[Senate Document 115-15]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]






                               Dean Heller
                               

                        U.S. SENATOR FROM NEVADA
                        

                                TRIBUTES
                                

                           IN THE CONGRESS OF
                           

                           THE UNITED STATES
                           
                           

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                      TRIBUTES TO HON. DEAN HELLER


                                           

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                                    Dean Heller
                                    
                                    
                                                                       S.doc.115-15


                                      Tributes

                                Delivered in Congress
                                
                                
                                
                                

                                     Dean Heller

                              United States Congressman

                                      2007-2011
                                      

                                United States Senator

                                      2011-2019

                                          
                                           
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]




                                 ______

                  U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 
                            WASHINGTON : 2021 

                                           


                            Compiled under the direction

                                       of the

                             Joint Committee on Printing
                             
                             
                                      CONTENTS
             Biography.............................................
                                                                      v
             Farewell Address......................................
                                                                    vii
             Proceedings in the Senate:
                Tributes by Senators:
                    Casey, Robert P., Jr., of Pennsylvania.........
                                                                     15
                    Cornyn, John, of Texas.........................
                                                                      7
                    Cortez Masto, Catherine, of Nevada.............
                                                                     10
                    Enzi, Michael B., of Wyoming...................
                                                                      6
                    Isakson, Johnny, of Georgia....................
                                                                      8
                    Klobuchar, Amy, of Minnesota...................
                                                                     15
                    Leahy, Patrick J., of Vermont..................
                                                                     16
                    McConnell, Mitch, of Kentucky..................
                                                                  3, 12
                    Murkowski, Lisa, of Alaska.....................
                                                                     16
                    Portman, Rob, of Ohio..........................
                                                                     12
                    Reed, Jack, of Rhode Island....................
                                                                     14
                    Rubio, Marco, of Florida.......................
                                                                     12
                    Thune, John, of South Dakota...................
                                                                      9
                

                                      Biography

               The son of an auto mechanic and a school cook, Senator 
             Dean Heller grew up in Carson City, Nevada, with five 
             brothers and sisters. He began working in his father's 
             auto shop in middle school and there he learned the 
             importance of hard work, discipline, and commitment--
             Western values that continue to guide him today.
               Dean was sworn in to the U.S. Senate on May 9, 2011. 
             Prior to his service in the Senate, Dean was the 
             Representative for Nevada's Second Congressional District 
             and also served as Nevada's secretary of state and in the 
             Nevada State Assembly representing Carson City. He 
             received his bachelor's degree in business from the 
             University of Southern California and worked as a 
             stockbroker and as a broker/trader on the Pacific Stock 
             Exchange before moving back to Carson City, Nevada.
               Dean served on the Committees on Finance; Banking; 
             Veterans' Affairs; and Commerce. These committees allowed 
             him to address the housing crisis, stand up for the more 
             than 300,000 veterans living in Nevada, ensure that 
             Nevada's transportation needs were met, and advance 
             policies that facilitated additional tourism in Nevada to 
             boost the State's economy.
               Dean and his wife Lynne have been married for more than 
             30 years and currently reside in Smith Valley, Nevada. 
             They have four children, Hilary, Harris, Drew, and Emmy, 
             and they are the proud grandparents of Brielle, Zachary, 
             and Ava. The Hellers enjoy camping, hunting, and horse 
             packing in the Sierras on the Nevada trails.
                

                               Farewell to the Senate
                             Thursday, December 13, 2018

               Mr. HELLER. Madam President, I rise with gratitude to 
             address my colleagues and members of my staff to reflect 
             on one of my life's greatest honors, and that is serving 
             the people of the great State of Nevada. I begin by 
             thanking them for giving me the profound honor of 
             representing Nevada in the U.S. House for 4 years and then 
             in the U.S. Senate for almost 8 years.
               Nevada, thank you for granting me the privilege of 
             working every day for a State I am so proud to call my 
             home.
               Of course, I thank my immediate family, especially 
             Lynne, my wife, for being at my side for my nearly 30 
             years of public service.
               To my children Hilary, Harris, Drew, and Emmy and to 
             their spouses Eddie, McKenzie, and Collin, thank you for 
             your patience, your understanding, and your tolerance of 
             this process.
               I would be remiss if I didn't thank Jack and Janet 
             Heller, my parents, for setting the right example and 
             religious tone in our home while I was growing up.
               To Richard Brombach, my father-in-law, and all of my 
             wife's family, thank you for raising such a wonderful 
             daughter, sister, cousin, and aunt.
               I have five brothers and sisters, and they all played a 
             vital role in my upbringing. So thank you to Jack, Tamie, 
             Mac, Sara, and Bryan.
               All of these individuals whom I have mentioned gave me 
             their steadfast support and made my journey from the 
             Nevada Legislature to the secretary of state's office, to 
             the U.S. House of Representatives, and to the U.S. Senate 
             possible. I could count on them every step of the way.
               We all know how important our staffs are, and I am no 
             exception. I have been fortunate to have had two staff 
             members with me during my whole tenure in Congress, and I 
             would like to highlight both of them.
               Mac Abrams, my chief of staff, hails from North 
             Carolina. I know more about North Carolina than I thought 
             I ever would. Mac came to me from Senator Vitter's office. 
             After 12 years, we muse about writing a book together 
             because, together, we have seen and been through a lot. 
             From the great recession's impact on Nevada to the visits 
             from Senator Reid to my House office, to Senator Ensign's 
             resignation, to the Governor's appointment of me to the 
             Senate, to Obamacare, Dodd-Frank, immigration reform, tax 
             reform, and changing the courts--just to name a few--Mac 
             has always been there.
               In these Chambers, there are a lot of slings and arrows, 
             and it takes an expert to walk through these minefields. 
             No one does it alone. I have always had Mac Abrams by my 
             side. So I thank him for his service to me but, more 
             important, for his service to the State of Nevada.
               Scott Riplinger has also served the office with 
             distinction. Those who know him and who have worked with 
             him know that he is a problem solver. It didn't matter 
             which hat he was asked to wear, he wore it with pride. I 
             will miss his hard work, his work on the Committee on 
             Banking, his loyalty, and his great sense of humor. Every 
             office needs a Scott Riplinger.
               I would like to mention two more.
               Sarah Paul has become a dear friend of mine. She joined 
             my staff 7\1/2\ years ago, and I have leaned on her 
             heavily to help navigate some very complicated issues. 
             From gaming issues, to mining, to technology, no one--I 
             say no one--can grasp an issue like she can. During the 
             last campaign, she served as my chief of staff as others 
             were relegated to the State of Nevada.
               Thank you, Sarah, and congratulations.
               On Thanksgiving Day, she introduced Liam Milliner Paul 
             to the world. Again, congratulations to Sarah, to Raymond, 
             and to big brother James on the new addition.
               Finally, I recognize Ashley Jonkey. Ashley oversees our 
             State operation, and she has been with us since my early 
             days in the U.S. House of Representatives. Whether it is 
             putting together the Tahoe Summit or keeping me up to 
             speed on local issues, Ashley is someone I can always 
             count on. In fact, over the past decade that I have known 
             Ashley, she has become like family to me but, more 
             important, like family to Lynne. She is based in Reno, but 
             we are fortunate to have her here in Washington, DC, 
             today.
               I recognize her, along with Mac, Scott, Sarah, and the 
             many members of my staff, who are here today on the floor 
             of the U.S. Senate.
               We have a great team. I have had a great team from top 
             to bottom--a team that includes naturalized citizens whose 
             families came to this country to seek better lives, 
             professional social workers, and multiple combat veterans. 
             Every member of my team in Reno, Elko, Las Vegas, and 
             Washington, DC, has worked tirelessly to make a difference 
             in the lives of Nevadans. My staff's dedication, 
             enthusiasm, and work ethic go unmatched.
               I ask unanimous consent to have a list of current and 
             former staff and their names printed in the Record for 
             this legislative day.
               There being no objection, the material was ordered to be 
             printed in the Record, as follows:
                      Senator Heller's Current and Former Staff
               Mac Abrams, Sarah Paul (Timoney), Ashley Jonkey, Meron 
             Bayu, Scott Riplinger, Megan Taylor, Gretchen Andersen, 
             Annie Sedgwick, Scarlet Doyle, Andrew Williams, Joe 
             Boddicker, Blair Bjellos, Rachel Green, Lindsey Parobeck, 
             Jazmine Kemp, Adam Miller, Hayley Brower, William Yepez, 
             Meagan Devlin, Elizabeth Lloyd.
               Michael Lienhard, Katie Pace, Rocio Meza, Lauren Morris, 
             Eduardo Martinez, Brett Pollak, Mark Sutliff, Donna Bath, 
             Kike De La Paz, Andrew Lingenfelter, Christy Guedry, Devyn 
             Hartmann, Bruno Moya, Ryan Dutiel, Marcie Zajac, Andrew 
             Thomas, Andrew Holbert, Emy Lesofski, Leeann Gibson 
             (Walker), Josh Finestone.
               Hayley Douglas, Stewart ``Mac'' Bybee, Michawn Rich, Pat 
             Garrett, Alli Collier, Tom Ferraro, Stephanie Beverly, 
             Mari St. Martin (Nakashima), Corrine Gianpaolo (Zakzeski), 
             Katie Carr, Alison Gaske, Stephanie Ferguson, Karen 
             Paulson, Paula Carroll, Amber Heinz, Ryan McBride, 
             Victoria Glover, Emily Wilkenson, Jeremy Harell, Kristen 
             Elias.
               Kristen Pierce (Casey), Luke Burns, Spencer Armuth, 
             Laura Hutson (Bland), Greg Facchiano, Chandler Smith, Neal 
             Patel, Lauren Ann Rehrauer, Ryan Leavitt, Chana Elgin, 
             Matt Morris, John Knobel, John Blum, Mallory Nersesian, 
             Robert Jackson, Eric Duhon, Erin Collins, Christine 
             Atchian, Daniel Giudici, Britt McManus Chapman.
               Veronica Charles, Josh Marin-Mora, Chloe McClintock, Sam 
             Crampton, Glenna Smith, Lucero-Gomez Ochoa, Stephen 
             Sifuentes, Michael Mendenhall, Margot Allen, Terri 
             Fairfield, Leonardo Benavides, Matt Morris, Andres Moses.

               Mr. HELLER. Madam President, I would like to shift 
             gears, for just a moment, to mention several topics that 
             have demanded a lot of my time and a lot of my energy.
               When it comes to our legislative successes--tax reform, 
             changes on the courts, banking reform, go down the list--I 
             am most proud of what we have accomplished to help the 
             300,000 veterans who call Nevada home. I think everybody 
             in this Chamber will agree that while we can never fully 
             repay our debt to our Nation's heroes, we can do 
             everything in our power to show our gratitude for their 
             selflessness and for their sacrifice. Once these men and 
             women return home after leaving their families to fight 
             for our country, it is our turn to fight for them and to 
             make sure all of Nevada's veterans receive the treatment 
             they need, the services they need, and the skills they 
             need to get the jobs to take care of their families.
               I see that responsibility as a duty and a privilege. In 
             fact, I have said this before, and I will say it again: 
             The greatest compliment I ever received in public office 
             was when I overheard one veteran say to another, ``If you 
             need help, call Senator Heller's office.''
               As a senior member of the U.S. Senate Committee on 
             Veterans' Affairs, I have had the opportunity to give our 
             veterans a strong voice in Washington, DC. Under Chairman 
             Johnny Isakson's leadership, we have made great strides in 
             bringing greater accountability to the VA and in improving 
             the benefits, the care, and the support our veterans have 
             earned.
               For example, earlier this year, we pushed the historic 
             VA MISSION Act over the finish line. This new law directs 
             more than $50 billion to our VA healthcare system so the 
             VA can hire more high-quality doctors and allow veterans 
             to get the care they need near their homes and on their 
             schedules.
               We also expanded the VA Caregivers Program, which 
             provided a stipend to the families of severely disabled 
             veterans who require caregivers in their homes. 
             Previously, only post-9/11 veterans were able to apply. 
             Now veterans from every era are eligible. This was 
             particularly important to many veterans in Nevada who told 
             me how critical it was that we give veterans more access 
             to this program.
               These are just a couple of examples to fix a problem 
             that came up during my discussions during my Veterans 
             Advisory Council meetings. I established these groups of 
             veterans in the northern and southern parts of the State 
             in order to speak frequently and directly with them about 
             the challenges they are facing and the problems that need 
             to be fixed.
               For instance, just a few years ago, the Reno VA was one 
             of the worst ranked offices in the Nation. This was at a 
             time when veterans were waiting, on average, 400 days for 
             their disability claims to be approved. This was not 
             acceptable, so I teamed up with Senator Bob Casey, from 
             Pennsylvania, to hold the VA's feet to the fire. As a 
             result of the implementation of the 21st Century Veterans 
             Benefits Delivery Act, the backlog has been reduced by 
             nearly 85 percent, and 500,000 of our military heroes 
             around the country are no longer waiting for their health 
             benefits. We also provided accountability through 
             expedited firing authority of bad VA employees and 
             overhauled the VA appeals process so veterans do not have 
             to wait years for a decision. The President signed this 
             bill into law in Reno last year.
               Expanding veterans' access to care has been one of my 
             top priorities. For veterans living in northern Nevada, I 
             worked to authorize construction of the Reno VA hospital 
             and delivered $33.5 million in Federal funding for it so 
             that the veterans of the north don't have to drive 500 
             miles to Boulder City to access the State Veterans Home.
               I walked through the construction site when I was in 
             Sparks last month, and I look forward to the completion of 
             this state-of-the-art facility.
               I did the same for veterans in southern Nevada. I worked 
             for 10 years to secure the approval of the new larger 
             clinic in Pahrump. For veterans who face barriers to try 
             to get an education so that they can earn a good living, I 
             introduced a bill that increases the education benefits 
             for Guard Reserve members which ensures that the GI bill 
             is available to veterans for life.
               After Nevada was ranked second among States with the 
             highest rate of veteran suicides and was experiencing a 
             doctors' shortage, I authorized a new law that gives 
             veterans more access to mental healthcare services and 
             treatment.
               I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Chairman 
             Isakson, Ranking Member Tester, Senate leadership, and 
             this administration to enact laws that provide our 
             veterans with the support and benefits they are owed.
               While we have made progress, we can and must do even 
             better. It is my hope that the next Congress--Republicans 
             and Democrats--can continue to work together to get things 
             done for our veterans.
               Now, on another topic--tax reform--when I delivered my 
             maiden speech on the floor of the Senate, Nevada was 
             struggling after being knocked down by the great 
             recession--a time when Nevada led the Nation in home 
             foreclosures and when we had double-digit unemployment. 
             Today, Nevada is leading the Nation in private sector job 
             growth, the housing market has recovered, and home prices 
             are increasing. Now we are one of the fastest growing 
             States in the Nation.
               Nevada is booming. It is because this Congress delivered 
             tax cuts that put more money in America's paychecks, their 
             pocketbooks, and their pensions, and we advanced progrowth 
             policies that have led to more jobs, higher wages, and 
             more opportunities for Nevadans.
               As a Member of the Senate Committee on Finance, I am 
             proud to have authorized and authored several provisions 
             in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that include, for example, 
             not limiting but doubling the child tax credit from $1,000 
             to $2,000 per child. Since the law was enacted, tens of 
             thousands of jobs in the State of Nevada have been 
             created. Recently, Nevada's unemployment rate hit a new 
             11-year low--the lowest rate since the 2008 economic 
             downturn. As a result of this new law, tens of thousands 
             of Nevadans have benefited from bonuses, raises, and 
             expanded benefits, on top of bigger paychecks and 
             strengthened pensions.
               To give you a couple of examples, South Point Hotel and 
             Casino doubled its full-time workers' bonuses. Developers 
             of a stalled project on the Las Vegas Strip committed to 
             creating over 10,000 jobs, and the Prospect Hotel in Ely 
             gave its employees bonuses and raised its starting wages. 
             All of this was a direct result of the tax reform bill.
               Nevada's economy is back on track, and I hope this 
             Congress will continue to advance policies to keep us on 
             that path to help Nevada workers and the hard-working 
             families get ahead.
               Let me move on. Since coming to Washington, DC, my No. 1 
             focus has always been the people of Nevada and putting our 
             State's priorities first. For example, I worked with 
             Senator Martin Heinrich from New Mexico to level the 
             playing field for the development of new, alternative 
             energy technologies to support Nevada's energy 
             diversification.
               Earlier this year, I was proud to host the bipartisan 
             annual Lake Tahoe Summit, and I worked with Senator 
             Feinstein throughout my career to deliver resources to 
             protect the Tahoe Basin and to fight devastating 
             wildfires.
               When Congress came together to approve a 5-year highway 
             bill, I was able to secure my top infrastructure priority, 
             and that was to expand Interstate 11 up to northern 
             Nevada.
               Whether it is leading the Republican charge to extend 
             unemployment benefits in 2014, when Nevada's unemployment 
             rate was nearly double what it is now, or breaking with my 
             party to pass the Violence Against Women Act, I have 
             always been willing to work with anyone who has good ideas 
             to help move Nevada's families and Nevada's communities 
             forward.
               While I am pleased that I have been able to work with my 
             colleagues to turn these ideas into over 100 pieces of 
             legislation that are now law, this job is about more than 
             advancing good policies. It is about helping people, and 
             that is what is most important. I work for Nevadans, and 
             when someone comes to me with a problem or calls one of my 
             offices for help, we drop everything we do and all that we 
             do in an effort to help them.
               When the VA refused to pay a homeless veteran $40,000 
             after he won his appeal, we made sure the veteran got paid 
             so he could get back on his feet.
               When a constituent had a liver transplant and was denied 
             coverage and left without insurance, he enrolled into the 
             marketplace exchange. When the time came to reenroll, the 
             exchange denied him and forced him to go without insurance 
             until my office intervened.
               Take, for example, a woman who came to us after being 
             charged a Medicare penalty of about 40 percent each month. 
             My staff worked with the local and regional offices to 
             secure reimbursement of $1,000 and to adjust the monthly 
             premium to save that constituent, potentially, thousands 
             of dollars.
               When a constituent spent 9 months trying to get her 
             Social Security retirement benefits, we were able to get 
             her a resolution to properly begin receiving her payment.
               Finally, when a Navy veteran was in jeopardy of losing 
             his home while he was temporarily out of work, we 
             contacted the lender of his mortgage on his behalf and 
             ensured that he was able to keep his home.
               These are just a few examples of what this job is really 
             all about--making life better for people you work for. I 
             know that I am not alone. I truly believe that this is 
             what drives all Members of Congress, and that is to serve 
             their constituents--no matter your party, no matter your 
             State, no matter what you did before you got here.
               Before I got here, I grew up with two parents and five 
             siblings who, like Nevadans, embodied the ``battle born'' 
             spirit. I would like to pay tribute not only to my family, 
             friends, and mentors who have helped me along the way but 
             to all of my constituents by talking a little bit about 
             what makes Nevada different.
               Nevadans are pioneers. They are not afraid to take 
             risks, to dream, to put in hard work, or to start from 
             scratch. We are self-starters, we are builders, and we are 
             trailblazers. We laid down tracks to connect railroads and 
             mined for gold and silver in the north. We shoveled mud, 
             drilled through rocks, and scaled concrete to construct 
             the Hoover Dam, and in the Mojave Desert we created the 
             Entertainment Capital of the World.
               One characteristic outsiders may overlook is this: We 
             are fighters. There is no other event in our history that 
             best serves as an example of that trait than the aftermath 
             of the October 1 [2017] mass shooting in Las Vegas, a 
             tragedy that truly shook our State.
               I have spoken before on the Senate floor about the 
             incredible and heroic people who helped to lead 
             concertgoers and, in turn, the whole community, out of 
             that darkness. Whether these individuals wore uniforms or 
             not, they stepped up to help others, and their actions 
             helped us grieve and start to heal together.
               This immeasurable pain, suffering, and devastation 
             inflicted by one man elicited a profound, innate, and 
             immediate human response from Nevadans across the State.
               Like many Nevadans, I saw first hand the strong sense of 
             family, faith, and strength in the wake of the October 1 
             shooting. When I leave here, I will carry those 
             extraordinary moments of unity and generosity with me.
               During the 1989 inaugural address, Former President 
             George H.W. Bush once said:

               We know what works: Freedom works. We know what's right: 
             Freedom is right. We know how to secure a more just and 
             prosperous life for man on Earth: through free markets, 
             free speech, free elections, and the exercise of free will 
             unhampered by the state.

               Regardless of what party affiliation you have, I still 
             think we can all agree with those words. We can all agree 
             that we are fortunate to live in a great country defended 
             by men and women who stand guard to defend our way of 
             life. We can all agree we are fortunate to live in a great 
             country in which every aspiration or dream is possible to 
             achieve. We can all agree that this is because freedom 
             works, and that freedom is right.
               No, not everything comes easy, and I would be lying if I 
             said others didn't have to fight harder than some. But 
             that job you want to get, that school you want to get 
             into, that business you want to start, or that idea that 
             you would like to see come to life is possible in America. 
             This is a country where the son of an auto mechanic and a 
             school cook had the opportunity to deliver the newspaper 
             to then-Governor Michael O'Callaghan, go to Sunday school 
             with then-Lieutenant Governor Harry Reid's sons, get his 
             education at the same public high school as the late 
             Senator Paul Laxalt, play basketball with Governor Brian 
             Sandoval, and a place where that same kid can grow up and 
             serve Nevada in the U.S. Senate.
               My goal always has been making Nevada a better place 
             today than it was yesterday. It is a better place to raise 
             a family--not only one where you can find a job but a 
             place where you can have a long-term career.
               I would like to end with this. My daughter Hilary and 
             her husband adopted a young child from China. She was 
             abandoned as an infant at a bus station. Her name is Ava. 
             She was raised in an orphanage for the first 2 years of 
             her life.
               When my daughter and her family first met Ava, she did 
             not cry when she was hungry. She did not cry when she was 
             tired. She did not cry when she needed to be changed, and 
             she did not cry when she was hurt. Why? Because it didn't 
             matter; she was always on someone else's time. But she did 
             cry when they took her shoes off to put her to bed. You 
             see, in an orphanage, kids sleep with their shoes on so 
             they don't get lost. Ava, at 2 years of age, had never 
             slept without her shoes on.
               Now, she did cry the first time when they bathed her in 
             a tub of water. In an orphanage, you take cloth baths. So 
             Ava had never been in a bathtub. Today, when Ava falls, 
             someone is there to pick her up. Today, when she cries, 
             someone is there to wipe away the tears. Today, when she 
             is hungry, someone is there to feed her. Today, when she 
             is tired, there is always someone there to tuck her into 
             bed.
               When Ava grows up in this country, there will be plenty 
             of doors that she can open that would otherwise have been 
             closed. I will never forget seeing my newest granddaughter 
             in the arms of the Vice President, knowing that her life 
             had changed forever.
               This is the job at hand, to uphold this country's 
             longstanding reputation as the land of opportunity.
               I am an optimist, and I will remain one after leaving 
             this great Chamber because I have seen remarkable moments 
             here in Washington. This body has come a long way from its 
             early days when Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and John 
             Calhoun were navigating a divided nation and fighting to 
             save our young democracy. I believe that our Nation's 
             future is bright, and that Nevada's future is bright. My 
             heart has been and always will be in Nevada, a State that 
             I love and a place that I am so proud to call home.
               Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work for you.
               Thank you, Madam President.
               I yield the floor.
?

                

                                           

                                      TRIBUTES

                                         TO

                                     DEAN HELLER
                

                              Proceedings in the Senate
                                            Thursday, November 29, 2018
               Mr. McCONNELL. Now, on an entirely different matter, I 
             am sorry to say it is time to begin offering thanks and 
             farewells to Members whose Senate service will conclude at 
             the end of the 115th Congress.
               Today, I would like to begin with our friend, the senior 
             Senator from Nevada. It doesn't feel like much of an 
             exaggeration to say that Dean Heller may have been 
             destined for public service. I don't just mean his 
             eagerness to serve or his outgoing personality. There were 
             other signs. For example, one of the stops on his 
             childhood paper route in Carson City was the Governor's 
             mansion itself. Talk about early civic involvement.
               At every step of the way, from successful businessman to 
             his local and statewide races, all the way here to the 
             Capitol, Dean earned the respect of his neighbors and 
             constituents by following the hard-working example set by 
             his parents. His mother worked as a cook in a school 
             cafeteria. His father was an auto mechanic who raced stock 
             cars on the side. Their son grew up to be the only sitting 
             Senator I would trust to replace my transmission.
               When most politicians use phrases like ``rolling up 
             their sleeves'' and ``getting their hands dirty,'' they 
             are usually referring to things like late-night 
             negotiating or taking tough votes--in other words, more 
             talking. Not Dean Heller, he means it literally. As Dean 
             likes to say, here in Washington, during the week, he 
             works for the people of Nevada, but at home, on the 
             weekends, there he works for his wife Lynne on the ranch 
             they keep up together.
               But let it not be said that even in the midst of hard 
             labor, Dean isn't capable of multitasking. After all, 
             sometimes official duties just can't wait. I have it on 
             good authority that on one occasion Dean had to field a 
             surprise phone call from President Obama on his cell while 
             standing right in the middle of a ditch. Another time, he 
             took a call from President Trump and talked business right 
             there in the aisle of a home improvement store. Something 
             about this image seems just right--not talking, not 
             posturing, doing. That is Dean Heller; isn't it?
               He didn't come to Washington to court praise for lofty 
             rhetoric or to become a TV star. He came here to do. In 
             just 7 years, Dean has authored or helped to introduce 100 
             pieces of legislation that are now law.
               Perhaps first and foremost, he has built a reputation as 
             one of the Senate's chief advocates for our veterans. Dean 
             shares his home State with more than 200,000 men and women 
             who have served our Nation, including one he calls 
             ``Dad.''
               Keeping the promise of top-notch VA services across 
             Nevada's widespread rural communities is no small task. 
             The facilities in Reno, in particular, weren't always up 
             to the job, but day-in and day-out, Dean has made it his 
             mission to right the ship. As a member of the Committee on 
             Veterans' Affairs, he has fought to expand access to care, 
             contributing key provisions to the VA MISSION Act and 
             spearheading the 21st Century Veterans Benefits Delivery 
             Act. It is a legacy that is already making a difference 
             for our veterans.
               But these are hardly the only victories Dean won for 
             Nevada and for our Nation. He came to the Senate in 2011, 
             representing a State that had been hit hard by the great 
             recession and was trying hard to regain its footing. 
             Nevada communities faced ballooning foreclosure rates and 
             persistent unemployment. Fortunately, their new Senator 
             was intent on hooking up the economic jumper cables and 
             getting things humming once more.
               Dean has seized opportunities to champion an economic 
             agenda that puts workers and job creators back in the 
             driver's seat. He was a driving force behind the once-in-
             a-generation tax reform passed last December to put more 
             money in the pockets of working families. It is pouring a 
             new 21st century foundation for American businesses to 
             compete, win, and create more jobs right here at home.
               Today, Nevada is doing better, our Nation is 
             flourishing, and Dean Heller was there every step of the 
             way. He was especially instrumental in making sure that 
             tax reform increased the child tax credit. Dean knew that 
             working parents need that money more than the IRS does.
               Nevada veterans, Nevada workers, Nevada families--Dean 
             never lost sight of the reason he came here to Washington. 
             He has been a happy warrior here in the trenches, with a 
             ready grin and an iron determination to do right by his 
             friends and his neighbors.
               I also have it on good authority that seeing Dean in 
             action back home in his natural habitat is truly a sight 
             to behold. His joy at every conversation and every 
             handshake around Carson City are palpable. Nevadans are 
             Dean's people. They always have been, and he has always 
             been theirs, too.
               According to some of the staff who travel around the 
             State with him, it is practically impossible to make any 
             brief stops anywhere. At a fast-food restaurant, or a 
             sporting goods store, or even a gas station, Dean would 
             inevitably run into friends and set about swapping stories 
             or Carson City inside jokes. On the rare occasions when 
             Dean didn't know the proprietor or fellow customers--no 
             trouble, no trouble--he would have a room full of new 
             friends in about 3 minutes flat.
               I am told it never got old for the people around Dean to 
             witness the energy he drew from his friends, neighbors, 
             and constituents. He was delighted to be one of them and 
             honored to be their employee--``a man of the people''--not 
             a cliche, in this case, a reality.
               You don't need to take my word for it. I hear there is 
             objective evidence out there, photographs from the Nevada 
             Day Parade in Carson City. Suffice it to say it takes a 
             certain kind of person to steal the show, riding 
             horseback, dressed head to toe in full Western regalia, 
             something like John Wayne. It is no wonder his grandkids--
             Brielle, Zachary, and Ava--know him as ``Duke.''
               Now, his boss, Lynne, might very well have put him up to 
             it. I hear she rides right there alongside him. But Dean 
             is no newcomer to the parade. In fact, it is the very same 
             parade he marched in as a Scout years ago.
               If you read that story in a book, you would think it was 
             almost too earnest and too all-American to be true, but 
             that is Dean Heller. He is the paperboy who started out 
             delivering the headlines and wound up making the 
             headlines, the Senator who still saddles up for the same 
             parade from his childhood memories, one of Nevada's 
             favorite sons and a dedicated servant of the entire Silver 
             State.
               Dean's colleagues are really sorry to see him go. For a 
             leader with this much heart and this much talent, any 
             departure would feel premature. This one certainly does, 
             but I doubt Dean will have trouble finding good uses for a 
             little more spare time. I know he and Lynne must be 
             looking forward to saddling up their horses and setting 
             out for the Sierras a little more often than they have 
             been able to lately, and I hear he could use a little bit 
             of rehearsal time before he leads the Heller family band 
             through its repertoire of Christmas carols this year--lead 
             trombone. Lead trombone is no laughing matter. Maybe he 
             will even find time to get back in the driver's seat for a 
             race or two.
               So whatever it is that Dean does next--whatever it is--
             he should take with him great pride in all he has 
             accomplished here in a policy legacy that will continue 
             lifting up our Nation's veterans, workers, and middle-
             class families literally for years to come, and the 
             sincere best wishes of the friends he has made here in 
             this Chamber for health, happiness, and every future 
             success for himself, for Lynne, and for their entire 
             lovely family.

               Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, as a Congress ends, it is a 
             tradition for the Senate to pause for a moment to 
             acknowledge and express our appreciation for the service 
             of Senators who will not be returning for the next 
             Congress. Today, I would like to pause in appreciation of 
             the service of my friend and colleague Senator Dean 
             Heller.
               Dean will be leaving the Senate after 30 years of 
             dedicated public service at both the State and Federal 
             level. During his time in Congress, he always demonstrated 
             a willingness to consider all viewpoints, while remaining 
             true to the principles that guided his career in public 
             service. It is safe to say that Dean's commitment to 
             Nevada is as strong as ever, and his unique perspective in 
             areas critical to his State will surely be missed in the 
             next Congress.
               Growing up in Carson City, Nevada, Dean earned a 
             bachelor of business administration from the University of 
             Southern California in 1985. After working as a 
             stockbroker in California, Dean moved back to Nevada and 
             brought the skills he gained in the business realm to the 
             public sector when he became the deputy State treasurer 
             for Nevada.
               Learning about Dean's time as a Nevada assemblyman was 
             something I appreciated because of my time in the Wyoming 
             Legislature. Dean's hard work led him to become Nevada's 
             secretary of state for 11 years, then to the House of 
             Representatives in 2007, and finally he joined the Senate 
             in 2011.
               His background in both the financial sector and public 
             service was invaluable as a colleague on the Senate 
             Committee on Finance. As a former small business owner, I 
             appreciated his expertise and business acumen as the 
             committee considered complex and important issues like tax 
             reform. Dean's insightful perspectives and willingness to 
             work with people on different sides on key issues will 
             surely be missed by the committee moving forward.
               It was a pleasure to work with a Senator representing a 
             State that shares so much with Wyoming. From the 
             prominence of public lands, to welcoming visitors year-
             round to world class destinations, Nevada and Wyoming's 
             similarities afforded us the opportunity to collaborate on 
             key issues important to the people of both States.
               Dean's dedication to Nevada ensured he was a strong 
             voice for the people who lived there. I am sure he will 
             continue to use that voice to help others.
               Diana joins in sending our best wishes and appreciation 
             to Dean, his wife Lynne, and his four children for his 
             dedication to this country and the State of Nevada. His 
             effect on the Senate was profound, and he certainly made a 
             difference. We will always appreciate his service to the 
             Senate and wish him the very best in whatever the future 
             holds.
                                            Thursday, December 13, 2018
               Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I can say with great 
             confidence that Nevada and the Senate and the country are 
             better for Dean Heller's service to our Nation. We know 
             Dean is a smart guy. He is so smart that when I was 
             chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee 
             in 2010 and was trying to get him to run for the U.S. 
             Senate, he declined to do so, only to then run in 2012 
             and, obviously, he succeeded.
               I know there are many others who would like to speak and 
             pay tribute to Dean, and I won't take but a moment.
               Of course, one of the things I remember most about 
             Senator Heller is his optimism. I also particularly 
             appreciate his comment about things he has done to help 
             ordinary Nevadans that do not involve major pieces of 
             legislation. He certainly played a part in major 
             legislation like the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, but Dean's 
             efforts to also pass legislation like the SAFER Act, which 
             helps our law enforcement agencies reduce the rape kit 
             backlog--Dean's efforts on the Federal level, coupled with 
             State level reforms, played a role in making it possible 
             for nearly 8,000 untested sexual assault kits in Nevada to 
             be sent to labs for testing.
               Dean's commitment to our veterans led to his bill, the 
             Veterans Urgent Access to Mental Healthcare Act.
               I appreciate his reminding us that sometimes the most 
             important work we do is what we call casework. When 
             veterans come to us and say, ``I am not getting access to 
             the healthcare that I have earned by virtue of my military 
             service'' or when a senior says, ``I am not getting my 
             Social Security benefits'' or sometimes when people 
             contact us and say, ``I have relatives who can't enter the 
             country because they can't get a visa''--these are the 
             kinds of things that people will never forget. They are 
             the sort of acts of individual kindness and generosity 
             that, with a true attitude of public service, people will 
             never forget. Sometimes these efforts amount to some of 
             the most meaningful work that we can do and that our staff 
             can do.
               So I have every confidence that we will see and hear a 
             lot more from Dean and Lynne, no matter what they do. It 
             is clear to me that Dean has his priorities right: family 
             first, faith, and then service to our country.
               Dean, we are going to miss you, but we look forward to 
             staying in touch with you and Lynne, as friends do, and we 
             wish you all the luck. Given your talent for working on 
             cars, which is one of the things I think is particularly 
             noteworthy, you will be my first call if I need my 
             transmission fixed.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Georgia.

               Mr. ISAKSON. Madam President, as chairman of the 
             Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for the last 4 years I 
             have had the privilege of working with Dean Heller from 
             Nevada.
               In his opening remarks in his farewell speech, he spoke 
             about his compassion for veterans. I have seen it up close 
             and personal. His value as a member of that committee to 
             me is invaluable. I could not have had a better member.
               We had a lot of tough votes that had to be taken. A lot 
             of times I had to count noses, and I knew I could count on 
             him when it got to committee. This is a guy you could 
             count on 100 percent of the time, every day.
               He cares about what he is doing. He knows what he is 
             doing. He is an affable person who is fun to be with, even 
             if you disagree on things. Dean is one of a kind, in my 
             opinion, and someone I am very proud to have served with 
             on the committee. I wish he were going to be there for my 
             last 2 years as chairman so that I could count on him a 
             little bit more.
               Dean is the real deal. He is the guy you can put money 
             in the bank on. He has helped a lot.
               I wish him the very best. His service to the country is 
             invaluable. I served with him in the House and in the 
             Senate. For the whole 12 years he has been here, I have 
             been here too. I have seen him in countless tough votes. 
             Whether it is Part D of Medicare or whatever it might be, 
             he has always been there to be counted on.
               He has stood up for the State of Nevada, whether the 
             issue was nuclear energy, nuclear storage, nuclear waste, 
             or nuclear bombs.
               Nevada is a great State. This is a great Senate, and we 
             have a great country. One of the reasons we do is we have 
             great individuals like Dean Heller.
               God bless you, and I wish you the best.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from South Dakota.

               Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I wish to associate myself 
             with the comments of my colleague from Georgia, Senator 
             Isakson, who chairs the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
               I have the privilege of chairing the Senate Committee on 
             Commerce. Senator Heller has been a very active and 
             important voice on our committee on countless issues. Our 
             committee has a very broad, wide jurisdiction. We heard 
             him speak about his passion for veterans, and everybody 
             knows that and how hard he has worked to make life better 
             for veterans in the State of Nevada. But I would say, 
             also, on issues like rural broadband and transportation, 
             many of which, as I said, fall under the jurisdiction of 
             the Senate Committee on Commerce, I can't think of anybody 
             who has been more passionate, more representative of his 
             State and his people, more conscientious, more hard 
             working, and, frankly, just rock solid when it comes to 
             the way he stands up for and represents the State of 
             Nevada here in the U.S. Senate.
               So I, too, am going to miss him and his voice and his 
             excellent work and that of his staff on the Senate 
             Committee on Commerce. As those who have spoken before me 
             have said, we know that his contributions not only to the 
             people of Nevada but also to the people of this country 
             will continue because he is someone who not only has great 
             talent but also tremendous character.
               As I think about the future that he and Lynne are going 
             to enjoy, hopefully it will include a little more time 
             together and more time with those grandkids, which we talk 
             about all the time.
               The other thing I appreciate about Dean Heller is that 
             no matter how tough the going was, he always had a smile 
             on his face. People talk about his optimism. That is a 
             virtue that, to me, really matters around here. We deal 
             with weighty and serious issues. It is important that we 
             see the lighter side and that we appreciate the humor in 
             what we do, too; that we approach it with a sense of 
             purpose but also a sense of optimism. That is always 
             evident whenever you encounter Dean Heller in any 
             circumstance. The thing I think I will miss the most about 
             him is that whenever I see him, I see that smile, and I 
             appreciate that.
               I wish him and Lynne and his family the best in the days 
             ahead. I thank him for his great work here, and I thank 
             his family for the sacrifice they have made to enable him 
             to be here to represent Nevadans in the U.S. Senate.
               So, Senator Heller, God bless you and your family in the 
             days ahead.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nevada.

               Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Madam President, like my colleagues, 
             I, too, want to honor and express my gratitude to my 
             friend and colleague, Senator Dean Heller.
               Most people don't know that he has spent 30 years 
             serving the great State of Nevada. I have heard everyone 
             talk about how Dean loves Nevada. There is no doubt that 
             if you just have an initial conversation with Dean Heller, 
             you will learn about Nevada and his love for Nevada and 
             why it is a wonderful place to live.
               He has advocated for the people of Carson City as a 
             member of our Nevada State Assembly. He served as Nevada's 
             secretary of state, where he made Nevada the first State 
             in the Nation to adopt paper records for electronic voting 
             machines.
               In Congress, Dean has fought tirelessly on behalf of our 
             Nation's veterans, as we have heard, first as a 
             Representative for Nevada's Second Congressional District 
             and then as a U.S. Senator. I have watched Dean and have 
             had the honor to work with him now across the aisle.
               When I first came to the Senate as a junior Senator, he 
             warmly welcomed me. We had a conversation about how we 
             could work together--although we don't see eye to eye on 
             everything, but how we could work together for the best 
             interests of the State of Nevada. He made a commitment 
             then, and he followed through on that commitment.
               So together we have worked to do so many things on 
             behalf of the great people of the State of Nevada. We 
             worked on critical infrastructure. He has worked to 
             support our local law enforcement and fund programs, as 
             you have heard, for veterans and seniors and low-income 
             families.
               We also found common ground, just as Nevadans expected 
             us to do, and introduced bipartisan legislation to protect 
             our public lands in eastern Nevada while also prioritizing 
             long-term economic growth in our rural communities. I have 
             also worked with him and watched Dean as he worked on 
             domestic violence prevention and human trafficking 
             prevention in the State of Nevada.
               We have had the opportunity, not just here in Washington 
             but in our home State, to work side-by-side to stop any 
             attempts to revive Yucca Mountain. We introduced 
             bipartisan legislation requiring the Secretary of Energy 
             to obtain the written consent of the Governor and impacted 
             local Tribal communities before building a nuclear waste 
             repository.
               As you have heard, Dean and I also shared an 
             unfortunate, horrific incident on October 1--the deadly 
             shooting in Las Vegas. He and I were on the ground, along 
             with our entire delegation, to do everything we could in 
             our community, and Dean was everywhere. He was talking to 
             so many people, thanking the first responders, stopping by 
             the hospitals, talking with the families. It truly was his 
             commitment to his home State to do everything he could to 
             help that community heal, and he continues to do so today.
               The one thing I do know as a Nevadan born and raised, 
             just like Dean, is that when it comes to our beloved 
             State, it is about putting that State first, the people 
             there, and uniting and coming together to make sure that 
             we are working together. No matter the climate, no matter 
             the partisanship that we see here in Washington, it is 
             about what we can do every single day to work together, 
             and I thank him for that commitment. I thank him for his 
             willingness to bring this junior Senator in and have 
             conversations about how we can work together to the 
             benefit of our community.
               I want to thank Senator Heller for everything he has 
             done over the years on behalf of the State of Nevada, for 
             his decades of service, and for his friendship. I wish you 
             and Lynne and your beautiful children and grandchildren 
             the best in this chapter of your life. I know you are not 
             done. We are all excited to see what is next.
               So I thank you, my friend, and I look forward to working 
             with you in the future as well. Thank you for your 
             commitment.
               I yield the floor.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Florida.

               Mr. RUBIO. Madam President, before I speak on the topic 
             that I came to the floor to speak about, which is the 
             resolution currently before the Senate, I wanted to just 
             echo the commentary made about our colleague Senator 
             Heller. I have enjoyed our time working together.
               I spent 6 years of my childhood growing up in Las Vegas, 
             so we have a lot of mutual friends. He knows a lot of the 
             people I grew up with and is a part of our family. He will 
             be sorely missed here. I am sure he will be warmly 
             welcomed back home to the community and to his family. We 
             all look forward to seeing the future endeavors lying 
             ahead for him. I know he still has much to offer the 
             Nation and the State of Nevada. . . .
                        ORDER FOR PRINTING OF SENATE DOCUMENTS
               Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent 
             that there be printed as a Senate document a compilation 
             of materials from the Congressional Record in tribute to 
             retiring Members of the 115th Congress, and that Members 
             have until Friday, December 21, to submit such tributes.

               The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so 
             ordered.
                                             Tuesday, December 18, 2018
               Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, among the colleagues of ours 
             who is not going to be rejoining us in January is Dean 
             Heller. Senator Heller hails from Nevada. He is a good 
             friend. He is also a valued Member of this body, and we 
             are going to miss him.
               Dean is a classic servant leader who has dedicated 
             himself to public service. He has served in all kinds of 
             roles in his community, his State, his country, and he has 
             always done it with class and humility.
               He grew up in Carson City, Nevada, with his five 
             brothers and sisters. He says he started working at his 
             dad's auto shop in middle school. Do you know what? I 
             think he brought some of the skills he learned in middle 
             school on the shop floor to the U.S. Senate. Like every 
             good mechanic, he is optimistic. Every mechanic thinks 
             they can fix whatever problem you have. That is Dean 
             Heller. He rolls up his sleeves, he gets to work, and he 
             has the determination to make things better. That is as 
             true as when he is working on a car as when he is working 
             on legislative solutions in the U.S. Congress.
               He has been devoted to helping his community for a long 
             time. He served for two terms in the Nevada Assembly, 
             representing Carson City, and then he served for three 
             terms as Nevada secretary of state before being elected to 
             represent the State's Second Congressional District in the 
             House of Representatives, across the way there.
               Later, he was appointed to the U.S. Senate, and then he 
             won his election to the U.S. Senate in 2012. I have had 
             the privilege of working with Dean Heller on a lot on 
             issues. We both serve on the Senate Committee on Finance. 
             We have jurisdiction over a lot of things, including tax 
             reform.
               During the tax reform process over the last year, we 
             worked hard together, and I saw the hard work and 
             determination he first developed working at his dad's auto 
             body shop. I saw someone who was solutions-driven, someone 
             who wanted to create a better future for the people he 
             represents.
               He was effective in a number of ways, with regard to 
             helping others, helping with opportunity. One that he 
             worked with the Presiding Officer [Mr. Rubio] on is 
             doubling the child tax credit. It is a provision in the 
             new tax law that puts more money back in the pockets of 
             hard-working families in America.
               He also served on the Senate Committee on Banking, the 
             Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and the Committee on 
             Commerce. He has been involved in a lot of the issues this 
             body takes up. In fact, more than 100 of his bills have 
             become law during his time in the U.S. Senate. That means 
             he has reached across the aisle to help his fellow 
             Nevadans.
               His presence is going to be missed, but I know he will 
             keep trying to make things better. I know he will stay 
             busy back home, too, doing some of the things he loves: 
             bailing hay on his ranch, repairing his stock cars--he 
             grew up racing--horse packing, hunting, fishing, and 
             spending time with his great family.
               He and his wife, Lynne, have been married for more than 
             30 years, have four kids and three grandkids. I know he is 
             looking forward to spending more time with them this 
             holiday season. In fact, he told me for one of his holiday 
             traditions he gets out his trombone, and his kids and 
             their spouses all grab instruments and they play music. 
             The Heller band performs some famous well-known Christmas 
             holiday songs. I would love to see that. I am not sure I 
             would like to hear it, but I would love to see it--Dean 
             with his trombone.
               Let me say, it has been an honor to serve with Dean 
             Heller. He is a great guy. It is a privilege to work with 
             him. I know he has a bright future outside of this place. 
             I look forward to continuing to stay in touch. We will 
             miss him. Knowing his work is not done, we hope to 
             continue to work with him.
               I yield back my time.
                                           Wednesday, December 19, 2018
               Mr. REED. Mr. President, I want to take a moment to 
             salute my colleagues who are departing the Senate at the 
             conclusion of the 115th Congress: Bob Corker of Tennessee, 
             Jeff Flake of Arizona, Orrin Hatch of Utah, Heidi Heitkamp 
             of North Dakota, Dean Heller of Nevada, Joe Donnelly of 
             Indiana, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Bill Nelson of 
             Florida, and Jon Kyl of Arizona. All of these Members have 
             dedicated themselves to serving their constituents, their 
             States, and our country. The institution of the Senate and 
             the Nation as a whole are stronger because of their 
             service and commitment.
               I have been privileged to serve with each and every one 
             of them and want to spend a few moments thanking each of 
             them for the wisdom and experience they brought to their 
             work and for their friendship. . . .
               Dean Heller and I worked together with a great deal of 
             energy and commitment when both of our States and our 
             Nation were in deep crisis in the aftermath of the Great 
             Recession. Nevada and Rhode Island took turns having the 
             sad distinction of the highest unemployment levels in the 
             country. We worked to ensure extensions of emergency 
             unemployment assistance in order to provide relief to 
             Americans who lost their jobs through no fault of their 
             own.
               Our work together was of great importance, and I wish 
             him the best in all of his future endeavors. . . .
               To all my colleagues, I give them my greatest respect 
             and admiration for their service to their States, to the 
             Senate, and to the United States of America.

               Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I have already given 
             speeches in this Chamber about my four friends, departing 
             Democratic colleagues, Senators Heitkamp, McCaskill, 
             Nelson, and Donnelly. Now I rise to recognize my 
             Republican colleagues who are leaving the Senate. . . .
               Finally, I want to recognize my friend and colleague, 
             Senator Dean Heller of Nevada.
               Dean has dedicated so much of his life to public service 
             on behalf of his State--in Nevada's Legislature, as 
             secretary of state, in Congress, and in the U.S. Senate.
               His family moved to Nevada when he was only 9 months 
             old. As the son of an auto mechanic and a school cook, he 
             has often said that he is likely one of the only Senators 
             who can change your oil and fix your transmission.
               Nevada is obviously a State with no shortage of tourism, 
             and Dean has worked with me as cochairs of the Tourism 
             Caucus to promote tourism across our entire country. He 
             understands that when we increase tourism, we not only 
             create jobs and strengthen our economy, we also strengthen 
             our alliances and export our values.
               It is that same philosophy that is behind his efforts, 
             along with Senator Flake who is here in this Chamber, to 
             normalize relations with Cuba. Dean and I traveled to 
             Cuba, along with Senator Flake, with President Obama, and 
             I deeply appreciated his commitment, as well as Senator 
             Flake's and others, to improving the relationship between 
             our countries and opening up new opportunities for 
             American businesses.
               I have valued our time together on the Committee on 
             Commerce, where we led bills that passed and were signed 
             into law regarding more women getting into science, 
             technology, engineering, and math at NASA. We are proud 
             that both bills were signed into law.
               I have enjoyed serving with Dean Heller in the U.S. 
             Senate, and I thank him for his service.
               Thank you.
               I yield the floor.

               Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, today I wish to speak about my 
             colleague, Senator Dean Heller, who will leave the Senate 
             at the end of this year after more than a decade of 
             combined service in the House of Representatives and the 
             Senate.
               During this time, Dean Heller has worked to guarantee 
             that our veterans have what they need when they return 
             home. As a member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 
             Senator Heller worked to increase access to care for 
             veterans and fought to guarantee that the Veterans 
             Administration provides high-quality services across 
             Nevada's widespread rural communities. I worked with 
             Senator Heller to reduce the VA disability claims backlog 
             and improve accountability at the Veterans Administration.
               We thank Senator Heller for his service in the Senate 
             and know he will continue to find ways to serve the people 
             of Nevada.
                                            Thursday, December 20, 2018
               Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, Senator Dean Heller may have 
             been a freshman Senator when he came to this body in 2011, 
             but he was not short on experience. First elected as a 
             Nevada assemblyman in 1990, Senator Heller has served in 
             government ever since.
               During his Senate tenure, Senator Heller has shown a 
             great interest in protecting American's data privacy, and 
             he was an important partner in our efforts to pass the USA 
             FREEDOM Act. He was a staunch advocate of that bill, even 
             when many in the Senate were pushing for expanded 
             surveillance powers over Americans. Both of us recognized 
             that though the bill may not have included every provision 
             we wanted, the best way to offer privacy protections was 
             through compromise.
               While his tenure here was brief, I have appreciated 
             getting to know Senator Heller and working with him on 
             issues of great importance. I wish Senator Heller, his 
             wonderful wife, Lynne, and their four children the very 
             best in this next chapter of their lives.
                                              Friday, December 21, 2018
               Ms. MURKOWSKI. Madam President, December should be the 
             happiest month of the year, as we await Christmas and the 
             New Year, but in the even numbered years, it is 
             bittersweet as we say good-bye to colleagues who will not 
             be returning in the next Congress. While the body often 
             seems to be polarized and contentious to the public that 
             knows us only from media appearances, the fact is that 
             partnership and alliances across the aisle are part of the 
             fabric of the body, and friendships of unlikely allies 
             abound. This is not to say that we don't disagree on 
             issues; we very much do. But we strive for these 
             disagreements never to erode our collegiality.
               I would like to take this opportunity to thank those 
             with whom I have been proud to serve: Mr. Hatch, our 
             President pro tempore, Mr. Corker, Mr. Flake, and Mr. 
             Heller on my side of the aisle for their distinguished 
             service. To my friend, Mr. Kyl, it has been a pleasure to 
             serve with you again. On the Democrat side of the aisle, 
             Mr. Donnelly, Ms. McCaskill, Mr. Nelson, and especially my 
             dear friend, Ms. Heitkamp, the Senator from North Dakota. 
             Each of these individuals cares deeply for the Nation, for 
             the States they have represented so ably, and for the 
             Senate.