May 2, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 72 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Pages S2582-S2584]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                               Tax Reform

  Madam President, over the Easter break, I got to visit a number of 
South Dakota businesses, like Persona Signs in Madison and Energy 
Dynamics in Carthage.
  Visiting with South Dakotans is the best part of my job, and it is 
the best way to learn how government policies are affecting South 
Dakotans and what South Dakotans need from Washington.
  One thing that has been wonderful to see over the past year is how 
tax reform is benefiting South Dakota businesses. Businesses are 
benefiting directly from things like rate cuts and enhanced expensing, 
and they are also benefitting from the economic growth that tax reform 
has helped produce.
  I was excited to see that DeGeest Steel Works in Tea, Valley Queen 
Cheese in Milbank, and Royal Canin pet food in North Sioux City are all 
in the process of expanding.
  Tax reform was a huge step forward in creating an economy where 
businesses can grow, expand, and create jobs, but there is more work to 
be done to ensure that South Dakota businesses have all the resources 
they need to thrive.
  One big priority for Republicans is passing the United States-Mexico-
Canada free trade agreement, which would help to grow our economy, 
raise wages, and create 176,000 new jobs. Canada and Mexico are top 
markets for U.S. agricultural products, and South Dakota

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farmers, ranchers, and businesses would all see benefits from the 
passage of this agreement.
  We also want to conclude an agreement with China, which would provide 
a boost to South Dakota soybean farmers, as well as other South Dakota 
businesses.
  South Dakota farms and businesses depend upon trade, and I am 
committed to making sure that they have access to the markets they 
need.
  With our thriving economy and low unemployment, finding qualified 
workers is a challenge for businesses nationwide, but it is 
particularly a challenge in our State. Unemployment in South Dakota is 
a remarkably low 2.8 percent--a full percentage point lower than the 
current measurement for the United States as a whole.
  While a low unemployment rate is generally a good thing, it can make 
it extremely difficult for South Dakota businesses to find the workers 
they need. That is why I have made expanding the H-2B Visa Program a 
priority.
  Many South Dakota businesses rely on workers who temporarily come to 
the United States through this program. I was very pleased that the 
Homeland Security Secretary granted the request of a number of 
Senators, including myself, to issue additional H2-B visas for 2019. I 
will continue to encourage the Department of Homeland Security to 
expedite the release of these visas.
  I have also introduced legislation that would expand the number of H-
2B visas available for States, including South Dakota, with 
unemployment rates at or below 3.5 percent.
  Another way to ensure businesses have qualified workers is to expand 
access to career and technical education. Career and technical 
education programs are key to expanding opportunity for American 
workers and giving them the skills they need to succeed in the 21st 
century economy. Last year, Congress passed the Strengthening Career 
and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. This law gives States 
greater flexibility over career and technical education programs and 
will help provide better access to training for more than 11 million 
students and workers.
  In addition, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 
Committee is currently working on a reauthorization of the Higher 
Education Act, which will also address career and technical education.
  Republicans are committed to continuing to expand opportunity for 
America's workers. Here in Washington, we can do a lot to help our 
economy by getting government out of the way, making sure that small 
and larger businesses aren't weighed down with heavy taxes or excessive 
regulations, but ultimately it is American business men and women who 
are the real drivers of growth.
  People like the four generations of Meyers, who have worked at A.H. 
Meyer & Sons in Winfred, SD, supporting the South Dakota beekeeping 
industry or the three generations of the DeGeests, who have worked at 
DeGeest Steel in Tea. The energy, innovation, and commitment displayed 
by businesses like these is what powers America.
  I am grateful to all the businesses who took the time to talk with me 
and to show me around over the past few weeks and throughout the year. 
I will continue to fight for those businesses here in Washington, DC, 
and I look forward to seeing more of the great work that they will 
continue to do in the future.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New York.


                              S. Res. 120

  Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Madam President, I rise to add my name to S. Res. 
120. This resolution would make it the sense of the Senate that we in 
this Chamber oppose the global BDS movement and other efforts to 
delegitimize the State of Israel.
  I have long said that the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement 
targeting Israel--the BDS movement--is too often used as a vehicle for 
anti-Semitism.
  The resolution would affirm our commitment to a two-state solution in 
the Middle East, with a future viable, democratic Palestinian State 
living side by side with the democratic State of Israel in peace, in 
security, and with mutual recognition.
  It would make clear that particularly in this climate of increased 
anti-Semitism, we do not agree with efforts to delegitimize the State 
of Israel. I agree with these principles, and it is why I am supporting 
this resolution.
  I would also like to say this: I have made it clear in the past, and 
my opinion is no different today, that I will not support any 
legislation that will weaken Americans' First Amendment rights. In this 
country, we have a fundamental constitutional right to express our 
opinions and speak out about what we believe in. We have a right to 
engage in civil disobedience. We have a right to protest. This 
resolution recognizes all of that. It recognizes the right of people to 
protest and express their opinions about whatever country or whatever 
policy they want, but the Senate is also entitled to our opinion, and I 
support making it our opinion in this body that we oppose the global 
BDS movement, that we want a two-state solution, and that we want to 
stand by our alliance with Israel.
  I am proud to stand up for these ideals. I am proud to speak out 
about them. I encourage all New Yorkers and all Americans all over the 
country to keep speaking out what they believe in too.
  I also want to make a broader and critically important point here; 
that is, today we cannot ignore the anti-Semitism that is on the rise 
all around us. It is more important now than ever that we stand 
together against all forms of anti-Semitism.
  Just this past weekend, a hateful, anti-Semitic White supremacist 
walked into a synagogue in California on the Sabbath, during a 
celebration, and horrifically opened fire with a weapon of war on 
people who were praying--praying--on the last day of Passover. Six 
months before that, we mourned the tragedy at the Tree of Life 
synagogue in Pittsburgh, when another hateful, anti-Semitic White 
supremacist walked into a synagogue on the Sabbath and slaughtered 
people with another weapon of war.
  New Yorkers in my home State have had to endure hateful graffiti with 
swastikas and even outright physical attacks. The FBI has reported a 
spike in hate crimes all over our country, so has the Anti-Defamation 
League.
  The ADL just released its annual audit of anti-Semitic incidents. 
These cases of harassment, vandalism, and assault aren't just happening 
in one place; they are happening in people's businesses, in their 
schools, in their cemeteries, in their synagogues, and in our public 
parks. It was their third highest year on record. They are not just 
happening in our country either.
  In Europe, far-right political parties are winning elected office. We 
are seeing new attempts to deny the Holocaust. It is all unacceptable. 
Given the rise of anti-Semitism, it is particularly concerning to me 
that the U.N. is so focused on continuously and singularly vilifying 
Israel, in contrast to all other nations. That is why I have taken so 
many steps so often to call out the U.N.'s unfair actions, and it is 
why I will continue to call on the U.N. to abstain from its unfair 
treatment of Israel.
  The United States is supposed to be a safe haven for Israel and a 
safe haven for the Jewish people. It is supposed to be a safe haven for 
people of all religions. You are supposed to be able to worship freely 
here and to honor the Sabbath here without coming under attack. We must 
never let that change. We must not allow bigotry and violence to become 
normal and routine. We must not look the other way when we hear slurs 
and witness harassment.
  Anti-Semitism is real and dangerous, but it is not going to stop on 
its own. Only our words and our actions can do that. We need to show 
the world that we are more united than ever to fight against anti-
Semitism and against all other forms of racism and bigotry. We need to 
send a powerful message of solidarity by standing with the Jewish 
community, praying with them, and helping assure them that in this dark 
moment, they are not alone.
  Let me end with this. I take my faith very seriously. It grounds me. 
I am grateful that I have the opportunity to attend Bible studies with 
my colleagues in the Senate and that I can attend a weekly Prayer 
Breakfast. I believe we are here now, at this moment, for a reason. We 
are all called to end

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hate; we are all called to speak out against the darkness; we are all 
called to reject anti-Semitism; and we are all called to defend the 
vulnerable. As a body, we must answer that call.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Colorado.