Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 6; 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 proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Axon nomination under the previous order.

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 Brown.

Madam President, the Senate will begin this week by voting on three more of the President's well-qualified nominees for the Federal judiciary.

First on the slate is Magistrate Judge Robert Wier, selected by President Trump to serve as a district judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

Judge Wier's sterling credentials and the support he enjoys from the legal community suggest that he will excel on the Federal bench. He graduated at the top of his class at the University of Kentucky, followed by a successful career in private practice. In 2006, he became a magistrate judge. In 2014, his colleagues unanimously reappointed him to a second term.

Judge Wier has the intellect, skill, and experience to take on this role. I will proudly vote to advance his nomination later today.

Following Judge Wier, we will consider Fernando Rodriguez for the Southern District of Texas and Annemarie Axon for the Northern District of Alabama.

In each case, the Senate's work will be upholding one of our most central constitutional responsibilities--to consider and confirm high- quality candidates.

Madam President, last week brought another set of encouraging headlines about our growing economy. In the month of May, the U.S. economy generated 223,000 new jobs. Unemployment has fallen to 3.8 percent, its lowest level since April of 2000. The proportion of American adults who are employed is as high as it has been at any point since the financial crisis.

We know these economic indicators can sometimes be noisy, but consider them alongside all of the other signs we have seen over the past year. Since President Trump was elected alongside a Republican Congress, the number of Americans who say they are optimistic about finding a good job has jumped 25 percentage points, and small business owners report in record numbers that they are optimistic about the prospects of hiring new employees.

The bottom line is clear: Under the policies of this unified Republican government, American workers, families,

and business owners are achieving economic growth that is unmatched in recent memory. It is driven by a 21st century tax code that lets Americans keep more of their own money and encourages job creators to invest in our Nation's workers.

It is made possible by historic regulatory reform, which has leveled the playing field for American consumers and small businesses. From farmers and ranchers to community bankers, the burdens of an out-of- control regulatory state are being lifted.

So after a decade of stagnation, Republican policies have gotten Washington out of the way and freed American workers and job creators to do what they do best--build a dynamic economy that is literally the envy of the world.

But as impressive as some of these statistics may be, I think it is important to keep in mind that these stories are, at the end of the day, human stories. More than 1 million new jobs have been created just since we passed tax reform last December. That is not an abstract number. That is 1 million opportunities for young workers who are just starting out and need to begin climbing the first rungs of the economic ladder; for young fathers and mothers who can now leave a position where their pay has stayed flat for a new opening in their industry; or for midcareer professionals who were sidelined by a tough economy and can now suit up and check back in to the game.

These aren't just economic statistics; they are American men and women who have new chances to support their families and build their lives that they simply did not have under the policies of the previous administration.

I am glad that we fought and won--and will continue to win--major accomplishments for the middle-class families we represent.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 5, all postcloture time on the Wier nomination be considered expired and the Senate vote on the confirmation of the nomination; further, that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid on the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate resume legislative session for a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m., Tuesday, June 5; 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. I further ask that following leader remarks, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Wier nomination under the previous order. Finally, I ask that the Senate recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly conference meetings.

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.

Mr. President, we are in the midst of quite a productive week in the Senate. Yesterday, this body did its part in fulfilling an important promise to our Nation's veterans. We passed the VA MISSION Act by a wide, bipartisan margin.

Having already passed the House, this truly landmark bill will now head to the White House where the President will soon sign it into law.

It will bring more options and greater flexibility to veterans who have spent years driving long distances to the nearest VA care facility, only to face long lines and waiting lists when they got there.

It will bring more peace of mind for veterans of all eras and their families who have faced uncertainty and limitations as their needs for care have evolved.

This legislation continues, expands, and improves the successful Veterans Choice Program that has already helped millions of veterans nationwide, including more than 23,000 Kentuckians last year alone.

Thanks to the stalwart leadership of Chairman Isakson and the Veterans' Affairs Committee, the hard-and-fast time and distance thresholds that kept too many veterans out of the Choice Program will soon be gone.

The providers we trust to provide top-notch care for our heroes will have clearer guidelines for prescribing opioids and more tools to attract and retain experienced professionals.

I have heard from Kentucky veterans exactly what this bill will mean to them. One wrote: ``Kentucky disabled veterans greatly appreciate Congress is finally taking action to correct deficiencies in the Caregiver Program.''

Another explained that the legislation ``strikes the right balance to make sure we strengthen the VA system and provide veterans with the best care possible.''

I thank my friend Chairman Isakson once more on this achievement. I am proud the Senate stepped up to the plate and showed America's veterans that, on our watch, a promise made is a promise kept.

What is more, we have already confirmed two executive branch nominees and will process two more before the end of the week. First up is Jelena McWilliams, President Trump's well-

qualified pick to chair the FDIC Board of Directors.

This week, we have also seen an impressive proposal to reform the way Congress handles workplace claims, especially claims of harassment. The Democratic leader and I strongly support this proposal, as do our colleagues Senator Blunt and Senator Klobuchar.

All this comes in addition to two major Senate-passed bills that passed the House this week and are now heading to the President's desk to become law: the legislation championed by our colleague Senator Johnson, which will give terminally ill patients the right to try experimental drugs that are still making their way through the full FDA approval process, and the mainstreaming of Dodd-Frank regulations for small lenders and community banks, thanks to the leadership of Senator Crapo. This legislation will help secure access to credit for middle- class families and small businesses, and the President will sign it just a few hours from now.

There is also important activity underway at the committee level. Chairman Barrasso is leading the Environment and Public Works Committee through consideration of measures to improve and expand America's waterways infrastructure. Chairman Shelby and the Appropriations Committee today have already begun their work on the annual funding bills. Following the committee's robust discussions, I look forward to bringing the appropriations bills they craft to the Senate floor. Earlier this week, the Armed Services Committee began considering this year's Defense authorization bill. They have a solid foundation on which to build, thanks to the historic agreement reached earlier this year that delivered the highest year-on-year increase in funding for our Armed Forces in 15 years.

One bill after another, one confirmation after another, the Senate continues to produce major accomplishments that will directly improve the lives of the American people.

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

Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 542.

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

Mr. President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 587.