Floor Statements

Madam President, it is a great pleasure but a bittersweet moment for me to rise on the Senate floor to pay tribute to a dear friend and an esteemed colleague, Senator Saxby Chambliss.

After 20 years in Congress--8 in the House and 12 here in the Senate--Senator Chambliss retires from this phase of service to Georgia and to our Nation with a well-deserved reputation as a true statesman.

At a time when the coarsening political discourse across our Nation and here in Congress is a growing concern, Senator Chambliss is a shining example of expertise and ability combined with civility and respect. He leaves Congress not only with many friends on both sides of the aisle, but also with many accomplishments to his credit.

His leadership in national security and intelligence in both Chambers has been a great asset to our Nation. From agriculture to armed services, Senator Chambliss has been an informed and effective advocate for his constituents and for the American people.

The golfers here might consider the hole-in-one he famously scored in a foursome with President Obama last year to be worthy of mention. Personally, as the founder and cochair of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, I would consider his dedication to the cause of juvenile diabetes to be a true highlight.

I have also had the great pleasure of serving with Senator Chambliss both on the Intelligence Committee, where he is the vice chairman, and previously on the Senate Armed Services Committee. I saw firsthand his extraordinary grasp of complicated issues that are so critical to the security of our Nation. I also witnessed how he would listen carefully to the views of others, whether on the Republican side of the aisle or from the Democratic Members on both committees.

But if there is one shining moment that stands out for me, it would be Senator Chambliss's leadership in the Gang of 6 during the 2011 debt ceiling crisis. At a time when it was far easier to stand back, point fingers, and fix blame, Senator Chambliss, along with Senator Mark Warner, led the way in producing a framework to provide a bipartisan, comprehensive, and balanced way to put our Nation on a stable fiscal path. The fact that our national debt has grown from $16 trillion to $18 trillion since then makes it all the more imperative that we continue the effort, with the leadership that was shown by Senator Chambliss and that he so courageously helped to start.

The fact that this dedicated and wise leader cited Washington gridlock and partisan posturing as the driving force in his decision to retire from the Senate should give us all cause to reflect.

Senator Saxby Chambliss has always been a voice of reason. No matter how bitter the debate, he has always engaged in thoughtful discussions that result in solutions. As he returns to private life, his advice will continue to be sought after and I hope heeded. His knowledge and insight will still be valued, and the example of decency and civility he has set should guide us all. I know his beloved wife, his children, and his grandchildren will be happy to have more of Senator Chambliss's time, but for those of us who have been privileged to serve with him in the Senate, his decision to retire is a great loss.

The people of Georgia, the people of America, and those of us who have been privileged to serve as Saxby Chambliss's colleagues are grateful for his service. I wish him all the best in the years to come, both on and off the golf course.

Thank you, Madam President.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I wish to speak on the fiscal year 2015 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act that is currently before the Senate.

For the last year, members of the Appropriations Committee have worked hard to develop bipartisan bills that establish priorities and responsibly fund the government. While I would have much preferred each of these bills to have been brought to the floor individually so they could be debated and amended, passage of this compromise legislation to keep government open and provide vital services to Americans who depend on them is essential.

While the legislation funds nearly all government operations, programs, and agencies through the remainder of the fiscal year, notably, this bill funds the Department of Homeland Security only through February 27, 2015, giving Congress time to thoughtfully respond to the President's unilateral action on immigration. While I supported the bipartisan legislation to reform our immigration laws that passed the Senate last year, I believe President Obama's recent Executive action on immigration circumvents Congress and undermines the separation of powers in our Constitution. This bill gives Congress time to formulate an appropriate response.

In addition to the regular funding contained in this bill, the legislation also provides more than $5 billion in emergency funding to address the Ebola crisis at home and abroad. The scope and urgency of this crisis require continued attention, and this funding will build on the important initial investment for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services that Congress provided in September.

I want to highlight the important work that Chairman Murray and I have accomplished as the leaders on the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee on Appropriations. Over this past year, Senator Murray and I worked together to craft a bipartisan bill that includes input from Members on both sides of the aisle and provides the necessary resources to meet our nation's transportation and housing needs. Every Member of Congress has unmet transportation and housing needs in his or her home State, from crumbling roads and bridges to a growing population of low income families, elderly, and disabled individuals in need of housing assistance.

There are a number of key programs that I would like to highlight. With regard to transportation infrastructure, we secured funding to address the safe transportation of crude oil and other hazardous materials by rail, strengthening three components: prevention, mitigation, and response. These safety measures will help to prevent disasters like the horrific derailment in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, last year--so very close to the Maine border.

We also provide $500 million for the TIGER program, an effective initiative that helps advance transportation infrastructure projects. We all have seen firsthand how TIGER projects create jobs and support economic growth in our home States. In fact in Maine this highly competitive program has supported more than $90 million in funding for roads, bridges, ports, and rail projects.

Turning to air travel, the aviation investments included in the bill will continue to modernize our Nation's air traffic system and keep rural communities connected to the transportation network. These investments are creating safer skies and a more efficient airspace to move the flying public.

Also included in the bill are provisions I authored, which were adopted by the Appropriations Committee by a bipartisan vote of 21 to 9, to respond to potential safety concerns related to DOT regulations governing truck drivers. As a result of unintended consequences of these regulations, more trucks have been forced on our Nation's roads during the most congested morning hours--when commuters are traveling to work and children are traveling to school. The bill provides temporary relief until the DOT Secretary conducts a comprehensive study on the impacts of these unanticipated outcomes.

In addition to these transportation programs, our bill provides sufficient funding to keep pace with the rising cost of housing programs for our most vulnerable families. More than four million families will continue to receive critical rental assistance for housing. Without it, many of these families would otherwise become homeless.

The bill reflects our strong commitment to reduce homelessness and includes more than $2 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants. Since 2010, we have reduced overall chronic homelessness by 21 percent and veterans' homelessness by 33 percent. This program works. That is why we build on these successes and provide an additional 10,000 HUD-VASH vouchers to serve our Nation's veterans.

While we continue to help families in need, we also recognize the struggles facing our local communities. Boosting local economies is critical to job creation and helping families obtain financial security. Our bill supports these local development efforts by providing $3 billion for the Community Development Block Grants program. This is an extremely important program for States and communities because it allows them to tailor the Federal funds to support local economic and job creation projects.

Other provisions of the bill make equally important investments in our national security, energy infrastructure, veterans, and health and human services.

For our military and our national security, I particularly appreciate that the bill fully funds the Arleigh Burke-class DDG-51 and Zumwalt- class DDG-1000 destroyers. The destroyers are known as the real workhorses of the fleet and are critical to maintaining the robust forward naval presence our nation requires especially in a time of increasing threats to our security. The continued support of the destroyer programs is also a strong testament to the hard work and dedication of the men and women at Bath Iron Works in Maine. Bath-built truly is best built.

The bill also includes funding for the procurement of 38 F-35s and for four additional aircraft. The F-35 is vital to maintaining air superiority, and components of the aircraft are built by skilled workers at Pratt & Whitney in North Berwick, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems in Saco, Hunting Dearborn, Inc. in Fryeburg, and Fairchild Semiconductor in South Portland. Neither the bill, nor the report, recommends an unnecessary study of an extra engine for the F-35 fighter, which would have wasted billions of dollars.

Turning to our Nation's public shipyards, I am pleased that this bill funds our Navy's facility maintenance and modernization efforts, including projects at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, ME. The agreement contains language I secured that ensures the capital investment for the Navy's four public shipyards, including the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, is funded at the level required by law.

For the men and women serving in uniform all over the world, the bill also rightly rejects many of the President's proposals that would have imposed burdens on many servicemembers and their families.

For our Veterans, I am pleased that this bill provides funding for the highly successful Access Received Closer to Home program, or ARCH, which provides critical care to our veterans living in rural areas, including those living in Northern Maine. The ARCH pilot

program provides VA-covered health care services through non-VA providers and has been crucial to increasing access to care for rural Maine veterans.

The funding bill also provides additional resources to implement the reforms included in the recently enacted Veterans Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act.

We must increase our investment in biomedical research, and this bill provides $72 million in new funding for Alzheimer's Disease research, treatment, and caregiver programs. This important step takes us closer toward the goal of doubling funding for Alzheimer's research and eventually reaching the level of $2 billion a year in federal investment. This is the amount that the chairman of the Alzheimer's Advisory Council has said will be necessary if we are to reach our goal of having a way to prevent or effectively treat Alzheimer's Disease by 2025. At a time when Alzheimer's is costing our Nation $214 billion a year, including $150 billion in costs to Medicare and Medicaid, we are spending less than $600 million a year on Alzheimer's research. While this bill does take a step forward, clearly we need to do more given the tremendous human and economic toll this devastating disease takes on our Nation.

In addition, this funding bill makes important investments in agricultural research and extension activities, from potatoes to wild blueberries to aquaculture and forest products, while maintaining a commitment to nutrition and food security. The agreement finally allows all fresh vegetables, including the fresh, white potato, to be included in the WIC program while USDA carries out an evaluation of the nutrient value of all vegetables, helping to ensure that any long-term policy is transparent and reflects the latest science.

This bill also makes important commitments to our energy infrastructure and provides robust funding for the Department of Energy wind program. This program funds the offshore wind demonstration projects, including the R&D project being carried out by the University of Maine. Federal seed money is helping overcome barriers to the development and implementation of new and innovative technologies, such as deepwater offshore wind, which can position the U.S. as a global leader in innovative clean energy.

To help address the high cost of residential energy, particularly for those living in northern, rural States like Maine, funding is provided in this bill for the Weatherization program. This program plays an important role in permanently reducing home energy costs for low-income families and seniors. Moreover, the funding included for LIHEAP will help ensure that many of our most vulnerable families and seniors do not have to choose between paying for heat and paying for other necessities such as food or medicine.

Helping to meet the water infrastructure needs of smaller states and regions is another vital piece of our National infrastructure. This bill includes funding for the operation and maintenance of Army Corps projects at smaller harbors, which are the economic lifeblood for many rural communities, a fact not fully accounted for under the Corps' budget metrics, which tend to favor larger ports.

The bill also continues to support our nation's fisheries, which are so important to the economies of our coastal communities, particularly in Maine. From funding for annual stock assessments, surveys and monitoring, and cooperative research, the bill supports key State and Federal partnerships. It provides funding to ensure fisheries data collection accurately reflects stock sustainability and funding for NOAA to invest in the science and research necessary to sustainably manage our fisheries in a way that continues to support our fishing fleets.

Finally, I am pleased to see that the bill includes full funding for the Trade Adjustment Assistance programs that are so important in Maine, and for which Senator King and I both advocated. As we continue to deal with the recent job losses at paper mills in Maine, this assistance to displaced workers is extremely important.

Completing action on this bill will keep government open and provide essential services to Americans who depend on them. While there are aspects of this compromise legislation that should have been subject to debate and amendment in an open process by the full Senate, including provisions that affect significantly multi-employer pensions and our campaign finance laws, we simply cannot allow a government shutdown. For that reason, I will be voting for this compromise legislation, and I urge my colleagues do so as well.

Mr. President, during his 36 years representing Michigan in the Senate, Senator Carl Levin's character and expertise have been described in many ways. He has been named by Time magazine as one of the 10 best Senators. He has been hailed by our military as a leader on national security. He is recognized by families in Michigan and throughout our country as a dedicated champion for economic opportunity and fairness.

But perhaps the best description of Senator Levin's philosophy of public service is a word he himself used in an interview for the George Mitchell Oral History Project at Bowdoin College in Maine. That word is ``fiduciary.''

It is the word that embraces the concepts of trust and confidence, of ethics and responsibility. In that interview Senator Levin elaborated on what the word means to him as a public servant. He said it meant to be accessible and open, to listen to other points of view, and to be well informed. Then when it is time to decide, to use his best judgment and vote for what is best for his State and his country, even though it may not be the popular choice at the time.

``Fiduciary'' may indeed be the best word to describe our colleague Senator Levin; but to me, based upon decades of firsthand experience, there is another phrase that also comes to mind. He is truly a Senator's Senator. My colleagues may be surprised to learn that I have known Senator Levin far longer than most of the Members of this Chamber. You see, when he was first elected to the Senate in 1978, the same year as Maine Senator Bill Cohen, for whom I was working at the time, both of them served on what was then known as a Senate Governmental Affairs Committee and also on the same subcommittee, Oversight of Government Management, for which I was first the minority staff director and then the majority staff director. So I have known and worked with Senator Levin for the entire time he has been a Member of this Chamber. From the very start, Senator Levin's diligence as a watchdog for the American people impressed me.

Ten years after I left the committee, I returned as Senator Cohen's successor and sought a seat on the Governmental Affairs Committee precisely because, thanks to the example of Senator Levin and Senator Cohen, I saw the importance of accountability in government and business practices. As the chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, it was my honor to begin my Senate service with Senator Levin as our ranking member, who was a far more experienced Senator than I was at the time.

So I have seen firsthand how deeply Senator Levin cares about the Senate as an institution and its unique place in our Constitution and in its role in our system of government. He is a person of extraordinary integrity and has a sense of purpose that sets a high standard for all of us in public service.

He works well with Senators across the aisle because he works hard. From the very first time I saw Senator Levin in action back in 1978, I saw the importance that he placed on extensive, exhaustive preparation for our committee investigations and hearings. As many evasive or ill- prepared witnesses learned to their chagrin, the eyes behind those trademark reading glasses focused like a laser because he has always done his homework.

If Senator Levin were to be remembered for his contributions to just one area of policy, it would be our Nation's defense. He has been a member of the Armed Services Committee throughout his time in the Senate, including 10 years as both the chairman and the ranking member. During our work together on that committee, I saw his mastery of such complex matters as emerging global threats and advanced weapons systems. Above all, his focus has always been on the men and women in uniform and their families, from improving their standard of living to better caring for our wounded warriors.

As a fiduciary of the principles that are our Nation's foundation, Carl Levin has been a faithful trustee and truly a Senator's Senator. I cannot imagine this body without him, without his wisdom, his integrity, his insight. So I thank him for his years of extraordinary service, and I wish him all the best in the years to come.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Madam President, today I rise in support of the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act.

First, let me express my sincere thanks to both Chairman Levin and Ranking Member Inhofe for their hard work in putting together a bipartisan bill that addresses the needs of our military and contains provisions that are important to Maine and to our national security.

This legislation fully funds both the vital DDG-1000 and DDG-51 Programs. These ships must be part of the fleet to maintain the robust forward presence our Nation requires. The U.S. Navy protects trade routes, projects power, acts as a stabilizing force, and assists when tragedy strikes. These missions are especially important in the increasingly dangerous and unpredictable world in which we live.

When tensions flared in Syria, it was Navy destroyers that were positioned off the coast. Following the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, two U.S. Navy destroyers were among the first ships to respond.

This bill also provides the resources necessary to help our allies and partners around the globe. When Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization, launched more than 3,000 rockets into Israel this summer, it was the Iron Dome missile defense system--developed with assistance from the United States--that saved countless civilian lives.

I am also pleased that this bill takes further steps to address the problem of sexual assault in the military, which remains a significant challenge facing the Department of Defense. While progress has been made, we must remain focused on our goal of ensuring that the military has a zero tolerance culture when it comes to sexual assault.

I first raised my concern about sexual assaults in the military with Gen George Casey in 2004. To say his response was disappointing would be an understatement. I am convinced that if the military had heeded the concerns I raised then, this terrible problem would have been addressed much sooner, saving many individuals the trauma, pain, and injustice they endured.

I am encouraged that as a result of an amendment I offered to the Senate version of this bill, DOD is already taking formal steps to modify the rules of evidence to ensure confidentiality between the users and the personnel manning its Safe Helpline and HelpRoom systems. The bill includes a provision which mandates a study by DOD's Judicial Proceedings Board on how best to effectuate the rule change.

I also support eliminating the so-called good soldier defense, which this bill does. This defense has allowed the general military character of an individual to be used as evidence of their innocence.

To further support our men and women in uniform, this bill includes necessary provisions to take care of our troops and rejects many of the administration's proposed changes to compensation and benefits.

The bill wisely rejects the President's proposal to authorize a new base realignment and closure round in 2015.

This is the right way to proceed because the GAO has found that the previous BRAC round never produced the amount of savings that were promised when it was originally sold to Congress.

Finally, I would like to thank the chairman and ranking member for including in the bill a provision I authored that reauthorizes the authority for Federal agencies to hire Federal retirees to come back to work part time and still retain their annuitant status. This means that individuals with years of accumulated experience in their jobs can help train and transition in their replacement or fill staffing gaps.

Let me close on a less optimistic note. As we look ahead to next year, the specter of sequestration looms increasingly large. DOD has already made significant reductions, and unless we act soon, the effects of these indiscriminate, senseless cuts will be devastating to our national security and defense industrial base.

Further cuts will compromise the size, readiness, and technical superiority of our military. I stand ready to work closely with all of my colleagues in the next Congress on a sensible solution.

Mr. President, I was not at all surprised as I listened to the words of our colleague Senator Tom Coburn that he quoted extensively from the Declaration of Independence and he referred to our Constitution--the founding documents of our great country.

When America's Founders conceived of a nation of citizen legislators, they had leaders like Senator Tom Coburn in mind. Indeed, throughout his service in Congress, he has remained a compassionate physician, a devoted husband and father, a fierce defender of the rights enshrined in our Constitution, and an unwavering opponent of excessive spending.

Senator Coburn may be best known as our most diligent fiscal watchdog, relentlessly hounding wasteful spending. His annual ``Wastebook'' report is a call for transparency and accountability in the Federal Government that has guided oversight investigations and policy debates.

The aspect of his service in the Senate that deserves just as much acclaim is his work on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Select Committee on Intelligence. Serving with Senator Coburn on both of those committees for many years, I have seen firsthand his brilliance, his tenacity, and his determination to strengthen our Nation and the safety of our people. He has a keen understanding of the grave and ever-evolving threats that our Nation faces.

As a citizen legislator, Senator Coburn leads by example and with compassion. With his expertise as a physician, he has been a leader in promoting wellness, disease prevention, combatting HIV/AIDS, and advancing biomedical research. When it comes to fiscal responsibility, he walks the walk, having returned more than $1 million from his Senate office budget to the American taxpayers.

We have heard many descriptions of Tom Coburn today, but the word I most associate with him is ``integrity.'' He is a man of the utmost integrity, who always stands tall for his principles and for what he believes in. He sets an example for all of us who seek to serve the public.

On a personal note, I want to thank Senator Coburn for hounding me into joining a women's prayer breakfast that meets each week and has introduced me to a number of wonderful women from the House of Representatives who have become my close friends as well as colleagues. And I use the word ``hound'' appropriately. He mentioned it to me so many times that eventually I gave in and went to one of those breakfasts, and, indeed, it has been a spiritually enriching experience that I never would have had but for Tom continuing to press me to attend.

This past January Senator Coburn announced his intention to leave the Senate, due in part to his deepening health problems--problems he has faced with extraordinary courage. This somber news was counterbalanced by his overarching concern, not for himself, but for his family and for the people of his State and our Nation.

As he now returns to the life of a private citizen, I wish him every success in combatting his illness, and I thank him for his truly extraordinary service to our country. To quote from Scripture, I think everyone would agree with these words when it comes to Tom Coburn: ``Well done, good and faithful servant.''

I ask unanimous consent to engage in a colloquy with Senators Brown and Johanns.

Mr. President, in June of this year the Senate passed by unanimous consent, S. 2270, urgent legislation I introduced with Senators Brown and Johanns to address the capital requirements that apply to insurance companies under Federal supervision pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act. This legislation clarifies the Federal Reserve's authority to recognize the distinctions between banking and insurance when implementing section 171 of the Dodd-Frank Act, ensuring that bank-centric capital standards are not applied to such companies' regulated insurance activities.

One of the central elements of the Dodd-Frank Act was stronger capital rules for both banks and certain non-bank financial institutions. Two sections of the Dodd-Frank Act accomplished this-- section 165, which applies to large bank holding companies and to non- bank systemically important financial institutions, SIFIs, and section 171, which applies minimum capital standards to insured depository institutions, depository institution holding companies, including insurance savings and loan holding companies, and to SIFIs.

Insurance companies, specifically insurance savings and loan holding companies, are different from banks. Insurers must match long-term obligations

to their policyholders with long-term assets, mostly bonds, while banks have more callable obligations--securities and loans and mortgages--and fund them with deposits as well as a mix of debt and equity of varying maturities and durations. The Dodd-Frank legislation reflected this reality, both in its text and in the legislative history, which repeatedly recognizes that the business of insurance is unique and presents different risks.

We also want to ensure that the Federal Reserve uses its authority to tailor capital rules for insurance operations of entities under its supervision, regardless of the size of the subsidiary insured depository institution. As we have stated, under this legislation and under current law, the Basel banking regime and the Collins amendment requirements will continue to apply to all insured depository institutions. It would be at odds with sound public policy and the intent of this legislation for the Federal Reserve to impose a Basel banking capital regime on the entire enterprise of an insurer that happens to also own a sizable insured depository institution--the depository institution in that operation will already be subject to banking rules, but the insurance operations should not be.

Mr. President, I and the many other supporters of S. 2270 are pleased that this legislation has passed the Senate. It is critical that this legislation be enacted this year. We look forward to its enactment this year and working with regulators as they implement appropriate, tailored capital rules for insurers under their supervision.

Mr. President, when Senator Mike Johanns stated in February of last year that he had decided not to seek a second term in the Senate, he did so in a way that revealed so much about his character. There was no dramatic press conference, there were no weeks of rumors, there were no guessing games. Instead, there was just a simple and brief press release.

Then, the very next day it was back to work for Senator Johanns, traveling throughout the State of Nebraska for a series of townhall meetings with the people he is honored to serve.

Nine months later, in October of 2013, his character again shone through. The Federal Government was shut down due to a massive failure to govern responsibly. It was stifling our economy and causing great harm to the trust the American people deserve to have in their government.

As a key member of our Common Sense Coalition, Senator Johanns worked effectively and quietly to restore government operations and to restore citizen trust in government. Again, no dramatics, no search for the limelight, just solid results, just effective leadership.

Quiet, effective leadership guided by common sense has been the hallmark throughout the Senator's 32 years in public service. From Lancaster County commissioner and mayor of Lincoln to Governor of Nebraska and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, he has been well informed, thoughtful, and untiring.

The old farm country saying that sowing is easy, reaping is hard perfectly describes his record of accomplishment and his determination to see any task to its completion. Most of all, the Senator from Nebraska always does what he thinks is in the best interests of our country and of the people he so proudly represents.

In an interview shortly before he announced that he would be leaving the Senate, Senator Johanns said he hoped he would be remembered as ``a guy who was good to work with.''

Working with Senator Mike Johanns has been more than just good. It has been an honor and a privilege and I wish him and Stephanie all the best.

Thank you for your service.

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

Mr. President, are we in morning business?

I ask unanimous consent that I be permitted to proceed for not longer than 5 minutes.

Mr. President, I rise to give a tribute to Senator Pryor, whose remarks we have just heard.

Through nearly a quarter of a century of dedicated public service, Senator Mark Pryor has established a strong reputation as the voice of reason.

From an Arkansas legislator and attorney general to a U.S. Senator, Senator Pryor has always put the people first. To me, he has been an admired colleague, a great collaborator, and a treasured friend. Working with Senator Pryor during his service in the Senate, I know that he acquired his voice of reason the old-fashioned way: He is such a good listener.

All of us are pretty good talkers, or we wouldn't be here, but Senator Pryor has the distinction of being a good listener. Whether debating colleagues on the Senate floor or interacting with his guests on his Pryor-Side Chats back home, he has consistently demonstrated that he is one of those special individuals who can disagree without ever being disagreeable. He always sticks to his principles, yet he respects the principles of those with whom he disagrees. He is well informed but always open to new information.

It has been a particular pleasure to work with Senator Pryor on the homeland security committee for many years and on the Committee on Appropriations. His work ethic, his attention to detail, his willingness, once again, to listen to alternative views have been great assets in addressing the challenges we face in our country.

He has been a diligent fiscal watchdog for the Nation's taxpayers. To me, Senator Pryor's approach to public service is best defined by the crucial role he played in ending the government shutdown in the fall of 2013 and as a member of the Gang of 14 in 2005. In each case he worked closely with me and with other Members to end a crisis and to achieve a responsible, commonsense solution. In each case he listened and he led.

As a charter member of our Common Sense Coalition last year, Senator Pryor stepped forward to restore both government operations and help to restore some modicum of citizen confidence in our Senate, in our government.

These certainly were not the only times that Senator Pryor's bipartisan approach and concern for the well-being of Americans had been evident. In 2007, after a large number of recalls following injuries and deaths that caused parents throughout America to be concerned about the safety of their children's toys--especially those manufactured overseas--he once again stepped forward to lead. After an extensive investigation in the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Senator Pryor worked with those of us on the Republican side on a bill to strengthen the Consumer Product Safety Commission so that we can now better detect and counter threats to our children's health before these threats even reach the store shelves, and eventually homes, schools, and daycare centers.

From restoring trust in government to protecting our children, Senator Pryor has proven over and over again that bipartisanship works. It is so significant that his message to us today is that the dysfunction and hyperpartisanship that have characterized the Senate cannot stand.

That is a wonderful parting message, and it is typical of Senator Pryor that rather than talking about all of his accomplishments, he instead is beseeching the Senate to work together in the interests of all Americans--whether we are Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Greens, or not affiliated with any party at all.

The 2014 election did not produce the result Senator Pryor had hoped for, but it did reveal another aspect of his extraordinary character. His message to the people of Arkansas and to the new Senator-elect on election night was genuine and it was gracious. To the people of Arkansas, he simply expressed his sincere gratitude for the opportunity to serve. But may these words, spoken that evening to us in the Chamber, which he echoed today, be his legacy. He said that night:

The biggest and most serious problem we are facing in this

Nation today is the dysfunction of our political system in

Washington. We have incredible potential, but we won't reach

it unless Washington starts to work again for all of us.

Mark Pryor has been an extraordinary individual who always did what he believed was right. He has contributed enormously to our country and served his State well.

I commend him for his service and I thank him for his commitment, his integrity, and, most of us all, for his friendship.

Thank you, Mark.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I support efforts to provide permanent enhanced conservation tax incentives for family farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who make charitable contributions of land for conservation purposes. As a cosponsor of the Rural Heritage Conservation Extension Act, S. 526, I am a strong supporter of these valuable tools for protecting significant natural and historic resources on privately owned lands.

These incentives expired at the end of 2013 and are among the so- called extenders--tax provisions that are routinely extended each time they expire. Making these provisions permanent would benefit wildlife, enhance hunting, fishing and shooting access, and keep working lands functioning and intact.

Specifically, the Rural Heritage Conservation Extension Act would permanently increase the allowable deduction for charitable contributions of property for conservation purposes. The maximum deduction for individuals would increase from 30 percent to 50 percent of adjusted gross income, AGI. Farmers and ranchers would be allowed a maximum deduction of up to 100 percent of AGI. The bill would also allow any unused deduction to be carried forward for up to 15 years to help donors receive the full benefit of their contribution.

When this incentive was in place, it supported donations of conservation easements in my home State of Maine. In 2012, a landowner donated a conservation easement on a 20-acre property in Machiasport, which is home to centuries-old cultural artifacts, including petroglyphs. In addition to being a spiritual site for Maine's Passamaquoddy tribe, this property allows people to explore the State's precolonial history and provides access for local fishermen to utilize valuable clam flats.

Another success story is from 2013 in Harpswell, where a landowner donated a conservation easement on a 44-acre island property in the heart of Casco Bay. The easement provides public access to a scenic peninsula where visitors can picnic, boat, and kayak. Due to this generous donation, Casco Bay is experiencing increased recreational use while also protecting critical habitats for many species of wildlife including shorebirds, herons, and bald eagles.

Continuing the enhanced conservation tax incentives would assist in the conservation of thousands of additional acres and provide a whole host of community benefits--protecting historical features, securing economic opportunities, enhancing recreational access, and preserving valuable wildlife habitat--in 2014 and beyond.

I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

Mr. President, in his three decades in the Senate, Jay Rockefeller established a strong reputation as a leader who offered innovative, common-sense solutions. He has served the people of West Virginia and of America with distinction. To me, he has been an admired colleague. He will always be a good friend.

To fully understand Senator Rockefeller's dedication during his 30 years of service in the Senate, it is necessary to go back 50 years, to 1964, when he travelled to West Virginia as a VISTA volunteer. Like Maine, West Virginia is a large rural state with many low-income residents and an aging population. From strengthening our rural hospitals to fighting the scourge of prescription drug abuse, I have been fortunate to work with a leader who sees access to affordable, quality health care not as just a series of issues to address but as his life's work.

One of our greatest achievements together was the inclusion of our language in the 2003 tax bill to provide temporary, targeted fiscal relief to the States--which, at the time, were awash in red ink due to a severe economic downturn driven in large part by the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Senator Rockefeller and I worked with then- Senator Ben Nelson on legislation to provide $20 billion in short-term fiscal relief to States, half of which was used to provide health insurance to low-income citizens through the Medicaid program. In Senator Rockefeller's words, ``No government program more fully embodies our nation's tradition of community and mutual obligation than Medicaid,'' and he has consistently demonstrated national leadership to provide essential health care services to the most vulnerable among us.

As co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease, I have greatly appreciated Senator Rockefeller's leadership on legislative initiatives to combat Alzheimer's, as well as the contributions the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute makes to our understanding and eventual conquest of this devastating illness.

From VISTA volunteer to governor and senator, Senator Rockefeller has devoted a half-century of intellect, energy, and compassion to others. There is no better way to sum up his contributions than the words the Senator himself chose when he announced his retirement: ``Public service demands and very much deserves nothing less than every single thing that you have to bring to bear.'' That is precisely what Senator Jay Rockefeller has given his State and our country, and I thank him for his commitment, integrity, and friendship.

Mr. President, as we hope for peace in the Middle East, some parties in the region are making peace less likely by inciting violence against Israel. It is imperative to recognize these words and actions for the poisons they are to achieving peace. An excellent November 23, 2014, opinion piece by Jeffrey Robbins in the Boston Herald entitled ``U.S. mute as Abbas incites violence'' articulates why silence is the wrong response to the anti-Israeli rhetoric and ideology that encourage further violence and terror. Jeff is a former delegate from the United States to the United Nations Human Rights Commission, and I believe my colleagues and the American people would benefit from reading the entire piece, which I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record.

Mr. President, today Senator Klobuchar and I are introducing legislation to clarify that commercial companies that execute swaps to manage their business risk through ``centralized treasury units'' are entitled to the end-user clearing exemption provided by Congress as part of the Dodd-Frank Act.

The Dodd-Frank Act requires financial entities to clear and trade their derivatives contracts on regulated exchanges. The point of this reform is to cut down on the systemic risk posed by financial speculators who invest in volatile derivatives contracts. It was not intended to restrict the ability of non-financial ``end-users'' to hedge commercial risks that are part of their normal business operations. For that reason, the Dodd-Frank Act provided end-users with an exemption from the act's clearing requirements.

Many non-financial end-users use subsidiaries called ``centralized treasury units'' to manage their derivatives contracts. These centralized treasury units allow corporations to consolidate their hedging expertise in one subsidiary. Unfortunately, because these subsidiaries are not technically ``end-users'' themselves, the end-user exemption provided by Dodd-Frank does not

apply to them, even though they execute derivatives for other end-users within the corporate family, and are considered a best-practice among corporate treasurers.

Our legislation fixes the end-user exemption to clarify that it applies to swaps between a centralized treasury unit and an external counterparty, so long as the swap hedges the risks of a commercial affiliate. The language of our bill is substantially the same as that of H.R. 5471, offered by Representatives Moore, Stivers, Gibson, and Fudge, that passed the House by voice vote yesterday.

I urge my colleagues to support the common sense clarification proposed in this bipartisan legislation.

Mr. President, today Senator Klobuchar and I are introducing legislation to clarify that commercial companies that execute swaps to manage their business risk through ``centralized treasury units'' are entitled to the end-user clearing exemption provided by Congress as part of the Dodd-Frank Act.

The Dodd-Frank Act requires financial entities to clear and trade their derivatives contracts on regulated exchanges. The point of this reform is to cut down on the systemic risk posed by financial speculators who invest in volatile derivatives contracts. It was not intended to restrict the ability of non-financial ``end-users'' to hedge commercial risks that are part of their normal business operations. For that reason, the Dodd-Frank Act provided end-users with an exemption from the act's clearing requirements.

Many non-financial end-users use subsidiaries called ``centralized treasury units'' to manage their derivatives contracts. These centralized treasury units allow corporations to consolidate their hedging expertise in one subsidiary. Unfortunately, because these subsidiaries are not technically ``end-users'' themselves, the end-user exemption provided by Dodd-Frank does not

apply to them, even though they execute derivatives for other end-users within the corporate family, and are considered a best-practice among corporate treasurers.

Our legislation fixes the end-user exemption to clarify that it applies to swaps between a centralized treasury unit and an external counterparty, so long as the swap hedges the risks of a commercial affiliate. The language of our bill is substantially the same as that of H.R. 5471, offered by Representatives Moore, Stivers, Gibson, and Fudge, that passed the House by voice vote yesterday.

I urge my colleagues to support the common sense clarification proposed in this bipartisan legislation.

Mr. President, I am pleased to join with my colleague Senator King in submitting S. Res. 593 to designate December 13, 2014, as Wreaths Across America Day. Since its inception 23 years ago, the Wreaths Across America project has become an annual tradition of donating, transporting, and placing Maine balsam fir remembrance wreaths on the graves of our fallen heroes buried at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at veterans' cemeteries and memorials in every State and overseas. In the program's first 23 years, more than 1.7 million wreaths have been placed in honor of those who have served our country.

On this December 13, thousands of volunteers across the river in Arlington, throughout our nation, at such overseas locations as Normandy, and on our Navy ships at sea, will carry out the mission of Wreaths Across America to ``Remember, Honor, Teach.'' This will be the culmination of a week-long procession between Maine and Virginia, with stops along the way to spread a message about the importance

of remembering and honoring those who serve, and teaching the people of the United States about the sacrifices made by Veterans and their families.

This year, as in years past, the Patriot Guard Riders, along with other patriotic groups and Maine's First Lady Ann LePage, will escort the tractor-trailers filled with donated wreaths from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery. America's trucking industry will continue to support Wreaths Across America by providing drivers, equipment, fuel, and related services to assist in the transportation of wreaths across the country to more than 1,000 locations.

In recent years, Wreaths Across America has provided some 130,000 wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery. To mark Arlington's 150th anniversary, the goal this year is to decorate each of the 230,000 Veterans' graves and memorials on that hallowed ground. Thanks to the generosity and gratitude of the American people, this goal will surely be achieved.

The origin of Wreaths Across America is an inspiring example of that generosity and gratitude. During the Christmas season in 1991, Morrill and Karen Worcester took time during their busiest season to donate and deliver 5,000 wreaths from their company in Harrington, ME, to Arlington National Cemetery to honor the heroes who lie at rest there. At first, a small band of volunteers laid the wreaths quietly and with little notice. In recent years, however, the Arlington Wreath Project has grown to become a national phenomenon. The people of Maine are proud that this heartfelt gesture of America's gratitude began in our state.

Wreaths Across America honors our departed heroes, but it does even more. It tells the Veterans still with us 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.

Throughout human history, the evergreen wreath has been offered as a tribute to heroes. On December 13, we will again offer this enduring symbol of valor and sacrifice. In this season of giving, we will pay tribute to those who have given us the most precious gift of all, our freedom.