Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 427, S. 2269.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time.

Mr. President, I know of no further debate on the bill.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 20; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed. Finally, I ask that following leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of H.R. 5895.

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it stand adjourned under the previous order, following the remarks of Senator Bennet.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate resume consideration of H.R. 5895.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following amendments be called up en bloc: Crapo No. 2943, as modified, and Baldwin No. 2985. I further ask consent that at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 20, the Senate vote in relation to the Crapo and Baldwin amendments in the order listed; finally, that there be no second-degree amendments in order to the amendments prior to the votes.

Mr. President, I know of no further debate on the motion to proceed.

Mr. President, today I would like to take a moment to congratulate the ``Voice of the Eagles,'' Chuck Mraz, who is retiring from his position as the news director at Morehead State Public Radio. Serving communities in eastern Kentucky, southern Ohio, and western West Virginia for more than 30 years, Chuck's reporting has been a staple for countless listeners. As he prepares to sign off, I would like to take a brief look back at his remarkable career.

I have had the privilege of joining Chuck's program many times over the years. While I have enjoyed our conversations about important issues to Kentucky, we found a shared passion that has nothing to do with my role in the Senate: our love of sports.

At the outset of his career, Chuck wanted to be a sportscaster. According to him, sports have ``always been a part of my life ever since I realized that I could pick up a bat and hit a ball.'' He joined MSPR in 1986 as the station's sports director and special events director. Even when he took on a new challenge in 2005 as the news director, Chuck kept his part time role as the play-by-play voice of the MSU football and men's basketball teams.

Throughout his time on the air at MSPR, Chuck has called more than 1,000 Eagles athletic events. According to the school, that is more than any other announcer in the athletic department's history. He has been a constant presence for coaches, players, and fans and has been an integral part of the Eagles' community. He still says the highlight of his career was MSU's 2011 Men's NCAA basketball tournament win at the buzzer over my alma mater, the University of Louisville Cardinals.

For his impressive career, Chuck has won local, State, and regional acclaim from his peers. Among his many accolades are more than 40 Kentucky Associated Press awards, the Eastern Kentucky Leadership Conference Award for Media and Technology, and the Ohio Valley Conference Media Award.

Even more important to Chuck than his honors are the relationships he built with the next generation of broadcasters. He recognized many inspirational teachers and advisers in his own life, and as a result, Chuck has mentored hundreds of students while at MSU. Many of them have begun their own notable careers around the State. As they continue to prosper in their work, Chuck's impact on the broadcasting community will continue to be felt for years to come.

Looking back on his long and successful career, Chuck said, ``I've always believed that hard work can overcome a lack of ability in some areas.'' His drive has led to many late nights, many 3:30 a.m. alarms, and a lot of time away from his family, but it is that commitment that has also brought Chuck great success in his profession and in the Morehead community.

In retirement, Chuck looks forward to spending more time with his family, especially his wife, Joni, and his daughters, Megan and Elizabeth. Just because he is leaving his role as news director, however, doesn't mean that MSPR listeners won't hear Chuck on the radio. Even in retirement, he plans to call Eagles football and basketball games. At the end of this month, the community will gather to celebrate Chuck's career and to thank him for his contributions to the school, its students, and to the Eagles. I would like to add my voice to the MSU community in wishing him a restful and happy retirement.

Mr. President, yesterday, I was pleased to join my colleagues on the Senate Agriculture Committee to approve a landmark farm bill. Under the fair and bipartisan leadership of Chairman Pat Roberts, our committee has produced a bill that will bolster struggling agriculture communities across our country.

Speaking for my home State of Kentucky, agriculture is part of who we are. Kentucky farm families produce everything from poultry to soybeans. This legislation will assist them, encourage economic growth, and increase investment in rural communities.

This farm bill also includes a bipartisan provision I crafted with Senator Wyden to legalize industrial hemp. At present, with just a few limited exceptions, our Federal Government bans domestic hemp production--never mind that this is a completely different plant than its illicit cousin, and never mind that consumers are already buying hemp products, everything from clothing to auto parts; they are just imported from foreign producers. Federal law has mostly prohibited our own farmers from getting in on the action. It is time to remove the roadblocks and let American farmers explore this growing market.

This has long been a priority of mine. I championed hemp pilot programs in the 2014 farm bill. They have shown big success. It is time to take the next step.

Again, I would like to thank the chairman and ranking member of the committee for their leadership on this subject. I was pleased to join the overwhelming bipartisan majority who voted the farm bill out of committee yesterday morning, and I look forward to taking it up here on the floor in the next few weeks.

Mr. President, on another subject, for the past week, the Senate has been considering the John S. McCain 2019 National Defense Authorization Act. It is a thorough bill. It is a bipartisan bill.

The Armed Services Committee has conducted hearing after hearing, gathering testimony from our Nation's top military leaders. They have heard straight from the experts about the gaps between current capabilities and current challenges. Taking this testimony into account, throughout the committee markup, they considered and included 300 amendments--300--in the version they reported to the Senate.

For days now, we have discussed and debated it here on the floor. Senators Inhofe and Reed modified the substitute amendment to include more than 40 additional amendments from Members on both sides. Even so, I am confident no Senator sees this as a perfect bill. I am sure every one of us has further issues we would like to tackle. Some pertain to the substance of Defense authorization; others concern completely different topics.

Personally, I would like to have seen even more votes on amendments this week, but one of the realities of this body is that any Senator on either side can object to setting up amendment votes. Any Senator on either side can object to setting up amendment votes.

The good news is what we already have in hand: an excellent Defense authorization bill that will fulfill one of this body's important responsibilities and empower the men and women who volunteer to protect us. We have fulfilled that responsibility for 57 consecutive years. When this bill passes, it will be 58 consecutive years. You might call that a routine, but in this body, as we know, what can seem like the most routine activities are often among the most important. This Defense authorization bill is right at the top of the Senate's to-do list so we can do right by our men and women serving in uniform around the world.

Today is the 243rd birthday of our U.S. Army. I am glad we will have the opportunity to vote to keep advancing this bill in just a few minutes.

As I have discussed all week, this legislation is critical to implementing Secretary Mattis's new national defense strategy. It is critical for supporting our allies and regional partners

around the world. It is critical for keeping America safe in a world that confronts us with everything from terrorist threats from nonstate actors to great power competition.

One way or another, the Senate will pass this bill. We will fulfill our solemn responsibility to our military, and then we will proceed to other important business for our constituents.

Mr. President, on one final matter, day after day and week after week, more evidence piles up that Republicans' overhaul of the U.S. Tax Code is igniting new growth and increasing opportunity all across our country.

Here is what tax reform means to middle-class Floridians. It means thousand-dollar bonuses for all 26 employees at Spellex Corporation, a software company in Tampa. It means an 11-percent increase in the base wage at a bank with more than 600 locations all across Florida. At a brewery, it meant the flexibility to purchase $100,000 in new capital equipment and hire two additional employees. For the customers of Florida Power & Light, it meant a lower monthly bill. The utility had planned to implement a new surcharge for rebuilding after Hurricane Irma, but tax reform let them cover the cost of the entire rebuilding themselves and kept that added burden off of the shoulders of Floridians. These are just a few of the ways tax reform is helping jump-start prosperity up and down the State of Florida.

Florida's junior Senator, Mr. Rubio, voted to pass this once-in-a- generation law. It is too bad his colleague, the senior Senator from Florida, stood with every single Democrat in the House and in the Senate and tried to block these tax cuts from reaching the American people. Apparently, he preferred that more middle-class families' money remain with the IRS. I would call that a curious decision. Perhaps our Democratic colleagues don't quite understand the importance of a thriving economy.

We recently heard some revealing comments from the House Democratic leader. Here is what she said:

Hip hip hooray, unemployment is down. What does that mean

to me and my life?

Unemployment is as low as it has been since 1969. There is soaring confidence from consumers and small businesses. There are more job openings than Americans looking for work for the first time in at least 20 years. No big deal, say our Democratic colleagues. Nothing to see here. Do they really think an outstanding job market doesn't matter to American families? Well, that might help explain their voting record on tax reform and other issues, but I suspect this is just pure partnership because it is Republican policies that are helping generate this success. Our friends across the aisle want to deny reality and ignore the obvious improvements for workers, families, and job creators. Fortunately, the facts are the facts. Americans know success when they see it, and Republicans will keep fighting to unleash more prosperity for the middle class.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to Calendar No. 449,

Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk on the motion to proceed.

I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum call be waived.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, all postcloture time expire at 1:45 p.m. today.

For the information of Senators, this sets up a series of votes this afternoon. We should expect three to four votes during this series.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I have 4 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders.

Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, June 14, 2018, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Oversight of the National Telecommunication and Information Administration.''

Committee on Foreign Relations

The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, June 14, 2018, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on the following nominations: Harry B. Harris, Jr., of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Tibor Peter Nagy, Jr., of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary (African Affairs), and David Schenker, of New Jersey, to be an Assistant Secretary (Near Eastern Affairs), all of the Department of State.

Committee on the Judiciary

The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, June 14, 2018, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a business meeting and hearing on the following nominations: Britt Cagle Grant, of Georgia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit, Allen Cothrel Winsor, to be United States

District Judge for the Northern District of Florida, Patrick R. Wyrick, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma, Edward W. Felten, of New Jersey, and Jane Nitze, of the District of Columbia, both to be a Member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, and Susan Llewellyn Pamerleau, to be United States Marshal for the Western District of Texas, Gadyaces S. Serralta, to be United States Marshal for the Southern District of Florida, R. Don Ladner, Jr., to be United States Marshal for the Northern District of Florida, and Charles L. Goodwin, to be United States Marshal for the District of Hawaii, all of the Department of Justice.

Select Committee on Intelligence

The Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, June 14, 2018, at 10 a.m., to conduct a closed hearing.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of and the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 503.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the Cornyn amendment to the preamble be considered and agreed to, the preamble, as amended, be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 547, submitted earlier today.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.