mr. boozman: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from arkansas. mr. boozman: in the interest of time, i'm going to put my remarks in the record. but i do want to take just a moment to thank johnny for his friendship. i want -- i won a special election to the house of representatives and was assigned to the transportation committee. literally, johnny was one of the first people i met there. he was an important person on transportation. i was the 435th member of the house and he was so, so very kind in helping me get acclimated. his wife dianne was just wonderful to my wife kathy when i came to the senate. nobody was any nicer, again helping her to get acclimated to the ways of the senate and certainly this is a family affair, and we appreciate her so, so very much. i had the honor of serving on the veterans' affairs committee and the reality is we just got a bunch done under your leadership. we appreciate that so, so very much. proverbs tells us that a good name is worth more than silver and gold. that's what this has been all been about this afternoon,

mr. boozman: we've been so close for a long time now. but lack of action on the part of the house leadership continues to unnecessarily delay ratification. our neighbors to the north and south are natural allies and trading partners. yet our trade policy with them is not be -- has not been updated in 25 years. the president and his team worked very hard to get canada and mexico to the negotiating table to modernize our trade agreement in a mutually beneficial manner. that hard work has paid off in the form of the usmca. it is ready for ratification and the senate is eager to get that done. unfortunately we are at the mercy of the house which must act first. house leadership's refusal to move this trade deal is preventing additional job creation in our country and is sending the wrong signal to our trading partners across the globe. we ought to be spurring economic activity by striking fair trade agreements globally, not sitting on our hands and refusing to approve an agreement between two of our top trading partners. a fair and mutually

mr. boozman: i rise today to honor the life of fayetteville arkansas police officer steven carr who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty on saturday, december 7. officer carr was sitting in his patrol car in the parking lot behind the police station when he was shot and killed. the 27-year-old had been a member of the fayetteville police department for two and a half years and was assigned as a patrol officer in the dixon street entertainment area. in that short time, with the police department, he demonstrated his professionalism and duty to upholding the rule of law. fayetteville police chief described carr as an exemplary officer who was an all-american boy. quote, if i had 131 steven carr carrs, i wouldn't be more exthat the i can, end quote, the chief said at a press conference over the weekend. carr grew up in a law enforcement family. he witnessed the dedication, service, and commitment to protecting the community by people he loved. his friends describe him as a strong and kind person whose lifelong dream was to serve as a police officer. he loves spending time outdoor

mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the boozman substitute amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to, the bill as amended be considered read a third time. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: is there further debate on the bill. the presiding officer: if there is no further debate, all in favor say aye. those opposed, no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the bill is passed. the amendment is passed. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent -- be laid and made upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent that the committee on banking, housing, and urban affairs be discharged from further consideration of h.r. 550, and the senate proceed to its immediate consideration. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: h.r. 550, an act to award a congressional gold medal, and so forth. the presiding officer: without objection, the committee is discharged, and the senate will proceed. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the murkowski substitute amendment at the desk be considered and agreed

mr. boozman: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from arkansas. mr. boozman: i ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the provisions of rule 22, the time postcloture on executive calendar 347 expire at 11:45 on tuesday, december 13. 3. further, if confidence, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the president be immediately notified on the senate's action. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection. mr. boozman: i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to legislative session and be in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. boozman: i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar number 171, h.r. 1138. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: h.r. 1138, an a being to reauthorize the west valley demonstration project and for other purposes. the presiding officer: without objection, the senate will proceed to the measure. mr. boozm