justice Act, to include use for the development of State guardianship databases, training for court visitors, and sharing of information on guardian background checks.

Combating financial abuse and exploitation of seniors requires law enforcement and social service agencies at all levels of government to work collaboratively together, which the Guardianship Accountability Act promotes. I'm proud to have worked on this bill with Senator Casey, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. President, I am delighted to commend Dr. Levesque Elementary School in Frenchville, ME, on being named a 2018 National Blue Ribbon Exemplary High Performing School. This outstanding school is one of only 349 schools across the country to receive Blue Ribbon recognition from the U.S. Department of Education this year.

Created in 1982, the Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private schools that are either academically superior in their States or that demonstrate significant gains in student achievement. The schools singled out for this national recognition are models of high educational standards and accountability.

This award continues a tradition of quality education at Dr. Levesque Elementary School, which first received a Blue Ribbon in 1999. Serving 128 students from the small rural communities of Frenchville and St. Agatha in northern Aroostook County, this school is succeeding in its mission to encourage engaged lifelong learners. As a native of Aroostook County, I am especially proud of this accomplishment.

Faculty and staff are committed to both academic excellence and each child's social, emotional, and physical health. They work to ensure a safe and secure learning environment and to develop strong and collaborative relationships with parents and community members. Teachers emphasize math and reading, while also giving students rich and diverse opportunities, from art and music to robotics and physical education. The Franco-American communities of Frenchville and St. Agatha are bilingual, and the school provides daily instruction in the French language and Acadian culture.

The school's name is a tribute to Dr. Romeo Levesque, who provided expert, dedicated, and compassionate medical care to these communities for many decades. The strong school community, where students are encouraged to pursue their interests and to be of service to others, honors his memory.

I applaud the administrators, teachers, staff, and parents of Dr. Levesque Elementary School. Together, they are succeeding in their mission to build students' confidence and generate momentum for learning. They are making a difference in the lives of their students, helping them reach their full potential as independent, responsible learners and citizens. I congratulate the entire school community for this outstanding achievement.

Mr. President, I am delighted to commend Falmouth High School of Falmouth, ME, on being named a 2018 National Blue Ribbon Exemplary High Performing School. This outstanding high school is one of only 349 schools across the country to receive Blue Ribbon recognition from the U.S. Department of Education.

Created in 1982, the Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private schools that are either academically superior in their States or that demonstrate significant gains in student achievement. The schools singled out for this national recognition are models of high educational standards and accountability.

This award recognizes the hard work and determination of Falmouth High School's students, faculty, and staff. This is a top-performing school on State-required assessments, and its strong commitment to professional development ensures that teachers, staff, and students are lifelong learners. This recognition adds to the town's record of achievement in education; its middle and elementary schools were awarded Blue Ribbons in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

Falmouth High School is known for its extensive extracurricular activities, which help forge a strong school community where students are connected and encouraged to pursue their interests. In addition to music, theater, and art presentations, the school provides the community with such offerings as robotics demonstrations, a film festival, a science Olympiad, poetry slams, and math team competitions. A new school garden and greenhouse and a student technology team provide hands-on learning experiences. Many high school students serve their community by mentoring students in the town's elementary and middle schools.

The school strives to address the varying needs of individual students. Falmouth's innovative student centered team brings together students, teachers, administrators, and counselors to provide a support network to

help ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed academically and socially.

This Blue Ribbon Award is a tribute not only to the students, but also to the administrators, teachers, staff, and parents of Falmouth High School. Together, they are accomplishing their mission to help students succeed in the classroom and as engaged citizens. They are making a difference in the lives of their students, helping them reach their full potential. I congratulate the entire community for this well-deserved recognition.

Mr. President, I am delighted to commend Yarmouth Elementary School in Yarmouth, ME, on being named a 2018 National Blue Ribbon Exemplary High Performing School. Serving 358 students from second through fourth grade, this outstanding school is one of only 349 schools across the country to receive Blue Ribbon recognition from the U.S. Department of Education.

Created in 1982, the Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private schools that are either academically superior in their States or that demonstrate significant gains in student achievement. The schools singled out for this national recognition are models of high educational standards and accountability.

The Blue Ribbon designation continues a tradition of quality education in Yarmouth. The graduation rates and assessment test scores for the town's K-12 school district consistently are among the highest in the State of Maine.

Yarmouth Elementary School's mission statement, ``Empowering all students to create fulfilling lives in a changing world,'' is carried out daily. Students focus on the core values of fairness, citizenship, respect, and caring. The core curriculum has a strong focus on math, literacy, science, and social studies, with special programs that recognize each student's individual learning style.

Rich and diverse learning opportunities are a part of every child's experience, from art and music, to library skills and physical education. The school involves all students in extracurricular activities, which helps forge a strong school community where students are connected and encouraged to pursue their interests. Throughout the curriculum, students are also taught to use technology both effectively and responsibly.

Faculty, parents, and community members are committed to both academic excellence and each child's social, emotional, and physical health. Faculty work to ensure a safe and secure learning environment and to develop strong and collaborative relationships with parents and community members. An active parent-teacher organization supports enriching educational activities, and the Yarmouth School Foundation promotes excellence and innovation by funding a number of projects and initiatives.

I applaud the administrators, teachers, staff, and parents of Yarmouth Elementary School. Together, they are succeeding in their mission to build students' confidence and generate momentum for learning. I am pleased that the U.S. Department of Education has selected Yarmouth Elementary School for this well-deserved honor, and I congratulate the entire school community for this outstanding achievement.