Floor Statements

Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate Jeff Nelson on his well-earned retirement after nearly 40 years of service at East River Electric Cooperative in Madison, SD, including 23 years as General Manager.

Jeff's wealth of knowledge and friendly demeanor have helped him develop close relationships with his colleagues and with community leaders

throughout our State. He has been a tireless advocate for the population served by East River, and deeply engaged in discussions of energy and economic development policy for decades. As he has worked with me and my staff over the years, his input has always been appreciated and valued. He leaves behind an undeniable legacy of thoughtful and progressive leadership.

Jeff's work has left a mark on many facets of energy policy. Under his tenure as General Manager, East River has received national recognition, being named the 2013 Wind Energy Cooperative of the Year by the Energy Department. He undertook the daunting task of establishing a load-management system, the largest in the world at the time of its implementation. He also looked out for the unique interests of rural South Dakota in discussions of hydropower access and in helping the ethanol industry gain a foothold.

It is also important to note the vital economic development work Jeff has been involved in through the Rural Electric Economic Development, REED, Fund. The REED Fund has been crucial for the establishment or expansion of many South Dakota businesses and his work in this area has facilitated an improved rural economy.

He has been active in public service in his personal time, as well, using his expertise to make continued contributions to his community and our state. This service includes serving as Chair of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association's Power and Water Resources Committee and Board President of the South Dakota Wind Energy Association, among other commitments.

Beyond his commendable career, I also take this opportunity to thank Jeff, and his wife Trudi for their years of friendship to me and Barbara. It was also a pleasure having Jeff and Trudi's son, Erik, serve as a valuable member of my staff for many years.

Though he will be missed at East River, I know that Jeff will continue to be engaged in policymaking and service projects. Once again, I am pleased to recognize Jeff for his many years of service to the people of South Dakota and applaud him for his exemplary career.

Mr. President, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the farm bill conference report. It has taken a long time to get to this point, with several unnecessary roadblocks along the way, but we are finally near the finish line, and it is time we conclude this process. I commend Chairwoman Stabenow, Ranking Member Cochran, Chairman Lucas, and Ranking Member Peterson for their leadership in developing this reasonable conference report.

The Agricultural Act of 2014 will reduce the deficit, restructure our ag support programs, continue to feed the hungry, aid livestock producers hit by the Atlas blizzard, and enable consumers to know from where their food comes.

This conference report certainly is not perfect. As with any legislation that is this important and far-reaching, it is impossible to fully satisfy everybody. But this is a reasonable compromise.

Our ranchers will benefit significantly from this bill. Not only does this compromise enable country-of-origin labeling to continue as well as maintain USDA's ability to ensure a fair and transparent marketplace, but it also contains critical livestock disaster assistance programs to help ranchers in my State who are still recovering from the 2012 drought and last year's terrible blizzard. My ranchers lost tens of thousands of livestock, and they have been left hanging because of congressional inaction. With passage, they will finally be able to get the aid they need.

Beyond the important assistance for livestock producers, this bill also reforms our farm programs by eliminating direct payments and by strengthening the crop insurance program. It also offers key support for

young and beginning farmers and ranchers, and it contains reasonable conservation compliance requirements for farm program and crop insurance eligibility.

This legislation represents more than just assistance to our farmers and ranchers. It is also a jobs bill. It contains mandatory funding for several energy and rural development programs, and it will help USDA deal with the huge backlog of pending rural water and wastewater infrastructure applications.

Hundreds of rural communities across the country, including Aberdeen, Watertown, and Brookings in South Dakota will also continue to be eligible for rural housing programs as a result of a provision I included in the Senate-passed farm bill that is maintained in this conference report.

I would also like to highlight the provisions to address some key forestry issues important to the fight against the pine beetle in the Black Hills. This bill provides the Forest Service and private forest landowners with critically needed tools and flexibility. This includes permanently authorizing stewardship contracting to combine timber harvests with needed conservation work, building on the Mountain Pine Beetle Response Project in the Black Hills by streamlining activities to combat insect and disease epidemics, and clarifying the forestry exemption to Clean Water Act permitting. These changes provide needed certainty for both private and public forest managers.

While I am overall very pleased with this conference report, there are some disappointments. The senior Senator from Iowa and I have worked for years for meaningful payment limitations. In fact, we were able to include in the Senate bill a hard cap on payments as well as new language to define farm program eligibility requirements. The House bill includes nearly identical language. However, this conference report actually loosens payment caps and it punts the decision of defining ``actually engaged'' to the Secretary of Agriculture. This is frustrating. However, moving forward, I will urge USDA to follow the intent of the Senate and House bills with respect to farm program eligibility when it undertakes rulemaking.

Even though I am not fully pleased with everything in this conference report, I think it does represent a compromise. As such, I urge my colleagues to join me in passing the bill. If we do not, food prices will rise, ranchers in my State will be forced out of business, and we will not get the deficit reduction or reforms to our farm programs.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, the omnibus funding bill before the Senate today is a remarkable accomplishment and a welcome reminder that Congress can function effectively when Members are willing to sit down and work through their differences. The large margin by which the omnibus passed in the House is a testament to the bipartisan nature of the agreement and to the determination, skill, and leadership of Chairwoman Mikulski and Congressman Rogers.

With passage of this bill in the Senate, the threat of another government shutdown is averted and the crippling effects of the sequester will be reversed.

America's vets are well served by this agreement. As chairman of the Senate's Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, I worked to provide the VA with robust funding to ensure our vets receive the benefits they have earned and deserved.

The bill provides $63.2 billion for the VA, $2.3 billion above last year. It fully funds a host of vital programs, including compensation, pensions and health care, and it targets funding for crucial initiatives for homeless vets, rural health care, medical research, suicide prevention, women vets, and Iraq and Afghanistan vets, to name just a few.

Of major importance, the agreement also includes a comprehensive plan to address the massive backlog of vets' disability claims. In 2013 the backlog of compensation claims for service-related disabilities soared to record levels. In March of 2013 the backlog of claims pending for more than 125 days had grown to over 630,000 claims--more than 70 percent of the total claims pending. As of this week there are 403,761 claims in the backlog.

The Department has made substantial progress over the past several months, but thousands of vets continue to face lengthy delays in having their disability claims processed. In response to this problem, I included in the omnibus a 10-point action plan to give the VA additional tools to address the claims backlog and to strengthen training, oversight and accountability. This includes important upgrades to computer hardware in VA regional offices and $100 million in overtime and training money to work through the backlog in processing vets' disability claims.

It is critical we do not sacrifice accuracy in the name of expediency, and my plan also includes quality review teams, spot audits, and additional training for claims processors.

Of special importance to South Dakota, I have worked hard to expand VA health care to rural vets. Nationwide, nearly 30 percent of America's vets live

in rural areas that are often far from major VA medical centers or clinics. The omnibus appropriations bill builds on the rural health initiative I launched in fiscal year 2009 to close gaps in VA medical care in rural and remote areas. The bill provides $250 million for rural health care, including telehealth and mobile clinics for vets in rural and highly rural areas, including Native American populations.

Our vets deserve the best and highest quality care from the VA. The fiscal year 2014 omnibus appropriations bill provides the VA with significant new tools and funding to carry out its mission, and I look forward to the bill's prompt passage.

Madam President, I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of Dr. Janet Yellen to be chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

As we continue to recover from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, we need a strong and thoughtful chairman of the Federal Reserve. We need a chair who has learned from our economic successes and mistakes over the past several decades. We need a chair who understands how monetary policy affects the everyday lives of Americans seeking employment or saving for retirement, and we need a chair who understands the importance of implementing Wall Street reform to promote financial stability. Dr. Yellen has all of these qualities, and she is ideally suited to be the next Fed chair.

Dr. Yellen's experience is unmatched. She currently serves as a member and vice chair of the Board of Governors. She previously served as a member of the Board of Governors in the 1990s. She was chair of President Clinton's Council of Economic Advisors, and she served 6 years as president of the San Francisco Fed.

Dr. Yellen also has an impressive academic record. She is a professor at Berkeley's Haas School of Business and was previously a professor at Harvard University, as well as a faculty member at the London School of Economics. Dr. Yellen graduated summa cum laude from Brown University and received her Ph.D. in economics from Yale.

Dr. Yellen has written numerous research papers on the labor market, unemployment, monetary policy, and the economy. Her expertise in these areas, including her understanding of the relationship between Fed policy and the labor market, would be valuable as we chart the course back to full employment.

But my colleagues do not have to take my word for it. Dr. Yellen's economic expertise is borne out by the facts. The New York Times recently noted that she was ``the first Fed official, in 2005, to describe the rise in housing prices as a bubble that might damage the economy.'' She was also the first, in 2008, to say that ``the economy had fallen into a recession.''

The Wall Street Journal recently analyzed 700 predictions made between 2009 and 2012 in speeches and congressional testimony by 14 Federal Reserve policymakers and found Dr. Yellen was the most accurate.

At her confirmation hearing, Dr. Yellen displayed her impressive understanding of our complex 21st-century economy. She showed that she understands the complexities of Fed policymaking, and that--although abstract to many--monetary policy has ripple effects that affect the everyday lives of workers, savers, small businesses, and job seekers.

Dr. Yellen has proven through her extensive and impressive record in public service and academia that she is most qualified to be the next Chair of the Federal Reserve. We need her expertise at the helm of the Fed as our Nation continues to recover from the great recession, completes Wall Street reform rulemakings, and continues to enhance the stability of our financial sector. I am excited to cast my vote to confirm her as the first woman to serve as Chair of the Federal Reserve, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, each November we recognize National Native American Heritage Month to honor the tradition, culture, contributions, achievements, and sacrifices of those that originally inhabited this great Nation. With over 5 million individuals of Native American descent in the United States, it is important to celebrate the instrumental impact Native American culture has had on American history. National Native American Heritage Month is an opportunity to focus our attention on tribal sovereignty by ensuring trust responsibilities are upheld and government-to-government relationships with tribes across the Nation are strengthened.

This month has added significance to me, as I represent a state with nine treaty tribes. I would like to personally acknowledge and honor South Dakota's nine treaty tribes: the Cheyenne River Sioux, the Crow Creek Sioux, the Flandreau Santee Sioux, the Lower Brule Sioux, the Oglala Sioux, the Rosebud Sioux, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, the Standing Rock Sioux, and the Yankton Sioux. Each tribe brings rich cultures and histories that greatly benefit all South Dakotans, not just in November, but throughout the year.

American Indians across the United States have served and continue to serve in our Armed Forces at rates higher than any other ethnic group, and their dedication and commitment to the United States is unwavering. This month, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate and Yankton Sioux Tribe were honored with Congressional Gold Medals for the contributions of their code talkers during World Wars I and II. The use of tribal languages equipped our Armed Forces with a system of communication that was not decoded. The valiant contributions of tribal code talkers to the United States are unparalleled and to be commended.

It is also important to reflect on the numerous contributions Native Americans across the country have made in our society this November. Countless dedicated individuals continue to work on the ground in Indian Country to improve tribal communities for future generations. However, the Federal government must also uphold its trust responsibility with tribes and continue to improve access to healthcare, education, and adequate housing. Thoughtful communication and collaboration between tribal and federal leaders on these issues is necessary to advance the quality of life for American Indians.

This November, I urge Americans to participate in the celebration of Native American Heritage Month by taking a moment to learn more about the heritage, culture, and various contributions Native Americans have made to the United States throughout our shared history. I would like to acknowledge and praise the more than 70,000 American Indians in South Dakota who enrich our communities on a daily basis. Education and awareness of tribal histories will enable us to move forward as a Nation which embraces the diversity of all.

Mr. President, Congress is facing two fast-approaching budget deadlines: December 13 for a budget deal and January 15 for a funding bill to avert another government shutdown. Given the complexity of the issues, the brief window of opportunity, and the upcoming holiday season, meeting those deadlines will be a challenge. But it is a challenge Congress must meet. If we don't get a budget deal, we don't get a budget topline; we don't get any relief from sequestration; we can't write the 2014 appropriations bills, and we default to a year-long CR. That is a nightmare scenario.

A long-term CR is the worst way to fund the government. It merely recycles last year's funding levels to meet this year's funding priorities. That makes as much sense as using last year's canceled checks to pay this year's bills.

The military construction Program is the poster child for everything that is wrong with a CR. The 2014 Senate MILCON-VA bill includes $4.8 billion for the construction of hundreds of new-start MilCon projects throughout the United States. The 2013 bill--which sets the funding levels for the CR--funded a totally different set of MILCON projects, and the funding does not align with the 2014 program.

For example, the Army needs $\1/2\ billion less for MILCON in 2014, and the Air Force needs $800 million more. A CR written at 2013 levels would not reflect those requirements, meaning the Air Force would come up short while the Army would be awash in MILCON dollars it does not need. This would be a devastating blow for the Air Force because it took a pause in its MILCON Program last year. As a result, a CR at the 2013 level would fund less than 30 percent of the 2014 Air Force MILCON Program.

All of which could be moot because a CR also prohibits new starts. Without relief from that provision, 96 percent of the major MILCON Program would be on hold.

The MILCON bill funds mission-critical training and operational facilities, schools, hospitals, troop and family housing, and myriad other programs crucial to the work and well-being of our service members and their families. The 2014 Senate bill funds more than 200 new major MILCON projects in 39 States. And that does not include overseas MILCON or follow-on phases of ongoing projects.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans across the Nation go to work every day for contractors building MILCON projects. Government construction-- whether it be MILCON, VA hospitals and clinics, or Federal roads, highways and bridges--is a major job generator. The Association of General Contractors estimates that every $1 billion in nonresidential construction generates 28,500 jobs.

For the 2014 slate of major MILCON projects alone, that amounts to nearly 137,000 new jobs. Multiply that by the annual Federal Government investment in nationwide construction projects, and it is clear that a robust government construction program is a wise economic investment on all fronts.

Even if the new-start prohibition were lifted, the 2014 sequester remains a threat to the military construction program. DOD estimates that a second round of sequestration could cost the MILCON Program as much as $1 billion, of which about half would come from new major construction projects. Under another round of sequestration, project deferrals or cancellations are almost guaranteed. The result would be a disruption of the MILCON Program and possibly thousands of lost job opportunities.

As chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, I am well aware of the Nation's precarious economic recovery. As an appropriator, I am equally aware of the need to adequately fund both Defense and domestic government programs.

The path to responsible government funding requires both revenue increases, through such means as closing tax loopholes and sensible spending cuts. Spending cuts alone cannot close the gap without crippling the economy.

Mr. President, Congress has a responsibility to govern. In the coming weeks, we must strive to achieve at minimum a 2-year budget deal, cancel sequestration for at least 2 years, and produce a governmentwide funding bill--what is commonly known as an omnibus by January 15. With the cooperation of all parties, that is an achievable goal. The American people deserve--and expect--no less.

Mr. President, today I wish to offer my heartfelt congratulations to Larry Wilcox who is retiring as superintendent of the Michael J. Fitzmaurice State Veterans Home in Hot Springs, SD. The retirement is effective November 14, 2013.

Born in Burke, Larry grew up in Winner, SD. After graduating from Winner High School in the mid-1960s, Larry joined the South Dakota Army National Guard. He remained in the National Guard for nearly four decades, including 26 years in the Medical Services Corps. A Gulf War veteran, Larry rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before retiring in 2003.

Larry's service to our State continued when he was named superintendent of South Dakota's only State Veterans Home in May 2004 by Maj. Gen. Michael

Gorman. He has provided excellent stewardship of the State Veterans Home, including overseeing plans to construct a new facility. On November 11, 1889, the cornerstone for the first State Home was laid in Hot Springs. The much-anticipated groundbreaking for a new South Dakota Veterans Home was held in late September 2013. Thousands of veterans and their families have enjoyed the services of the State Veterans Home over these many years. Aging veterans have found solace on the beautiful, aesthetic grounds of the State Veterans Home and have benefited from the dedicated medical care and support services provided.

Larry has played a major role in providing consistent and superior levels of care and comfort to veterans at the State Home during his time as superintendent. He has been passionate about providing the highest degree of compassionate care, understanding and service to the residents. Larry is a strong advocate for the Veterans Home, promoting the importance of the Veterans Home to the general public and making sure the congressional delegation is aware of any challenges veterans may face. Over the years I have appreciated Larry's insight on issues and the open line of communication between our offices.

I thank Larry for all he has done for veterans in South Dakota and wish him all the best in his retirement.

Mr. President, today I wish to describe the damaging impacts that the Federal Government shutdown is having on the nine treaty tribes in my home State of South Dakota and across Indian Country. It is my hope that today we can come to solution to this crisis, but I think it is important for my colleagues to understand the impact the shutdown has had so that we can avoid making the same mistakes in the future.

Across the Nation, the Federal Government shutdown is imposing numerous hardships for our citizens, tribal nations, and low-income individuals. Some of the poorest counties in the United States are located within South Dakota reservation borders. Federal assistance payments to the poorest of the poor have been halted for these tribal members needing aid to feed their families and heat their homes.

Any negative changes to Native American program funding will have widespread effects. As the House Republicans continue to prevent the Federal Government from opening, doors will continue to be shut for those needing the most help.

Last week, I met with President Bryan Brewer of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, located on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Federal and tribal employees living on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where the general unemployment rate is already at 80 percent, are being furloughed or have had their work hours cut in half. This funding lapse almost forced the tribe's Department of Corrections to close, allowing prisoners to be freed. The tribe was given approval to use alternate funding sources; however, they do not know if those funding sources will be replenished when the shutdown ends.

Yesterday, the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation was also forced to close the Emergency Youth Shelter Program that provides a temporary home for 30 tribal youth due to the lapse of Federal funding. The tribe is actively looking for alternate bed space.

I recently heard of a story of a single parent on the Lake Traverse Reservation. The mother recently lost her 3-month-old child and was in need of aid to provide a proper funeral for her child. The Bureau of Indian Affairs provides burial assistance to eligible tribal members; however, due to the shutdown, the Bureau had to turn away the young grieving mother.

Last week, I took to the floor to speak on the significant impact a snow storm had on South Dakota communities. The snowstorm has also served a blow to tribal communities. Chad Morgan, a young Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal rancher, lost 90 percent of his cattle herd and is not able to report the his loss to the Farm Service Agency. Tribes also have spent significant funding to clear roadways of snow for tribal members needing dialysis treatment.

The Rosebud Sioux Tribe also reported to me that the Low Income Heat and Energy Assistance Program has been put on hold. Nearly 75 percent of Rosebud Sioux tribal families rely on this vital funding to heat their homes, especially now that winter snows have started.

Our tribes are facing major setbacks and are forced to find ways to fund programs that have already seen drawbacks due to the budget sequestration cuts.

Tribal communities cannot afford to have the Federal Government shutdown continue. Asking tribes to rob Peter to pay Paul is not a healthy way to run a government. Tribes across Indian Country are continuing to make strides in economic development and self- sufficiency. The United States, however, has a treaty and trust responsibility to our tribes and tribal members. Congress needs to act quickly today in order for the Federal Government to meet these responsibilities and to meet the needs of tribal nations across Indian Country.

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

Mr. President, I rise to talk about the devastation that has been inflicted on many in my home State. An early season snowstorm has dumped 1 foot of snow and heavy winds on much of western South Dakota. The thoughts and prayers of Barbara and I are with those affected by this disastrous storm.

Communities and residents are wrestling with the damage caused by downed trees, and utility companies are facing power outages. County, community, and emergency officials have shared with my office numerous stories of volunteers stepping in to help to transport medicines and oxygen to residents stranded in their homes.

Neighbors are helping assist each other with cutting down tree limbs, snow removal, and getting essential food items and medical supplies to the elderly and disabled residents. There are countless reports of people helping to move stuck drivers out of snowdrifts or helping to shovel the roofs and snow from the home of a senior citizen or disabled residents. When people are in need, South Dakotans step up.

One of the most significant impacts of the storm has been on my State's livestock producers. ``Tens of thousands of cattle killed in Friday's blizzard . . . '' proclaims the Rapid City Journal headline.

Silvia Christen, with the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association, has shared with me gut-wrenching stories of ranchers who have lost their herds. She said a man near Interior found his cows had pushed themselves and their calves over a Badlands wall and killed many of them. He estimates his loss at 50 percent of his total herd.

A young man east of Hermosa estimates he lost 30 percent of his 200 breeding cows. He found them all in one pile in a draw covered in snow. He saw the heads and hooves sticking out from the snow and can't bring himself to go closer or dig them out. He stated:

I'm young, but I always thought I was a good rancher. I

thought I'd taken care of them but I guess I should have done

more.

He hung up the phone with an apology as his voice broke.

Our cowboys are resilient people, but this blizzard comes on the heels of a devastating drought last year from which ranchers still haven't fully recovered.

I am very proud of our State and local officials who have taken immediate action to assist those in need. The National Guard is conducting lifesaving safety operations to ensure folks without power are OK and to open roads. The State is working with a local rendering company to assist with finding, identifying, and dealing with livestock that have been killed. Our ag organizations in the State are providing help and guidance to ranchers who were hit.

The one place where help is lacking is from the Federal Government. Because of the government shutdown, producers can't rely on their FSA offices for assistance.

Since Congress hasn't finished the farm bill, West River ranchers may have to wait for disaster assistance. The 2008 farm bill included several critical disaster assistance programs, including the Livestock Indemnity Program, which provides help to producers affected by natural disasters. Unfortunately, that program expired in 2011, and because Congress hasn't yet completed a comprehensive farm bill, there continues to be no funding available for them.

We passed a good farm bill here in the Senate twice in the past 2 years. I worked to include funding for these livestock disaster programs, which are in both the Senate and House bills. The Senate is ready to negotiate the farm bill, but the House hasn't appointed conferees. The longer they delay, the longer my constituents will suffer without disaster aid.

The House needs to pass a clean continuing resolution, and they need to appoint conferees so that we can finally finish the farm bill.

It will take many months for the Black Hills communities to clean up from the October blizzard. For ranchers who lost livestock, it may take years to recover. But whatever Mother Nature has to deliver, it cannot dampen the spirit of South Dakotans.

Mr. President, I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, today I wish to honor an outstanding gentleman and friend, the man who guided me through years of speech recovery. Dr. Paul R. Rao, a recognized leader in his field of speech-language pathology, will retire from his work as vice president of Inpatient Operations at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, NRH, on October 17, 2013, his 67th birthday and 43rd wedding anniversary.

Dr. Rao began his professional career more than 32 years ago at MedStar Health and skillfully guided the development of the new speech and language department when MedStar opened the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, DC, 27 years ago.

I met Dr. Rao when I entered NRH in February 2007, following an AVM and a month in intensive care. Over the months he became more than a therapist for me, he was a friend and a coach. When I returned to South Dakota in August of that year, Dr. Rao took his own time to join me as I greeted the people of South Dakota for the first time since the AVM. I continued to work with Dr. Rao in outpatient therapy, despite his demanding schedule as a vice-president for NRH, for another 3 years. I have been told that we were truly the odd couple, he the ebullient, loquacious Italian and I the stoic, reticent Norwegian.

He is widely recognized for his professional skills and is a sought after public speaker. Among his honors is the Clinical Achievement Award by the American Speech-Language Hearing Foundation that he received not once but twice, in 1989 and 2001. The DC Association for Healthcare Quality conferred on Dr. Rao the Janis Willis Annual Award for Educational Excellence in 2001 and the Beth Lang Award for Outstanding Leadership in 2003.

In addition, he is a national leader in medical rehabilitation, serving as president of the American Speech and Hearing Association, and as fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Dr. Rao is the editor of Managing Stroke: A Guide to Living Well After Stroke published in 2000 and the lead editor for the second edition of this text in 2009.

He has made invaluable contributions to MedStar's National Rehabilitation Network and was recognized for his leadership as steward of the patient safety journey when he was awarded the National Rehabilitation Hospital's John W. Goldschmidt Award for Excellence in Rehabilitation.

I am pleased to take this opportunity to thank Paul for sharing his talents with me. I wish him and Martina a wonderful retirement.

Mr. President, any discussion of the national security impacts of a long-term continuing resolution or a potential government shutdown would be incomplete without including the potential impact on America's 22.3 million veterans.

The good news is that under any scenario, veterans would still be able to receive health care thanks to advance funding for 2014. The bad news is that most other VA programs would be shortchanged under a CR and crippled by a government shutdown. The VA budget would be impacted by the funding shortfalls or stoppages, but America's veterans would be the victims.

VA advance funding does not extend to such important programs as disability claims processing, hospital and clinic construction, or VA cemetery operations, to name but a few examples. Given the gravity of backlogs in the VA claims processing program, the Senate CR includes a provision funding claims processing at the 2014 budget request level. But it does not include a package of reforms and initiatives in the 2014 Senate MilCon/VA bill intended to improve productivity, accuracy, and accountability. For claims processing, a CR is less than optimal. A government shutdown could be catastrophic.

The current backlog of VA disability claims stands at 435,000, an improvement over the high water mark of 632,000 just 6 months ago.

But the strides VA has made in addressing the backlog problem would suffer a severe setback under a government shutdown. Currently, the VA processes 5,500 to 6,000 claims a day, a massive improvement in productivity that would be stopped in its tracks by a government shutdown. The longer the shutdown, the more severe the impact.

Think of a fender-bender in the middle of a busy freeway. Traffic behind the accident backs up quickly, and the backup extends farther and farther as cars pile up behind it. Once the cars are towed away, the backup does not magically disappear. It takes time for traffic to return to normal.

The same holds true for an interruption in VA claims processing. The VA estimates that for every week that claims processing would be halted under a government shutdown, it would lose a month of progress in processing claims. Our Nation--our veterans--cannot afford this delay.

Claims processing would not be the only VA program imperiled by a government shutdown. If the government shuts down, funding for payment of mandatory VA compensation, pension, and education benefits would run out by the end of October, denying a lifeline of support to thousands of veterans.

For anyone who cares about America's veterans, the notion of forcing a government shutdown is unthinkable.

Passage of a clean CR through November 15 is imperative to give Congress time to negotiate a way forward to fund government operations, agency by agency, through 2014.

My subcommittee also funds the Defense Department's military construction program. A government shutdown would have serious consequences in this area. The furloughing of civilian personnel overseeing construction contracts could not only disrupt and delay ongoing projects, but could provoke contract interruption and increase project costs. A CR prevents new starts so regardless of the level of funding, no new MilCon projects could be undertaken in 2014 under a CR. A CR and government shutdown would bring DOD's MilCon program to a screeching halt.

The CR before the Senate today buys time, without any extraneous riders or political histrionics. There is a time and a place for everything. The place for political statements is elsewhere. The time for keeping the government operating until a comprehensive appropriations bill can be crafted is here. I urge my colleagues to support the clean CR pending before the Senate.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize and congratulate Becky Nelson of Sioux Falls, SD for over 38 years of service with Sanford Health.

In 1971, Ms. Nelson graduated from Presentation College in Aberdeen, SD, and began her career at Dakota Midland Hospital. In 1975, Ms. Nelson joined Sioux Valley Hospital & Health System, which would later become Sanford Health. Starting as a critical care staff nurse, Ms. Nelson's skill and intellect launched her into clinical leadership positions.

Today, Ms. Nelson is Sanford Health's senior vice president & chief operating officer, overseeing all patient care services provided by Sanford Health's northern and southern regions, encompassing parts of South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota.

In addition to her outstanding work at Sanford Health, Ms. Nelson remains an active leader in the community. She has served on the First National Bank board of directors as well as the Boards of the University of Sioux Falls, Sanford Research/USD, Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science, and the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.

Ms. Nelson's devotion to exceptional care will continue to benefit South Dakotans and Midwesterners long after her retirement. She is an exceptional role model who has a positive impact on those who cross her path. For example, her soon-to-be successor, Nate White, whom she is currently mentoring, commented, ``There isn't a day that goes by when there isn't something I grasp onto and say, I have to remember that.' `` Clearly, her excellent example resonates with her peers.

I thank Ms. Nelson for her incalculable contributions to our community and wish her and her husband, Dave, all the best in retirement.

Mr. President, Today I wish to recognize one of my staff members who is currently battling cancer. Joseph F. Roberts has worked in my Rapid City congressional district office since September 2002. Combined with service in the Peace Corps and the U.S. Air Force, Joe has served our Nation for approximately 19 years in Federal and military service.

As a member of my staff, Joe has provided exemplary constituent service to veterans and their families, as well as servicemembers and constituents facing numerous issues. He has always approached his work with a high degree of professionalism and a genuine caring attitude. That caring attitude stems from years of therapy and counseling services in the private sector he provided to the people of western South Dakota.

His service in the U.S. Air Force has served him well in working with veterans, and he has taken particular interest with veterans who suffer from military sexual assault, Traumatic Brain Injuries, and Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder. Veterans and their families know they have a true advocate with Joe in their corner when it comes to obtaining answers and decisions on claims, searches for records and medical care issues. Joe's time in the Peace Corps brought him to Romania and Guyana where he served in a number of capacities including education and training on domestic violence, sexual abuse, substance abuse and communication, as well as working on infrastructure issues and providing psychotherapy and other counseling assistance. These experiences helped him greatly in my district office as he assisted constituents with local, State and Federal issues and problems, including a wide array of immigration and passport issues.

I have always been impressed by Joe's sense of dedication and commitment to helping people. One of the great rewards in life is helping others and whether it has been his work in the Peace Corps, his private work as a therapist and counselor, or his work in constituent service in my office, Joe has helped many people. Over the years, I have received numerous thank you notes and letters from constituents praising the work of Joe Roberts.

And he has approached his battles with cancer over the years with commitment, humor and perspective, always sharing, teaching and counseling despite the challenges of the disease.

I take this opportunity to thank Joe for his service and his work on my behalf with the people of South Dakota. I congratulate him on his many years of service to the people of South Dakota and to his country and commend him for a job well done.

Mr. President, today I wish to honor the Orpheum Theater Center in Sioux Falls, SD on its centennial anniversary. Since 1913, the Orpheum Theater has established itself as a place of excellence in the arts.

On a breezy Thursday evening in October, exactly 100 years ago today, the Orpheum Theater opened its doors and charged patrons an unheard of price of $5 per seat. The opening night performances stunned the audience with a broad spectrum of entertainment including the Orpheum Concert Orchestra, two comedy acts, and headlines from around the world via a state-of-the-art newsreel.

Over the past 100 years, the Orpheum Theater has changed owners several times and has undergone many renovations, most recently in 2009. Thanks to its dedicated staff and exceptional volunteers the Orpheum Theater has consistently provided a superb place to experience performing arts and annually 100,000 people visit this world-class venue.

South Dakotans have congregated at the Orpheum Theater for elegant performances by entertainers both from within our community and around the world. I congratulate the Orpheum Theater Center on reaching this milestone, and wish it continued success. Encore!

Madam President, I wish to pay tribute to the 100th anniversary of the founding of Rosholt, SD. Rosholt is a thriving agricultural community in northeastern South Dakota.

Rosholt was named for Julius Rosholt, an entrepreneur whose efforts brought the railroad to the townsite. Lots were first sold in the newly platted town on August 11, 1913, and shortly thereafter residents began to start businesses that would serve the growing community. The visionary spirit of these early pioneers is evident 100 years later, as the town gathers for their centennial celebration.

Today, folks in Rosholt are as hard-working and determined as ever, exhibiting the small-town South Dakota values that make our State a great place to live. Numerous prosperous businesses line Main Street and the town is home to the region's largest grain elevator. Rosholt's educators and students set a high standard of academic excellence that serves as a model for the rest of our State. The Rosholt School has recently been recognized by the South Dakota Department of Education as a ``Distinguished School.''

Rosholt's history teaches us that when a community comes together it can do great things. The citizens of Rosholt have an undeniable pride in their community that will serve them well for many generations to come. I am proud to congratulate them on reaching this historic anniversary and wish them the best in the future.