Are not forgotten and no matter how alone they feel they are not alone. The congress is paying attention but we need to Pay Attention to the people on the front lines, assuring that the right things are done in the right way at the right time. I want to associate myself with the words of my colleague, senator blunt. I couldnt say this eloquently or presume upon it i completely agree and thank you. Mister president , the real purpose of my comment is to demonstrate my support for Major GeneralScott Spellman of the corps of engineers who was up for promotion to Lieutenant General and has been nominated to become the chief of engineers and commanding general to replace general seminary to who is retiring, we have become acquainted with each other. We havent always agreed but i do appreciate his service, his very hard work and his accessibility especially during this covid19 pandemic. His retirement is wellearned, we wish him well. A member of the Armed Services committee and Environment Public Works Committee i serve on two of the army corpss jurisdiction. It is a rare occasion i complement the core, an agency that is the epitome in many cases of cumbersome bureaucracy. I am not unique in my frustration. During the last hearing criticism was bipartisan and tangible from rhode island to north dakota to oregon. Each of us expressed frustration with the seemingly tone deaf bureaucracy which either doesnt do what it is supposed to do or does what it is not supposed to do. That brings me here today. Major turn Major General spellmans pending nomination. And and other Western States. Due to poor maintenance of relief, the control plan could potentially devastate water supply and irrigation needs in eastern parts of my stay. As usual the criticism was overly complicated and did not adequately reflect the needs and realities. Mised to take a fresh look and reassess the economic impacts. He worked with me to craft legislation supporting his efforts which was added to the Water Infrastructure legislation we unanimously passed out of e. P. W. Not too long ago. He listened to the problem and is working with me to help solve it. I also challenged general spelman on Western State water rights, a problem thats plagued Western States who operate under the prior appropriation doctrine. Appropriation doctrine. The problem has plagued Western States who operate under theis prior appropriation doctrine of democracy based democrats and republicans in Western States e been frustrated by army corps which either ignores states and tribes or needlessly inserts their extra bureaucracy and decisions that are not theirs to make. Once again general spellman listened intently to the concert and provided thorough audit response to be used as a guidepost for corps policy moving forward. Of equal importance he acknowledged the flaws within his own organizations. In my time in congress honesty sometimes seems to be missing but not with general spellman. Is proven hes willing to listen and be responsive in a forthright manner and i thank him for that. Im confident general spellman will continue to listen to Western States and provide the necessary difference to them pursuant to congressional intent and to our nations constitution. Ive appreciate getting to know thew general and although my overset questions may not of been the o most enjoyable to thm is proven up to the task of replacing the children i support his nomination and promotion and hope his Exemplary Service will be replicated by the rest of the bureaucracy is going to lead. I yield the floor. Mr. President . The senator fromhe oregon. Mr. President , on monday our country will celebrate memorial day, and it is a very special day, one that we as americans set aside each year to honor those members of the military who have given their lives and sacrifice to the country. And right now this is typically the time when im getting ready to travel home and go to Southern Oregon, to eagle point, the Central Point, wonderful communities, to spend memorial day with hundreds of veterans and members of their families. These are events that take place each year and are inspiring and affirming, and basically a time when oregonians from very young too often approaching almost 100 years old, assemble and are part of a century long lineage of patriots who have been willing to serve and sacrifice for our great nation. And there are other communities that come together to remember lost friends and loved ones, but at home in oregon, weve always said eagle point and Central Point are the Gold Standard in terms of services and programs to recognize our veterans, members of the family that have made the ultimate sacrifice for ouron nation. And i think we all know that this memorial day is going to be different. There wont be the same big gatherings, and there wont be as many parades. One of the reasons i wanted to come to the floor of the senate today, and ill be home this weekend thinking about eagle point in Central Point, is i want to make sure that our country never ever diminishes the significance of this day. Never should our country take away our determination to honor those who paid the ultimate price in service to america. And it should cause us to forget that memorial day can be hard, very, v very hard on the parents and spouses and children, children and friends that our Fallen Heroes left behind. I know when i am recognized to speak in Central Point, in eagle point, mr. President , i look out in the crowd and i we see family members with a kleenex by their eye trying to remember, and at the same time deal with the inevitable grief. And this memorial day im going to be thinking of all of those who come year after year to Central Point and eagle point and Southern Oregon to do something very, very important, to speak up for oregon on the importance and appreciation we have for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. My view is this your on memorial day its more important than ever to reach out and connect with those folks who are remembering loved ones that they lost in the line of duty, to give them a call, ask how their holding up. Because the last few months in particular have been tough on everybody. And their sacrifice shouldnt be forgotten. So i know when im home in southeast portland this weekend, im going to be thinking about who im going to be talking to, checking in with, see how they are doing just for the reason i mentioned. These are tough times for everyone, and to think this will be a very difficult memorial day, for those americans who are remembering loved ones they lost in the line of duty. Its also more important than ever to remember for ourselves as americans we owe so much to so many. The parades in the services may have to wait until memorial day 2021, but our deep respect and gratitude for sacrifice does not. And just on a very personal note, mr. President , apropos of the respect and gratitude for sacrifice, i think about f my le father and my mother, both of whom fled the nazis. Not all our family got out. Myut great uncle max is one of e last two was cast in auschwitz. My father basically talked his way into our army because he was affluent young man, in german, and he convinced our military that he could be part of our propaganda unit to drop the pamphlets on the nazis, making it clear they could never defeat our great troops. My mother, on the other hand, was a wac and you look often to the picture on my wall of my mother in her wac uniform. And for them during their lives, memorial day was a really special day, because they were so thrilled to t be able to come to the freest and most open nation on earth, to be able to serve in our military. And they in particular would say, if they were here today, ron, this is a special day for showing our deep respect and gratitude for those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and we are never going to miss a memorial day without expressing that sentiment. So, mr. President , i am going to be, this weekend, thinking about how much i want to be back to eagle point and Central Point to celebrate memorial day. And im going to be thinking about how now weve got to find a way to honor and remember our fallen servicemembers a little bit differently than before. So i would just close, and perhaps im the last speaker today in the senate, mr. President. I think i can speak for every member of the senate, that this is especially important now to keep all those who have died serving our country in our hearts. Lets do right by their families who are still with us. And i want to close my remarks, mr. President , by wishing all oregonians and americans from sea to shining sea a healthy memorial day, and i yield the floor, and i would note the absence of ait quorum, mr. President. Mr. President , over the past couple months our country has gone into a lockdown, but then slowly but surely begun to adjust to the new normal brought on by covid19. Many of us have been working from home as kitchen tables table seven transformed into makeshift office spaces, in many cases classrooms as parents and students navigate the challenges of Remote Working and learning. But many of the most critical jobs in our country cant be done with a laptop and an internet connection. Defense contractors, for example,