Floor Statements

Mr. President, today I would like to commemorate and recognize a weekend-long event happening in a place I hold very near and dear to my heart, my hometown, Charleston, SC. In 2013, 36 bodies were discovered and unearthed near Anson Street in downtown Charleston. After years of further historical, archeological and DNA analysis research, we have learned much more about the stories of these men, women, and children.

Buried between 1750 and 1800, these people of African descent--some born in Africa, others born in South Carolina--most likely were enslaved individuals who helped build the nearby port of Charleston. This weekend, 6 years after unearthing these individuals and more than 250 years after they were buried, the Gullah Society and the Charleston community are coming together to hold a naming ceremony, official release of DNA ancestry results, a reburial ceremony, and an ecumenical service.

It is the hope of the Gullah Society, a hope shared with myself and many fellow Charlestonians, that we lay these individuals to rest the proper way, as well as remember, celebrate, and honor them. While we recognize these 36 ancestral sons and daughters of South Carolina, we also will have a chance to remember all others whose graves have been lost and all others

upon whose backs Charleston was built.

While Charleston's past is certainly complicated, I believe events like this serve to inspire us all to create a future of greater reconciliation, truth telling, equality, and healing in our shared community. I thank the Gullah Society and all individuals who helped create or participated in this project, as I believe they do so for the true benefit and education of us all.

Mr. President, I thank Vice Chair Ernst for putting this event together on the floor to talk about the success of opportunity zones and what they could mean for so many Americans who desperately need the assistance in so many places. Without any question, this is a great part of the tax bill that has not received enough attention. A lot of folks know about opportunity zones, and a lot of folks are excited about opportunity zones.

I would like to spend a little time talking about the success of our economy and touching on some of the issues that my colleague Senator Braun spoke about as well, those being the importance of workforce development and of making sure our workforce has the skills that meet the jobs of our current economy.

One estimate said that perhaps there are a million more jobs than there are people looking for work, and a part of the reason why that is so is because we still need to make sure that we harmonize the skill set necessary to do the work with the skills being taught or trained to our younger folks and folks looking for work.

This has been an amazing journey from an economic perspective, when you think about where we are financially as a country.

This past quarter we saw the announcement of a growth rate of around 3.2 percent. That is astounding because all of the estimates were so significantly lower.

We finished 2018 with a growth rate of around 3.1 percent. Now, we have not seen that acceleration in our economy in a very long time. So it is really good news for those folks looking for work.

Our unemployment rate is near a 50-year low--somewhere between 3.8 and 3.9 percent. This is something we haven't seen in a very long time. African-American unemployment is near 7 percent. Some of the lowest numbers ever recorded in the history of the country for African- American employment are there now. Hispanic unemployment is in the same range--very low, record lows.

We have seen wages in the last several months continue to increase. Wage growth is now hitting the bottom quintile of our workforce at a 3- percent growth rate, which is really good news because it was another one of those targets that we knew was important for us to reach.

Said differently, income disparity is shrinking because of the success of our Tax Code and the success of our regulatory reset, and that is good news for everyone.

The economic recovery, however, has been uneven. Part of the challenge that we see is that there are areas of our Nation that are not doing as well as the numbers I have just indicated. That reinforces the fact that, as a whole, the Nation is succeeding and the people of our country are succeeding at a much higher level and at a faster clip. However, rural America still lags a little behind and needs more tools in the toolkit, more arrows in the quiver to address some of the challenges that are endemic and specific to those rural parts of our country.

I am thankful to have partnered in the opportunity zone legislation with folks who are compassionate and who are committed to making sure that rural America realizes its full potential.

I have had an opportunity to travel this country on my national opportunity zone tour. I have gone from places in Florida, with Senator Rubio, to parts of our country that I have really enjoyed seeing, but I can't articulate fully the passion that I saw in folks from West Virginia, New Hampshire, and Iowa when we had a chance to tour these three States and learn more about the rural economy and the potential in those rural economies.

I remember vividly walking down in Huntington, WV, with my good friend Senator Capito. We had a great visit in Huntington, WV, and what we realized there was the passion of the people and the willingness to work were evident and that we needed to bring more resources to the table so that the employers and would-be employers would make the investment in Huntington, WV, and in other parts of rural West Virginia.

We left there encouraged and enthusiastic because the opportunity zone legislation was seen as a true tool in the toolkit for rural America that needed to be rolled out. At that time, it hadn't been rolled out like it has been now.

So today we see over $100 billion migrating toward opportunity funds. That means good news for rural America. If we are able to continue that progress, we will see rural America live its full potential, and that is great news.

I enjoyed visiting New Hampshire with Governor Sununu, where the unemployment rate is 2.4 percent, one of the lowest in the country. But even in a place like New Hampshire, where the unemployment rate is really low, the rural parts of the State were still devastated and needed an infusion of hope and opportunity. The O zone, or the opportunity zone, has presented itself as one of the many solutions necessary to confront some of the rural issues that we saw in New Hampshire.

I enjoyed my time in West Des Moines with Senator Ernst, as we had a chance to visit a potential housing project incubator at a church, where folks were fascinated by using the tax deferral to encourage and to attract more investment into West Des Moines because the people are willing to work. There is dignity in all work, and they understood that. They were passionate about opportunities, and they needed another tool to make it happen.

Opportunity zones are a part of that toolkit, and I will say, without any question, that when you think about great leadership, it is hard to have missed the compassion and the passion that Joni Ernst has for her constituents and her business owners and her willingness to partner with legislation like the opportunity zones and partner with the entrepreneurs of her State and the folks who are looking for ways to reinvest in their own neighborhoods to help encourage and to support a willing workforce.

That tool of opportunity zones can be brought to bear against some of the strongest and hardest challenges in rural America, and I am here to say thank you to my colleagues for, a, making sure that opportunity zones are a reality; b, for taking this time on the floor to encourage others, especially our rural Americans, to stay hopeful; and, c, to continue to address some of the challenges that Senator Braun mentioned about the workforce

development and harmonizing the skill set with the workforce in a way that allows for those folks to realize their full potential and live the American Dream.

I yield to Senator Capito.

Mr. President, I thank Senator Graham for yielding to me. Without any question, I think Senator Graham did such a great job of distilling the life and some of the accomplishments of Senator Hollings. Without any question, I cannot imagine Mr. Graham spending 36 years or so as a junior Senator from the great State of South Carolina because of the long tenure of the senior Senator, Strom Thurmond, whose seat you have. I have the privilege of being in the seat of Senator Hollings, who, of course, is from Charleston, as I am from Charleston. I think of the commonalities we all share as South Carolinians, and certainly ones who are not--all of us from South Carolina understand how hard it is to understand those folks who speak in the old Charleston brogue, the language of Senator Hollings and folks like our cousin, Arthur Ravenel, who shares the same inflection in his voice. Senator Graham brought back some very fond memories with his thoughts.

To the family, the Hollings family, we certainly extend our condolences. I had the chance to speak with Michael, his son, just the other day, and the family is doing well. The family is encouraged by the outpouring of love and support from so many folks from the Senate and throughout the country because Senator Hollings was not only a South Carolina Senator, he was America's Senator. He spent a lot of time doing a lot of things that made a significant difference.

I do want to put a little meat on the bones. As Senator Graham has covered so much of what I would have said, I will not say it twice. I will, perhaps, drill into a few of the times of service Senator Hollings had.

As we think through the 1960s and as we read through the 1960s, we read through a time of volatility, a time where our Nation is clashing with one another, where the races were so divided. In the Deep South, we perhaps led in that direction of conflict. We have a provocative history on race in South Carolina. Without any question, Senator Hollings did what so many others did not do, which is, he led for a peaceful integration of what is today one of America's great public universities, Clemson University. I say that as a South Carolina fan, without any question, but it is no doubt that Harvey Gantt, being the first African American in Clemson to graduate from Clemson, was a monumental shift in southern education, one we can all celebrate today.

I went to church with Harvey Gantt's family for 20-plus years at Morris Street Baptist Church in Charleston, SC, and I will say that, perhaps as a part of the springboard of controversy and challenge and conflict, it led to a level of greatness in Harvey Gantt's life as he took arrows that most of us are unfamiliar with. Senator Hollings-- then-Governor Hollings--took arrows that some would be unfamiliar with in making the decision to ask for and to encourage and support a peaceful transition in a State at the time broiled in controversy. Harvey Gantt went on, of course, to be the first African-American mayor of the city of Charlotte, NC.

In thinking about Senator Graham's comments as it relates to the technical college system in South Carolina, how Senator Hollings birthed that for our State, that may sound like a good accomplishment, but for a State that faced extinction from an economic standpoint, when industries were leaving our State, the technical college system became the springboard, once again, for the great city of South Carolina to see a rebirth of our economic systems. What we have today is a manufacturing haven whose foundation is the technical college system. When we think about companies like BMW, Boeing, Volvo, Mercedes, Bosch, Michelin, Bridgestone, all these companies became a part of the corporate family in South Carolina because we had a healthy, thriving technical college system born because of the leadership of Senator Hollings.

Senator Hollings not only succeeded in public life, but he also succeeded in his private life. I will tell you that I cannot imagine the reunion between Senator Hollings and his wife, Peatsy, of over 40 years. I can't imagine the celebration that is happening in Heaven as those two are being reunited and spending time talking about what has occurred over their lifetimes and the things they had to see.

There is an amazing Greek proverb that I want to end with, as it relates to Senator Hollings, that says that a society grows when old men plant trees whose shade they know they will never sit under.

Senator Graham and I, the youngsters, comparatively speaking to Senator Hollings and Senator Thurmond--we are sitting under the shade of that tree. Our Nation benefits from people who have the wisdom to look forward, beyond their lifetime, and create a country where we all benefit.

Mr. President, today I would like to celebrate the service and achievements of Dr. Ronnie Booth of Anderson, SC, as he approaches his retirement from his position as president of the Tri-County Technical College. Dr. Booth, named the third president of TCTC in 2003, has spent the last 16 years helping to advance the college and community to its current level of unprecedented success.

Under Dr. Booth's leadership, Tri-County Technical College launched three community campuses, three workforce training centers, and economic development, technology and student success centers among different campuses. He also created and established the Bridge to Clemson and Connect to College Programs, which both help to create pathways for students of all backgrounds to achieve their goals. Other notable achievements during his tenure include the Technical Career Pathways Program, Michelin Manufacturing Scholars Program, and I-BEST Manufacturing Pathway Program.

Just this past year, Tri-County Technical College earned the top ranking in student success, transfer, and graduation among the 16 colleges in the SC Technical College System and also ranked in the top 1 percent nationally for successful transfers to 4-year colleges and universities. Community support and partnerships have also grown under Dr. Booth's leadership, truly uniting the Tri-County area for the better.

Dr. Booth has also been an active and engaged citizen, being a member of multiple professional associations, civic groups, and State and national boards. His commitment to improving the lives of his students, school, and community cannot be understated, and he has surely made a resoundingly positive impact on countless students, faculty, staff, and community members. His leadership will not be soon forgotten, and I congratulate him on his successes, as well as wish him good fortune, on this next chapter in his life.

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

Mr. President, I was necessarily absent from yesterday evening's vote on cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 311, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. On vote No. 27, had I been present, I would have been a yea vote on the motion to invoke cloture.

Let me say that a little differently. As I sat, waiting for my plane to leave Charleston, SC, to come to the Nation's Capital--a trip that typically takes about 63 minutes--3 hours later, I had not yet arrived in Washington, DC.

On a vote that, to me, should not be a vote at all--this should be common sense, but it certainly was not common sense, so we had to have a vote on an issue that is very near and dear to my heart.

I will say without any question that the frustration I felt at being late to that vote was one that was incredibly irritating and infuriating. I had planned to be on the floor of the Senate voting yes on a commonsense piece of legislation, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, but was unable to make it because a 1-hour flight took more than 3 hours, and I arrived here about 4 minutes after the close of the vote, which also is quite frustrating.

But what is even more frustrating than that is that in a nation of good conscience, we would be debating and having a conversation about a child who is born, sitting there, alive, separated from her mother, that there would be a question of whether that child should be able to continue to live.

This is an issue that has been raised by people coming out of New York and more recently by people coming out of Virginia and by the Governor--who happens to be, from my understanding, a pediatric surgeon--who suggested it is OK to allow that child to die.

Whether you are pro-life, as I am, or pro-choice, as others, I cannot imagine that this would even be an issue of debate or discussion between the two sides. There is no side on this topic. There cannot be a side about life separated from the mother and whether that life should continue to live. This is common sense. This is human decency. This is not an issue of being pro-life or pro-choice. This is being pro-child, which we all should be.

So I find myself at a loss for words, standing on the floor of the U.S. Senate--where a vote yesterday failed by several votes--having to discuss what doesn't make sense.

I have recently spoken to a group in Charleston, SC, during Black History Month, where the GOP and African Americans were in the same room having a great conversation about the issues that are important to our Nation. We talked about so many of the powerful issues of economic opportunity and opportunity zones. There may have been some disagreement on whether we should have higher taxes or lower taxes, but there was no disagreement on the issue of infanticide. There was no disagreement whatsoever. In the room, whether you were to the left

or to the right, there was one thing that was common, and that was the value of life.

I traveled to Little Rock, AR, this weekend to speak at another Black History Month event, where Republicans and Democrats were coming together at the Governor's Mansion to have a conversation about moving this Nation forward and about reconciliation. In the room, we had conversations about the tragedies in Virginia, from the blackface tragedy to the issues with the three ranking members in the Commonwealth of Virginia. When I started talking about the value of human life, the intrinsic value of each human being, there was 100 percent support that we are a nation that should always value the life of a born-alive child. There was not a single dissent in a room of nearly 400 people.

To have to have a debate on the floor of the Senate about something that every American with whom I have spoken, in airports or at events, agrees there is nothing to debate, frustrates me. So while I am saddened and frustrated, I have been encouraged by my fellow Americans--from Arkansas to South Carolina, to Tennessee--who have all come to the same conclusion, and that is that a born-alive child deserves to live.

We may disagree on other points, but this is a place where there is universal agreement with the folks I have spoken to. These are folks who don't vote for Republicans or Democrats; they all vote for children. They all vote for life.

We are a nation that must continue to value life. For some reason, somehow, this body missed that opportunity to reinforce that value system before the American public, to say to each child born: No matter your State, no matter your challenges, you have intrinsic value.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, today I want to recognize school bus driver Ms. Bernadine Reed, whose heroic actions ensured the safety of 40 schoolchildren last week in Darlington County,

Mr. President, today it is my pleasure to honor the Greenwood Index-Journal, a newspaper that is celebrating 100 years in the Greenwood, SC, community.

Founded in February 1919, the Index-Journal started as an office above a movie theatre and a printing press on a dirt floor. Although much has changed 100 years later, the Index-Journal's commitment to keeping the residents of Greenwood informed has not.

The Greenwood Index-Journal remains owned and operated by local residents themselves, with family members of the original co-owners still running the paper today. It is truly a paper run by the people, for the people. The Index-Journal has remained vigilant in its coverage of the Lakelands area, and continues to be a vital part of the Greenwood community.

I congratulate all of the Index-Journal leadership and staff for 100 years of committed and meaningful journalism and look forward to their presence in our State for years to come.

Mr. President, each new year brings with it a range of different emotions. We look back on what we have accomplished in the last year, what we hope to achieve in the year to come, and think of ways we can better ourselves.

Some of our objectives may include eating just a little less. For me, that

means eating a little less sour cream pound cake or sweet potato pie, which is something I can completely control, and I am trying.

As a nation, though, we need to look at some goals for the new year that will help us move forward together--goals that may be a little tougher and require all of us to work together. While we may have some uncomfortable conversations--and we will--we must recognize that at the end of the day, we are family, both inside our homes and as Americans, in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

As we look to 2019, I am hopeful we can take three lessons and carry them forward. Those who follow me know I have focused my time in the Senate on an opportunity agenda that focuses on helping people rise from poverty in distressed communities, helping folks who are living paycheck to paycheck to experience the greatness that is, in fact, the American dream, and I will continue to focus on those issues in 2019, but you will also hear from me in 2019 what I believe are some missing keys to American progress. Those keys are civility, fairness, and opportunity.

So when you are having dinner and a family member tries to tell you that the reigning Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles--lucky, of course, to be in the playoffs at all--are in fact the best football team in America, we all know the truth: It is America's team, the Dallas Cowboys. You will have a discussion with your family friend who believes otherwise, and I hope you will disagree strongly, that you will argue with facts, history--the history of Roger Staubach or Troy Aikman or Emmitt Smith or Tony Dorsett or ``Too Tall'' Jones--and you argue that with history and with passion, but you know, at the end of the day, your crazy uncle is still your crazy uncle. You will see each other next weekend. You will hug, and you will start the same fight all over again, but you see what you have done is you have agreed to disagree without being disagreeable. That, at its core, is the civility our Nation is sorely missing right now.

Too often too many seem too focused on saying whatever they want to say and saying it more loudly, without any concern for the actual content. We need to return to civility, where the other side isn't evil or a traitor or trying to destroy our country, but they simply have a different vision for how to achieve success.

Second, sometimes we struggle to make sure our loved ones, especially our kids around Christmastime, are treated fairly. So as they open their presents, we want to make sure everyone has a chance to play with everything. This is what we call trying to be fair. As a parent--or in my case as the giver of cool gifts--we want to make sure the kids are being fair with their siblings as they play with the new toys. There is something in each and every one of us that yearns for fairness, but too often, when we leave the comfort of those mornings, we tend to want more for ourselves than we want for others. We want people to treat us in a way that gives us the benefit of the doubt, but sometimes we don't want to give it in return. Being fair means first seeking to understand before being understood.

Finally, opportunity. I want to look back at a Christmas tradition in my hometown of North Charleston, a place where we see amazing things happen around the Christmas holidays. We see police officers, firefighters, and community volunteers coming together about 6 a.m. on Christmas morning to go knock on doors, where they know definitively there are kids without Christmas trees, much less Christmas presents. These police officers, firefighters, and community volunteers join hands and raise a ton of dollars and bring presents to the doors. Anyone who has experienced this, as I have, cannot fully describe the joy on a child's face, the emotion and the tears of happiness for someone who didn't expect a single thing for the holidays, because opportunity is just not about ourselves and our families. While we certainly strive to be successful, the true meaning of the Christmas and the holiday season lies in what we do for others.

For Congress, that means everything we do--everything we do--should be with an eye toward improving the lives of all Americans. For folks at home, remember, there are folks in your community who are less fortunate. This became the greatest Nation on Earth because of our hearts and our minds, the hearts and minds of the American people, the power and endurance of the American dream, and the graciousness and strength of the American spirit; in other words, American exceptionalism. Civility, fairness, and opportunity are three words that can help our Nation heal and move us forward toward a better future.

My hope this year is that we will take some time to think about what each of us can do to further these goals. Resolutions are good. Being resolute in our mission to strengthen our Nation is great. Soon I will speak about my vision for the future, my America 2030 plan.

I want to say happy new year and ask everyone to remember the true spirit of what makes America great.

Recognizing the Clemson Tigers' 2019 NCAA Championship Victory

Mr. President, before I close, I would like to talk, just for a few minutes, about an epic celebration in a small upstate city in the great State of South Carolina--a celebration that is because of a game. Now, in South Carolina, we have real division. The divisions can be seen between those who support the Clemson Tigers and those like myself who support the Carolina Gamecocks. After the Clemson national championship victory, both sides of the great State of South Carolina--at least most of us--are celebrating the absolute overwhelming success of the Clemson Tigers. You can't help but appreciate and admire the amazing leadership at Clemson University, the leadership of Jim Clements, the President of Clemson University.

Clemson has been an amazing testament to the goodwill and good effort of programs focused on character first. As Coach Swinney has created an absolute powerhouse in Clemson, it is hard to deny that he is not one of the best coaches in college football in America today. He has surrounded himself with amazing players such as Deshaun Watson, DeAndre Hopkins, Vic Beasley, and now Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne, and Christian Wilkins.

I want to extend my congratulations to Clemson University on their second national championship in just the last 4 years and their third overall national championship. I wish I could be in Clemson on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. as they--they don't have to paint the streets orange because they are already orange--but as they blow out the great city they live in. I will say that not only am I heartened and excited about the success of Clemson University on the field, I thought, listening to Dabo Swinney as he talked about success in life, it reminded me of my civility, fairness, and opportunity agenda for 2019.

He said something to this effect. When asked about his success and the greatness of his football team and the wonders of winning a national championship, what did he celebrate the most? He said it in this fashion. He said: When I think about being selfless, when I think about real success, it is in this order. First, it is about honoring the Lord Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior; second, it is about honoring others; and third, finally, it comes down to self. There is something to learn about putting others before ourselves as we look toward a more civil society, filled with fairness, brimming with opportunity.

I yield the floor.

Would the Senator yield for a moment?

I will concede that while I am exuberant and excited for the enthusiasm for Clemson's success this year, I am aware that next year Clemson and Alabama may meet again. So the more you celebrate this year, perhaps the more you will regret it next year.

Thank you, Senator.

Mr. President, today it is my pleasure to honor the Pelham Batesville Fire Department, as the fire district celebrates its 50th anniversary. Since 1968, the district and fire department have dutifully provided fire and rescue services to a large area of upstate South Carolina, including parts of Greenville County, Spartanburg County, and Greer.

Time and again, the PBFD has remained vigilant and steadfast in their commitment to providing the best emergency services to the community. True dedication and generosity are characteristics frequently used to describe this department; once, PBFD firefighters pitched in to just to pay for gas to drive the trucks to the next emergency. Today, the future of the department looks bright, as it grows at an unprecedented rate and now includes four stations. I look forward to hearing of their continued success.

Congratulations on 50 years, Pelham Batesville Fire Department and district, and thank you for your continued services to the upstate.

Mr. President, today I would like to take a moment to recognize and honor the life of Rev. Bertha L. Givens, a great South Carolinian, who departed this life on September 22, 2018. Reverend Givens was a well-respected and universally loved leader of her local Green Pond community, as well as Colleton County as a whole.

Reverend Givens served as a supportive and devoted matriarch not only to her husband of 48 years, her children, and extended family, but also to dozens of foster children and children in the community over the years. Additionally, Reverend Givens was known to provide counsel and comfort to each and every member of the community who came to her, and countless individuals benefitted from her wisdom, gentle voice, and unfaltering faith.

As a reverend, she lived a life of impeccable integrity in ministry. She served for many years as a class leader and associate pastor at Mt. Olive A.M.E. in Green Pond, worked in prison outreach ministry, and took on many other positions of church leadership. She also founded the major community outreach program, Harvest Day, which gives away produce and preserves, as well as teaches God's word to members of the community. She did this for over 30 years, desiring no fanfare or recognition, which only highlights her strong Christian devotion and conviction.

Reverend Givens will surely be missed by all of those that had the pleasure to know her and in the Green Pond community especially. Her life and legacy provide an example of true Christian selflessness and spirit to all.

Mr. President, I would like to wish Mr. James ``Jim'' French of Charleston, SC, a happy 92nd birthday.

Mr. French, a committed, passionate, and award-winning journalist, served as a U.S. Navy chief journalist for 26 years. After retiring, he founded the Charleston Chronicle in 1971. His work at the Charleston Chronicle, focused on offering solutions for problems within the African-American community and successfully led to the paper receiving hundreds of awards from organizations throughout the Lowcountry and Nation.

Mr. French's legacy will forever be defined not just by his work and service, but by all of the many people he has touched in the Charleston community.

I would like to recognize Mr. French for his service to our country and our amazing State; he truly represents the very best of South Carolina.

Happy 92nd birthday, Mr. French. May God bless you.

Mr. President, it is my honor and privilege to pay tribute to an outstanding leader and warrior, Air Force Gen. Darren W. McDew, commander of U.S. Transportation Command. General McDew is retiring this month, having served this great Nation for 36 years and completing a most distinguished career.

General McDew graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1982, where he was regimental commander and received a degree in civil engineering. A command pilot in both the KC-135 and C-17, General McDew held assignments from Maine to California, while accumulating over 3,300 hours in 10 different types of aircraft.

His desire to serve grew from the example set by his father who achieved the rank of master sergeant in the Air Force. General McDew has commanded at virtually every level that the Air Force has to offer: squadron, group, wing, numbered Air Force, and major command. His first command was of the 14th Airlift Squadron at Charleston Air Force Base. He often speaks of his time leading the mighty Pelicans in the great State of South Carolina as being one of his most rewarding assignments.

A constant voice of reason, motivation, and inspiration, General McDew has devoted his life to this Nation. He has provided counsel to three Presidents, served as the Air Force liaison to the U.S. Senate, and built trust with the American people as the Air Force's Director of Public Affairs. I personally have sought his advice, as have my colleagues. The Members of this Chamber and workers across many parts of the Federal Government will miss his leadership and candor.

General McDew's illustrious career is culminating with his current position, where he leads the 144,000 men and women of U.S. Transportation Command. He is responsible for coordinating the Department of Defense's global deployment and distribution enterprise. His transformational leadership has bolstered readiness, increased cyber awareness and security, and prepared the Department of Defense for challenging transportation and logistics missions in the future. He challenged old ways of thinking and compelled the Joint Force to adapt and evolve for the dynamic and uncertain security environment of tomorrow.

For 36 years, his wife, Evelyn, has selflessly cared for the families under his command and in their community. I cannot overstate the importance of the support the spouses and families provide to their servicemember in our Armed Forces. Service and sacrifice are not limited to just the servicemember, but often extends to the entire family. On behalf of the Senate, we thank Evelyn and their children, Keisha and Keith, for their dedicated service to our military and our Nation. The Air Force will not lose just General McDew, but an exceptional family as well upon his retirement.

I would like to help close out the final chapter of this inspiring airman and Joint Force leader's career with a heartfelt thank you from all the men and women of the U.S. Senate, the Congress, and Nation. General McDew, Godspeed. We thank you, Evelyn, and the entire McDew family, for their service over a remarkable 36-year career. We wish you well in your future endeavors, and we pray that those who follow in your footsteps do so in the same spirit of selfless service to our great Nation that you have so ably shown.

Mr. President, today I wish to honor SFC Christopher A. Celiz, who was fatally wounded while conducting operations in support of a medical evacuation landing zone in Afghanistan last week. Sergeant First Class Celiz was a Summerville, SC, native and attended the Citadel before enlisting in the Army, where he subsequently served five deployments, including Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Sergeant First Class Celiz was serving as a battalion mortar platoon sergeant and supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel when he sustained fatal wounds and passed away on July 12.

Sergeant First Class Celiz served this country with the utmost courage and commitment, and his service and sacrifice will never be forgotten. I ask that he be honored today, and share my deepest condolences with all of those who knew and loved Sergeant First Class Celiz.

Mr. President, I would like to recognize South Carolina native, Maj. Charles D. Hodges for his exceptional service and bravery in his recent military support efforts in the Thailand cave rescues. Major Hodges is a U.S. mission commander for the Air Force's 353rd Special Operations unit and led his team of U.S. support in rescuing 12 young Thai boys and their coach trapped in a network of caves. With his support and the hard work and bravery of so many military personnel, all 13 were all rescued safely on Tuesday.

South Carolina and I are very proud to call Major Hodges one of our own.