Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following Senate resolutions, which were submitted earlier today: S. Res. 512, S. Res. 513, and S. Res. 514.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m., Thursday, May 17; 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, Senator Paul be recognized 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.

Madam President, on another matter, yesterday, the Senate voted to

confirm two more of President Trump's fine circuit court nominees, Michael Scudder and Amy St. Eve--both of Illinois, both exceedingly qualified, and both carrying the bipartisan support of the Judiciary Committee.

Michael Scudder carries an impressive legal record, with extensive experience in both private practice and public service, and the American Bar Association's highest rating. Judge Amy St. Eve shares the ABA's unqualified confidence. She has compiled a 17-year record in the Northern District of Illinois. That is why the Senate confirmed these highly qualified nominees to serve on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals with a bipartisan majority.

Today, our progress will continue. We will vote to confirm John Nalbandian, of Kentucky, to serve on the Sixth Circuit and Joel Carson, of New Mexico, to serve on the Tenth Circuit.

Judge Carson has had a distinguished tenure as a U.S. magistrate judge. His peers say his ``integrity, fairness, and respect for the dignity of others are top notch.'' A bipartisan group of New Mexico lawyers has expressed confidence ``he will be an excellent addition to the Tenth Circuit.'' The Judiciary Committee agreed and reported Judge Carson's nomination to the full Senate in a bipartisan fashion.

We will also vote on John Nalbandian, who is from my home State of Kentucky, who has been nominated to serve on the Sixth Circuit. Mr. Nalbandian has earned respect from across the political spectrum as a top appellate advocate. He is known for his fairness, collegiality, and legal ability. In 2007, Mr. Nalbandian was appointed to be a special justice on the Kentucky Supreme Court. He later sat on the selection panel for magistrate judges in the State's Eastern District. More recently, President Obama nominated him to serve on the board of the State Justice Institute. He was confirmed by a voice vote.

In addition to well-regarded work in private practice, Mr. Nalbandian has also dedicated himself to community causes, such as economic development in Northern Kentucky and greater local representation for minority attorneys. To that end, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association has joined the multitude of supporters of his nomination. They note that if confirmed, Mr. Nalbandian will be just the seventh active Asian Pacific American Federal appellate judge nationwide.

John Nalbandian has the impressive credentials, the preparation, the broad support--every indication that he will be a worthy and capable judge.

We should confirm both of these nominees without delay.

Madam President, today is Peace Officers Memorial Day, when we honor the men and women of law enforcement.

During Police Week, thousands of officers from across the Nation and the world travel here to Washington to remember their fallen comrades and rededicate themselves to protecting our communities. I welcome them, particularly the peace officers from the State of Kentucky. I look forward to visiting later today with members of the Louisville Metro Police Department. We owe them and the departments across the Commonwealth our heartfelt thanks for keeping the Bluegrass State safe and secure.

I also wish to pay tribute today to members of Kentucky's law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf.

Since Police Week last year, three of the Commonwealth's finest have fallen in the line of duty. Officer Scotty Hamilton, a 12-year veteran of the Pikeville Police Department, was fatally shot while on duty. The Hopkinsville Police Department lost Officer Phillip Meacham, who was killed while off duty by someone who was impersonating a police officer. Officer Rodney Smith, of the Hickman Police Department, drowned while on patrol when his vehicle was washed into the water during this spring's severe flooding. All of these men left behind spouses, children, and a Commonwealth indebted to them for their service.

We also remember Sergeant David Ray Gibbs, of the Kentucky State Police, who was killed in a car crash in 2015 while he was on the way to his grandmother's funeral. Sergeant Gibbs's name was added this year to the National Police Memorial--a fitting tribute to a fine officer. His sacrifice and that of each of these heroes will not be forgotten.

Finally, as we warmly welcome law enforcement from across the country, I would also like to especially thank the men and women of the U.S. Capitol Police. Each day, their vigilance protects Members of Congress, our staffs, and visitors from around the world. After the terrible events at the baseball park in Alexandria last June, we are all reminded of just how lucky we are to have them.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 12 noon tomorrow the Senate resume legislative session and Senator Schumer or his designee be recognized to offer a motion to proceed to S.J. Res. 52; further, that following disposition of S.J. Res. 52, the Senate resume consideration of the Zais nomination; that any remaining time be yielded back and the Senate vote on the nomination with no intervening action or debate; and 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 understand there is a bill at the desk, and I ask for its first reading.

I now ask for a second reading and, in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to my own request.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration of and the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 443.

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.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 509, submitted earlier today.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 510, submitted earlier today.

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.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 16; 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 Zais nomination.

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, I had an opportunity yesterday to visit our friend John McCain. It was in a beautiful location, Sedona. It is about a 2-hour drive from Phoenix.

John and Cindy and I had a chance to sit on the back porch and reminisce about our friendship and all we had shared over the last 30 years. We had some laughs. We mainly reminisced about the battles. Sometimes we were on the same side, and sometimes we were not. Yet one thing about our colleague John McCain is you would rather be on his side than not. For 10 years, we had a very vigorous debate about an issue he and I both cared about, and we were on opposite sides. It ended up going all the way to the Supreme Court. He won and I lost, and we worked hard to establish a new relationship after that vigorous battle of a decade.

We all know his story all too well--that of a genuine American hero. We admire the tenacity and the grit it took to survive those 5\1/2\ years in the Hanoi Hilton and the way he refused to go home early, as he certainly could have, given the prominence of his father's position in the Navy. It is pretty hard to think of any serious issues that face our Nation without recalling the role John played in so many things that are important to our country.

Over the last few years, I am sure the Presiding Officer would agree with me that we saw him as the shadow Secretary of State during the Obama years as he traveled the world--sometimes on a long weekend--to some of the least desirable places to visit. I avoided those trips, but for those who took them, it was a little bit like the Bataan Death March. Junkets they were not. He was an important foreign policy and defense voice for our country. He was also passionate in working to take better care of our veterans. No one, with the possible exception of Senator Isakson, spent more time working on veterans' issues and trying to take care of them, as they richly deserve, than John McCain.

At this point in his life, he, obviously, has a little time to sit and rest and reflect under the desert sky and to simply take in the beautiful, peaceful Nation he has worked so hard and so long to protect and pass on to all of our children.

One thing we all know about John--and it remains the case today--is that he doesn't have a relaxed bone in his body. He still has plenty to say about work, I assure you. He misses his colleagues, and he would rather be here. I told him we miss him, too--all the great jokes, the smart-alecky comments. He was a joy to be around.

I didn't want to miss the opportunity to tell him how much his friendship has meant to me, so that is why I was out there this weekend. While I was there, I said I was confident I was speaking for everybody in the Senate in conveying our deepest respect to him for all he has done for this country during a truly extraordinary life.

Yes.

I thank my friend from Maine.

70th Anniversary of Israel's Independence and the Opening of the

American Embassy in Jerusalem

Mr. President, on an entirely different matter, today marks 70 years since Israel declared its independence on May 14, 1948. Ever since, this brave nation has shown as a beacon of democracy in a troubled region and has stood as a valued friend of the United States.

It is fitting that another historic event took place just today. This morning, an American delegation, including top administration officials and several of our own colleagues, were on hand in Jerusalem, Israel's capital, to officially open the new American Embassy in that city.

I am proud the administration sent this clear signal on behalf of all Americans. We recognize the fact that Jerusalem is Israel's capital, plain and simple. That is where our Embassy belongs. Now, thanks to the President's decision, that is where it will be.