Forward. Our bill also gives more companies greater incentives to invest in assets that will help their businesses grow and expand. His, too, has been a longtime this has been a longtime e priority for the Business Committee and many members of congress. We were not able to make it permanent but we did improve and extend the important tax incentive. It will have key components to make america more competitive on the active stage. It expands the afe from subpar income and it provides a five year extension for the control for corporations through provisions. Both of these tax provisions give American Companies with american stockholders and employing American Workers a greater about to compete internationally. This is important if like me you want to see u. S. Companies remain u. S. Companies. In addition to the Top Priorities for businesses in the United States it would provide significant tax relief for families. The deduction for state and local sales tax, makes permanent low income military housing credit, and the employer wage credit for active duty military employees. It provides a longterm expansion and eligibility for work opportunity tax credits. All of these provisions benefit American Families in various regions under a number of different circumstances. Our legislation will insure that millions of americans who benefit from these tax provisions will be able to rely on and plan around them well into the future. Not a bad result if you ask me. I am not done yet, mr. President. In addition to the many benefits we provide to families and businesses, the act would give significant tax relief to charities. It would, for example, make sure charitable distributions from iras remain taxfree on a permanent bases. And provisions that would incenticize scorporations to make donations. I have covered quite a bit of ground. I have not gotten to the obamacare provisions yet. As we negotiate this legislation, the most difficult part is dealing with the rumor mill when i suppose was not unaccepted. Most of the really outrageous rumors we heard during this process that were provisions of the socalled Affordable Care act. People were claiming Senate Republicans agreed to bail out the obamacare Risk Corridor Program in order to get a deal. We heard there was an agreement to provide tax relief to the failing obamacare exchanges. None of these rumors were true. This exercise was never going to be used to solidify obamacare and republicans never, for a second, considered allowing that to happen. However, because Many Democrats have begun to recognize some of the more problematic elements of the president S Health Care law we can agree to suspend one of the more harmful taxes imposed under obamacare. There is a two year moratorium on the medical device taxes. One of the more unpopular taxes included in the bill has been fought against by republicans and democrats alike. This demonstrates the bipartisan opposition to the tax but it will help patients and consumers throughout the country who have seen their Health Care Cost go up because of the medical device tax. I have been a particular advocate to get rid of that faulty tax. And we will get rid of it. We will see what happens in those next two years. Whether all this legislation provides 650 billion in tax relief so the next ten years for families, job creators and others. That is real money. It will help millions of people and provide real growth for our economy. That, mr. President , is a real value of greater permanence in our tax code and the biggest reason we need to pass this legislation. Dont get me wrong, i dont believe this is a perfect bill be any means. If everything in the United States was based on hatchs views this legislation would like different. But that is not where we live. Here in the real world any undertaking is going to require compromise. I know i say that a lot about that and learning the art of the doable every time we considering a high profile piece of legislation this year. But that doesnt make by arguments any less true. This is a good video. Anyone can make excuses to vote no if they break it down but taken overall we should welcome the positive impact this bill will have on our economy and future legislative efforts here in the congress. I urge my colleagues to support the path act and provide real tax relief at this political time. Before i close, mr. President , i have to note a lot of work has gone into this legislation. Every provision of this bill has a number of champions who worked for years to preserve these previsions in the hopes of making them permanent and i want to acknowledge some of those efforts today particularly those on on the Senate Finance committee. The reduction of state and local sales taxes, which this bill makes permanent, has had a number of champions on both sides of the aisle. Senator lindsey, heller, and corner made this legislation a priori priority. Another significant bill is the research and tax credit. This has been a top priority of mine for many year. S section 179, Small Business extension would be made permanent under this bill and there are leaders from many years. The bill makes permanent the 15 year deprecation for restaurants and retail. Burr, heller, isaacson, portman, robinson, have worked hard to keep in this place. And senator lindsey is a big supporter of making the fac permanent. On the charitable sides, senator roberts is a strong supporter for the scorporations and the reduction for food inventory most of which will be permanent with this bill. Senator thune has worked to make sure charitable distributions from iras remain taxfree another permanent position in this act. Senator heller has championed the Real Property contributions made for conversation purposes yet another item that this bill make permanent. The reduction of classroom teacher expenses is made permanent in this bill and senator burr has been a strong supporter in that provision and deserves a lot of credit. Passing this bill makes the housing credit for military families permanent. Senator portman, all of these people are active members on the republican side that i am mentioning, pushed to extend the work opportunity tax created. And it will include there longterm unemployed. This is an unprecedented extension for this credit. Thank you, senator. We appreciate your work on this. As we have seen you work so hard on many of these issues. We are grateful for you. I am grateful to have all of these people on my committee helping out. Mr. President , i am focusing mainly on temporary provisions. If i Start Talking about the extensions on the bill we would be here all day. I do, however, also want to give credit where it is due on the obamacare provisions. For years now, our position to the misguided medical device tax, the most charitable description of that tax you will ever hear from me, has been gaining momentum. Throughout that time, senator toomey, burr and coach worked hard to push the repeal. Our bill would take a significant step forward in this effort by imposing a twoyear moratorium on this jobkilling tax. I havent mentioned the other side but klobuchar has stood with me and so many on the other side of the aisle as well for getting rid of that tax. Let me just say it is a pleasure for me to work with senator wyden, the ranking member, he has worked with us on many of these issues and so have others on the democrat side of the aisle. But the leadership on many of these issues has come from these people i mentioned. And i think i just want to make sure the people would understand this who are listening. As you can see the path act reflects the efforts and many committees, not just the finance, but members on both sides as well. I thank my democrats for helping. I am particularly grateful for the work my colleagues on the finance committee put in to advance the interest of their voters. Each of our members has put a huge stamp on this legislation. With a little luck and a handful more of votes, the work will be enshrined. There are of course others who have also worked hard on parts of this bill. Every senator has high priority items included in this bill. That is a big reason why it is important we get this done for the american people. I am happy to bring together both democrats and republicans on this important set of tax changes that really is long, long overdue. I am very pleased to work with my democrat colleagues as well. Many of them deserve credit as well. We have to have the effort here. Mr. President , before i yield my time i wish to play tribute to a beloved utah who was taken years before his time. Nathan greg. Nate was a celebrated member of this tight knit community but a wellrespected former staffer of the United States senate. Tragically at the young age of 37 nate was struck boy a random infection and passed away unexpectedly on a visit to china. Although he is no longer with us, the great love he shared with others remains in our hearts. Nate graduated from North Ridge High School before studying Political Science and moved to washington, d. C. From 20032009 he served as a legislative assistance for robert bennett. Nate was senator bennetts key staffer on the transatlantic policy network. A group of United States and europe elected officials and policy leaders in europe and the United States. As a military legislative assistance he worked closely with the combat stations in utah. In this capacity he also advance senator bennetts priorities on state foreign operations and related programs. The senators agenda included increased funding for microfinance programs, streng strengthening the groups. He traveled to support senator bennetts work as well. Nate never thought himself above anyone else and was always helpful and find to everyone regardless of status and position. He may have been a special mentor to senator bennett younger staff. He looked out for the younger staffers and helped out. Nate entered the private sector following this position and accepted a position for global Government Relations and public policy. Although nate never worked for me, directly, he was a gifted Public Servant whose contributions are felt across the entire utah delegation and across me perfectly. Speaking to nates character, senator bennett who is going through his own battle with cancer now sent me this quote he was a valued and loved member of my staff who was on great track to success with his family and his career. This is a terrible tragedy. Our thoughts are with this family. That was a fine statement from senator bennett. I might add senator bennett has had good results from his therapy on his cancer and it looks as though he is hopefully cancerfree at this point. A lot of us have been playing for him and we will continue. While nate was working for senator bennett he met and fell in love with his sweetheart. I know he was delighted when he could be a match maker for staffers as we all. Nate is survived by their four sons rowen, lincoln, james, and griffin who was just born a few months ago. Nate was an active member of the latter day saints. Just six weeks before he passed away he was released as the bishop to a local church in arlington, virginia where harry reid a reputation of fostering love and support. In just a few days, friends and neighbors, have raised nearly 100,000 in a crowd funding effort to support this family. Mr. President , i would like to close with the words of the english poet from his hymn called ride with me. This song is well beloved across the community. It offers comfort and faith amid the sadness of loss. Quote i am to bless. Ills have no wait and cures no bitterness. Where does death sting . Our triumph still abide with me. We believe nate now abides in a holy place. His family is in our thoughts just as they are in our prayers. May god comfort them. May he comfort all of us as we mourn the loss of an exceptional friend, father and husband. Mr. President , i address the absence of the court. Senate republicans are saying they could take up the tax package senator hatch was talking about and the end of the Year Spending bill as early as friday. The hill reports to vote on the measures on friday. The Republican Leadership needs to get consent from every senator to speed up the votes and avoid keeping lawmakers here into next week. We are getting reaction from the lawmakers as they read the bill. Senator Diane Feinstein tweeting good news on the funding bill. Includes cybersecurity act a vital first step to fight cyber attacks. Scott wong from the hill said Scott Richard is a no on the bill because of the syrian refuge being scrapped. And then it was tweeted it will tighten the requirements under the visa waiver program. We will see senator mccain and dick durbin talk about one part of the finance bill that would lift the bill on rockets tax. I rise to call attention sadly to the triumph in this years appropriation bill. In particularly, a policy provision that was air dropped into the bill in direct to the authorization act that has u. S. Taxpayers subsidise russian aggression. Two years ago, Vladimer Putin furious the ukrainian people spoke out and invaded them and took over. First days since stallin and hitler came over to destroy a city. 8,000 people died in the con fp flict including the people in mh17 who were murdered by people who putin supplied weapons with. It forced recognition for anyone not convinced we are con fronting a challenge that many assumed were resigned to the history books. A strong russian government that is hostile to our interest and values and seeks to challenge the International Order that both parties try to maintain. As part of that effort, Congress Passed the fiscal year 2015 National Authorization act which was picked from the air force rocket engines. A Russian Company controlled by some of putins top cronies. We did so not only because the nation shouldnt rely on russia to access space but because it is immoral to help subsaharsid them. Last year, the bill exempted five of the engines that united launch purchased before the innovation of ukraine. This allows the space launch company that for years enjoyed a monopoly on launching military satellites to use those Russian Rocket engines if the secretary of defense determined it was necessitated by National Security. Since the passage of the act in the senate, 8911, russia has continued as we know to destabalize ukraine and menace our allies in europe with aggressive behavior. Putin sent weapons to iran, violated the 1987 Nuclear Range force treaty, and now russia has intervened militarily in syria on behalf of the regime of assad. Clearly russian behavior has only gotten worse. That is why a few weeks ago congress acted again passing the 2016 National Defense authorization act authorizing 300 million in Security Assistance and intelligence support for ukraine to resist russian aggression. At the same time the bill recognized that a small number of russian engines could be needed to maintain competition in the National SecuritySpace Launch Program and facilitate a smooth transition with rockets to u. S. Made engines therefore the legislation allowed ula to use a total of nine russian engines. The 2016 fiscal year Defense Authorization bill including the provision limiting the use of rocket innovation was debated for month. The committee on Armed Service had a vigorous debate, an amendment was offed to maintain the restriction on the air force use of Russian Rocket engines and in a positive vote the amendment was considered and we considered hundreds of amendments to this bill on the senate floor for a period of two weeks. For two weeks we literally considered hundreds of amendments. We did so transparently with an open process which is a credit to both sides. There was not one amendment called up to change the provision of that authorization bill concerning the rd180 rocket engines. The legislation passed with 71 votes. And this defense legislation was actually considered a second time on the floor and it passed 913. I want to emphasize again. One thing i am proud of is the senate Armed Services debate the National Defense authorization bill. We have every year for some 43 years and passed it and had the president sign it. And we open it to all amendments. But there was no amendment on rocket engines proposed on the floor of the senate. Why wasnt there . If there were members of the senate who didnt like the provisions in the bill we had an open process to amend it but they didnt. They didnt because they knew they could not pass an amendment that would remove that provision in the Defense Authorization act so now in the dead of night, we just found out hours before we are supposed to vote, they put in a restriction which dramatically changes that provision that was done in an open and transparent process to their everylasting shame. In the dark of the night. Not a vote. No one consulting on the Armed Services committee. This bill, including this provision limiting the use of the fiscal year 16 bill, including the provision limiting the use of Russian Rocket engine was debated for months. T