Floor Statements

Mr. President, on one final matter, for 8 years under President Obama, our economy didn't perform as well as it should have. America's wages and salaries hardly grew. Many job creators sat on the sidelines, wary of new tax increases or heavy-handed regulations. Washington had its foot on the brake. Last year, all that changed.

President Trump and this Republican Congress set out to make life easier for workers and for job creators. We cut regulations and passed tax reform to give middle-class families immediate relief and set the stage for more hiring and more wage growth in the years ahead.

I recently heard from a small family-owned inland river shipyard in Ashland, KY, along the Ohio River. They build and repair commercial barges. Here is what their president wrote. He said: ``Thanks to the tax change and optimism of our customers, we are at long last able to replace equipment which has been used way past [its] life expectancy and possibly add two more production workers.''

Last week a Louisville employer dropped by to tell me how he is using his tax reform savings: $1,000 bonuses for more than 100 Kentucky employees.

Small companies and big business alike are thrilled that they finally have a 21st-century tax code. It makes them more competitive with overseas rivals and frees up more money to invest right here at home, and middle-class workers are reaping the rewards. Major national companies like Pfizer and Home Depot, which together employ more than half a million Americans, have announced hundreds of millions of dollars in employee bonuses--again, thanks to tax reform.

Just this week, MetLife announced a major new investment in 50,000- plus employees. The company is raising its minimum wage, enhancing benefits, boosting retirement contributions, and creating a skills development fund. In short, MetLife is betting big on U.S. workers, and so are the more than 300 other companies that have already announced major investments in their employees and in their facilities--right here in America, right here, thanks to historic tax reform.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.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 call up the Toomey amendment No. 1948 to the Grassley amendment No. 1959.

I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk for amendment No. 1955.

Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk for amendment No. 1948.

Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk for amendment No. 1958, as modified.

Mr. President, I send a cloture amendment to the desk for amendment No. 1959.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum calls for the cloture motions be waived.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of the following nomination: Executive Calendar No. 586.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate vote on the nomination with no intervening action or debate; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; that no further motions be in order; and that any statements relating to the nomination be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be discharged from and the Senate proceed to the consideration of PN474-2; that the nominations be confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order; that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate be in a period of morning business,

with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, on behalf of myself and the distinguished Democratic leader, Mr. Schumer, I send to the desk a resolution authorizing representation by the Senate Legal Counsel and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. President, this resolution concerns a subpoena from the defendant in a criminal case pending in Arizona Federal court. The defendant is charged with various crimes alleging his assistance to an Iraqi insurgent group by supplying parts for use in improvised explosive devices. The defendant issued a trial subpoena to Senator Graham for testimony and documents arising out of his Senate duties. As any information Senator Graham would have in this matter would have been acquired as part of his legislative duties, the information sought would be privileged under the Speech or Debate Clause. This resolution would authorize the Senate Legal Counsel to represent Senator Graham and move to quash the subpoena.

Mr. President, I wish to take a moment this morning to discuss events in southeastern Kentucky. Because of heavy rainfall over the weekend, residents are enduring widespread flooding in several counties. Homes have been evacuated. A number of people have been forced to relocate to temporary shelters. Even where the floodwaters have begun to recede, a number of roads remain blocked because of water or mudslides. We are thankful that no injuries have been reported at this point. My staff in Eastern Kentucky is working closely with local officials, and I am monitoring the situation and receiving updates.

As always, we are deeply grateful to the emergency responders who rescued a number of people from their homes or their cars. Helping their fellow Kentuckians through this hardship, they have again earned our thanks.

Mr. President, on an entirely different matter, the Senate took an initial step toward considering proposals to address DACA, border security, and other immigration issues. This week's debate comes as no surprise to my colleagues. For a month now, I have repeatedly stated my intention to bring these issues to the Senate floor following a government funding agreement. Senators have had plenty of time to prepare. There is no reason why we should not reach a bipartisan solution this week, but to do this, we need to get the debate started, look past making political points, and focus on actually making law.

Making law will take 60 votes in the Senate, a majority in the House, and a Presidential signature. Yesterday, a number of my colleagues announced a reasonable proposal that I believe is our best chance to actually make law. It attends to my Democratic colleagues' stated priority: a compassionate solution for 1.8 million illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. In exchange, it also delivers on the President's stated conditions. Their solution provides funding to secure the border, reforms extended-family chain migration, and recalibrates the visa lottery program.

This proposal has my support. During this week of fair debate, I believe it deserves the support of every Senator who is ready to move beyond making points and actually making a law. If other proposals are to be considered, our colleagues will have to actually introduce their own amendments, rather than just talk about them.

I made a commitment to hold this debate and to hold it this week. I have lived up to my commitment. I hope everyone will cooperate so that this opportunity does not go to waste.

Mr. President, on another matter, last week, as part of our bipartisan funding agreement, the Senate approved much needed disaster relief for communities hit by last year's devastating storms. This was an important accomplishment, but it isn't the only way this Congress has helped Americans begin to rebuild.

Recently, Florida Power & Light, the State's largest utility, announced that their savings from tax reform will completely cover the costs of rebuilding critical infrastructure in the wake of Hurricane Irma. Absent tax reform, consumers would have paid for much of the repairs in the form of higher rates. Now the utility can cover the cost itself, saving Florida families an average of $250.

In other States, from Montana to Massachusetts to my home State of Kentucky, utilities are planning to directly pass along their savings by cutting consumers' monthly bills.

Of course, lower utility rates aren't the only way tax reform is helping middle-class Americans. Week after week, the headlines are full of more bonuses, more pay raises, and more new benefits for hard- working Americans as a direct result--a direct result--of tax reform. With all of this good news pouring in, it is easy to forget how hotly the debate over tax reform was contested.

Republicans argued that letting middle-class families keep more of their own money and giving American job creators a 21st-century tax code would unleash prosperity and directly help American workers.

Our Democratic colleagues gambled on a different prediction. Every single House Democrat voted in lockstep with their leader. She predicted tax reform would bring about Armageddon. Every single Democrat in the Senate rallied behind their leader, my friend from New York. He declared that there was ``nothing about this bill that suits the needs of the American worker.''

We always knew one side would be proven wrong. Either tax reform would benefit middle-class families and help reignite the economy or it would not. The early results speak for themselves. In the great State of Missouri, 20 companies, and counting, have already announced tax reform bonuses, raises, or benefits. That includes thousand-dollar bonuses for 2,500 workers at Central Bank of St. Louis and at Great Southern Bank in Springfield and more bonuses at Mid-Am Metal Forming in Rogersville. One of the Senators from Missouri voted for the policy that made all this happen. Their other Senator tried to block it.

In Ohio, tax reform has already led Jergens to double employees' annual raise. It has enabled Sheffer Corporation, a cylinder manufacturer, to give workers four-figure bonuses. Here is how Sheffer's CEO responded to Democrats who have been trying to talk down these bonuses: ``Some people have said that's `crumbs,' but for the Sheffer people, we consider that fine dining.''

Remember, these bonuses and pay raises are just the tip of the spear. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act also directly helps families by cutting tax rates and expanding deductions. In every paycheck, American workers will keep more of what they earn.

Only one Senator from Ohio voted to put all this middle-class progress on the menu. Every single Democrat in the Senate and the House voted to stop tax reform. Fortunately, for middle-class families in Missouri, in Ohio, in Kentucky, and across the Nation, Republicans overcame the obstruction and passed this historic bill.

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. President, for months, Senators have been clamoring for a floor debate on DACA, border security, and other urgent issues pertaining to immigration. We have certainly had ample time to prepare.

The week we set aside for this debate has arrived--the week my Democratic colleagues insisted that we dedicate to this issue. The clock is ticking, but the debate has yet to begin. That is because our Democratic colleagues have yet to yield back any of their postcloture time so we can begin this important debate. If we are going to resolve these matters this week, we need to get moving. In my view, the proposal unveiled yesterday by Senator Grassley and a number of other Senators offers our best chance to find a solution.

I have committed that the amendment process will be fair and both sides will have the opportunity to submit ideas for debate and votes. For that to happen, our colleagues will have to actually introduce their own amendments, rather than just talk about them.

My colleague, Senator Toomey, for example, has done just that. He put forward an amendment to address one of the most glaring aspects of our Nation's broken immigration system--sanctuary cities. I see no reason to further delay consideration of this and other substantive proposals. Let's start by setting up a vote on his amendment and an amendment from my Democratic colleagues--an amendment of their choosing, not mine, with their consent. With their consent, we can start the debate and have the first two amendment votes.

Mr. President, consistent with that, I ask unanimous consent that at 2:15 p.m. today, the motion to proceed to H.R. 2579 be agreed to. I ask unanimous consent that Senator Toomey, or his designee, be recognized to offer amendment No. 1948 and that the Democratic leader, or his designee, be recognized to offer an amendment; further, that the time until 3:30 p.m. be equally divided between the leaders or their designees and that following the use or yielding back of that time, the Senate vote on the amendments in the order listed, with 60 affirmative votes required for adoption, and that no second-degree amendments be in order prior to the votes; finally, that if any of the amendments are adopted, they become original text for the purpose of further amendment.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion to proceed to H.R. 2579 be agreed to; that Senator Toomey or his designee be recognized to offer amendment No. 1948 and that Senator Coons or his designee be recognized to offer amendment No. 1955; further, that the time until 8 p.m. be equally divided between the leaders or their designees and that following the use or yielding back of that time, the Senate vote on the amendments in the order listed, with 60 affirmative votes required for adoption, and that no second- degree amendments be in order prior to the votes; finally, that if any of the amendments are adopted, they become original text for the purpose of further amendment.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the en bloc consideration of the following nominations: Executive Calendar Nos. 155, 261, and 469.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate vote on the nominations en bloc with no intervening action or debate; that if confirmed, the motions to consider be considered made and laid upon the table en bloc; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; that no further motions be in order; and that any statements relating to the nominations be printed in the Record.

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., Wednesday, February 14; 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 resume and vote on the motion to proceed to H.R. 2579.

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 Moran.