[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 166 (Wednesday, October 8, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7031-S7033]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL UNDER CHAPTER 8 OF TITLE 5,
UNITED STATES CODE, OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE BUREAU OF LAND
MANAGEMENT RELATING TO ``NORTH DAKOTA FIELD OFFICE RECORD OF DECISION
AND APPROVED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN''
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Husted). The majority leader.
Senator Susan Collins' 9,750th Vote
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, in just a few minutes, Senator Collins will
cast her 9,750th consecutive vote--her 9,750th consecutive vote.
Mr. President, 9,750 votes is a substantial milestone all on its own,
but 9,750 consecutive votes--that is something else.
What it is, is a tribute to Senator Collins' incredible work ethic
and her absolute dedication to the people of Maine. Susan shows up for
Mainers. She represents them in committee; she represents them on the
floor; and she represents them in every single vote--the big votes, the
little votes, and the in-between ones. But thanks to Susan Collins, the
people of Maine always have a voice.
Susan, congratulations on yet another incredible milestone.
(Applause.)
Thank you for your service, and thank you for your example.
Mr. GRAHAM. Let's add one more vote to the total.
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I yield back all time on H.J. Res. 105.
Vote on H.J. Res. 105
The PRESIDING OFFICER. All time is yielded back.
The clerk will read the title of the joint resolution for the third
time.
The joint resolution was ordered to a third reading and was read the
third time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The joint resolution having been read the
third time, the question is, Shall the joint resolution pass?
Mr. LEE. I ask for the yeas and nays.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There appears to be a sufficient second.
The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk called the roll.
Mr. BARRASSO. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the
Senator from Texas (Mr. Cruz), the Senator from Missouri (Mr. Hawley),
and the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Tillis).
Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Booker)
and the Senator from Arizona (Mr. Gallego) are necessarily absent.
The result was announced--yeas 50, nays 45, as follows:
[Rollcall Vote No. 556 Leg.]
YEAS--50
Banks
Barrasso
Blackburn
Boozman
Britt
Budd
Capito
Cassidy
Collins
Cornyn
Cotton
Cramer
Crapo
Curtis
Daines
Ernst
Fischer
Graham
Grassley
Hagerty
Hoeven
Husted
Hyde-Smith
Johnson
Justice
Kennedy
Lankford
Lee
Lummis
Marshall
McConnell
McCormick
Moody
Moran
Moreno
Mullin
Murkowski
Paul
Ricketts
Risch
Rounds
Schmitt
Scott (FL)
Scott (SC)
Sheehy
Sullivan
Thune
Tuberville
Wicker
Young
NAYS--45
Alsobrooks
Baldwin
Bennet
Blumenthal
Blunt Rochester
Cantwell
Coons
Cortez Masto
Duckworth
Durbin
Fetterman
Gillibrand
Hassan
Heinrich
Hickenlooper
Hirono
Kaine
Kelly
Kim
King
Klobuchar
Lujan
Markey
Merkley
Murphy
Murray
Ossoff
Padilla
Peters
Reed
Rosen
Sanders
Schatz
Schiff
Schumer
Shaheen
Slotkin
Smith
Van Hollen
Warner
Warnock
Warren
Welch
Whitehouse
Wyden
NOT VOTING--5
Booker
Cruz
Gallego
Hawley
Tillis
The joint resolution (H.J. Res. 105) was passed.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota.
Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, before I pay tribute to Pastor Bjorge, I
just want to say thank you to my colleagues who supported that
resolution that you just announced that passed. It is very meaningful
to North Dakota, and I express my appreciation for the support.
Remembering James Richard Bjorge
Mr. President, ``James Richard Bjorge, child of God, went home to be
with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on September 29, 2025. He was
94.''
That is the opening paragraph of an obituary for Pastor Bjorge, whose
funeral is tomorrow. I will obviously miss it, being here in
Washington, but I did want to, first of all, seek unanimous consent to
submit his obituary to be printed in the Record tonight.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
[[Page S7032]]
James Bjorge
(April 10, 1931-September 29, 2025)
James Richard Bjorge, child of God, went home to be with
his LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ, on September 29, 2025. He
was 94.
James (Jim) Bjorge was born April 10, 1931 in Windom,
Minnesota to Johs and Esther (Johnson) Bjorge, the second of
three sons. He was raised in a loving Norwegian (with a touch
of Swedish) home. Growing up in Windom was a special time of
friendships for Jim. He experienced multi-denominational
youth groups, boyish pranks, a respect for others, and most
importantly the knowledge of Jesus' love for him.
After graduating from Windom High School, Jim attended St.
Olaf College and graduated with honors. He went on to Luther
Seminary and received his M.Div. Jim always credited his
older brother `Big John' for encouraging him to attend
seminary. Although this was not Jim's original path choice,
he received the calling from God and enrolled in seminary.
Some years later he attended Westminster Theological Seminary
in Escondido, California and earned his Doctor of Ministry
degree.
Along with being an excellent scholar, Jim had a love for
basketball, tennis, and high jumping. His 6'4" frame broke
high jumping records in college and in varsity at seminary.
After seminary graduation in 1957, and before Jim began his
first call to Belgrade, Minnesota, he met Frances Erickson,
an Augustana graduate. After a few dates the courtship
continued with many letters sent during Fran's first year of
teaching in California. They were married the next summer.
Five children were born to this union.
Jim, with Fran and family, served parishes in Belgrade,
Litchfield, and Roseville, Minnesota, Viroqua, Wisconsin,
Sioux City, Iowa, and lastly First Lutheran in Fargo, North
Dakota. Jim retired from full-time parish ministry after
serving 17 years at First Lutheran. He continued to share the
Word by accepting an interim position in Sioux Falls, South
Dakota.
After Fran's death in 2002, Jim continued with interim
preaching at Wahpeton, Fargo, Portland, Grand Forks, Valley
City, Horace, and Enderlin, all in North Dakota. In addition
to serving his parishes, Jim authored 15 books, which include
sermon series, lessons from nature and 2 books on nature.
In 2010 during a short interim at Faith Lutheran in Valley
City, Jim met Carol Winter, also widowed, with a heart for
music ministry through her singing. The LORD had a plan for
Jim and Carol. After a brief courtship, they were married in
the Chapel at Mount Carmel Family Bible Camp near Alexandria,
Minnesota. Jim had attended Mount Carmel since its beginning
in 1938, first as a young boy with his parents, then as a
young handsome lifeguard during college summer breaks. He was
later a guest preacher for many years at summer adult camp
sessions. He continued to speak God's Word with joy until
health issues halted him at age 88. The desire to continue
sharing the Gospel never left him, even from his bed at
Sanford Hospice House.
Jim served on many boards in all of these parish
communities. He especially enjoyed being chairman of the Red
River Valley Billy Graham Crusade in 1987, and being a member
of the Lutheran Health and Banner Health Systems boards from
1990-2005. Being on these boards sparked his love of travel,
taking trips to the British Isles, Scandinavia, Europe, the
Middle East, and Australia. He led many bus tours throughout
the U.S. and tour groups 19 times to Israel, Jordan, and
Egypt. Two trips to the Passion Play Performance in Germany
were tucked into his travels also.
A noted and gifted motivational speaker, Jim spoke to
several varied groups locally and around the country
including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes national
gathering. As Joe Dill, a former Fargo Forum editor, stated,
``Jim Bjorge is among the best speakers I have heard--stands
in front of a group with no cards, and it just rolls out''!
Throughout his life, Jim was a sports enthusiast and a
lover of the outdoors and creation. He was an avid hunter of
deer and pheasant. Antelope, other game birds, various animal
pelts, and fish also adorned his man cave walls. He ruled the
remote when his favorite basketball, baseball, and football
games were on TV. Another pastime he enjoyed was hobby
ranching and always had horses.
Jim is survived by his wife, Carol; children, Barak
(Katie), Debbie, Nate (Kate), Tim (Amy), Ben (Renata) Bjorge;
Carol's two children, Dawn and Brian Winter; sixteen
grandchildren; fifteen great grandchildren; and a number of
nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents,
Johs and Esther; brothers, John and Mark; grandson, Willie
Bjorge; and his first wife, Fran.
A visitation will be held at 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Thursday,
October 9, 2025 in the chapel at First Lutheran Church. A
Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October
10 with a visitation one hour prior, all at First Lutheran
Church, Fargo. Lunch will be served in the dining hall
following the service. Burial will be at Ellsborough Lutheran
Church Cemetery near Lake Wilson, Minnesota.
To send flowers to the family in memory of James Bjorge,
please visit our flower store.
Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, Pastor James Bjorge was--well, he was a
pastor. He was a Lutheran pastor, a big Norwegian American from
Minnesota. He loved sports, loved the Lord, loved the church, loved his
family, loved his community. And he was my pastor. He was a pastor for
our family when we attended First Lutheran Church in Fargo, ND.
But Pastor Bjorge was especially gifted. He was also an evangelist.
He was, I remember, the chairman of the Red River Valley Billy Graham
Crusade in Fargo in 1987. And that is not common for Lutheran pastors.
It was more so back then than it is today, to be part of something so
evangelical.
But some of Jim's gifts included, of course, being a great orator.
Every pastor preaches, but not every pastor preaches well. James Bjorge
preached exceptionally well, and I still remember several of his
sermons.
One of the gifts that Jim had that I admired so much is he could
recite poetry by heart. He had a photographic memory, it seemed to me.
He could recite about anything he read, but especially poetry. And I
remember some of the poems that he would use as illustrations in his
sermons that still stick with me, some of them that were even anonymous
in terms of who wrote them.
I remember one where he started out: I had walked life's way with an
easy tread, followed to where pleasures and comforts led, when by
chance in a quiet place, I met the Master face to face.
He went on to recite this poem perfectly, and I thought: Wow, I would
like to be able to do that. I learned one poem--that one.
But I remember him quoting Robert Browning Hamilton when he said:
I walked a mile with Pleasure; She chatted all the way; But
left me none the wiser For all she had to say. I walked a
mile with Sorrow; And ne'er a word said she; But, oh! The
things I learned from her, When Sorrow walked with me.
And I was thinking about that poem and him delivering that poem and
me remembering that poem from probably 30 years ago in his sermon
because of how profound it was and how profound it is to think about on
this sad day.
But while he was all those things--he was a great motivator, great
with illustration, great with stories--he was first and foremost a
really, really learned teacher of Scripture. He loved the Scriptures.
He knew the Scriptures, and he taught the Scriptures with incredible,
incredible skill. And he brought the Scriptures to life. He was a
profound teacher. He was a solid doctor.
And I remember, of all the many lessons I learned from him--and I am
just going to wrap up with this one story. And I remember it so well
because I remember reciting it back to him in a letter one time. In one
sermon, he said: We should all live with one eye on Heaven.
And there are lots of scriptural references that sort of touch on
that, but his point--his point, I believe--was if you live with one eye
on Heaven, particularly knowing that you are focused on your eternal
destiny, that that would somehow impact how you lived your life on
Earth.
And for somebody who taught the Pauline epistle so beautifully,
emphasized every single Sunday God's salvation by His grace through
faith alone, not by anything we do, it was a good reminder that if you
live with one eye on your eternal destiny that you have not earned but
rather have been given as a free gift from God, it would affect how you
approach your journey here on Earth.
So I think of Pastor Bjorge today. I think of his family, and I wish
I could be at the celebration of his life. Tomorrow, no doubt, there
will be lots of great stories told and a few tears shed.
But I know this--and in my life, the pastors of my youth, right up to
my current pastor, have always left a profound mark on my life, and I
know this for sure: While I could never and never have been able to
achieve his level of living with one eye on Heaven, because I knew him,
I am a better person than I would be if I hadn't known Jim Bjorge.
And when I think about the testimony not only of his words--I mean,
he was gifted with words but the fact that he lived with one eye on
Heaven gives me great comfort knowing that he is now there--that he is
now there--and that his 94 years walking on this Earth, his walk
reflected his view of Heaven and the certainty of his destination.
So with that, I just say thank you Pastor Bjorge for making me
better.
[[Page S7033]]
Thank you for your ministry. Thank you for your testimony and witness.
I just wish his family well and just know that I am going to miss him.
I am going to miss him but grateful that I knew him.
I yield the floor.
____________________