Floor Statements

Mr. President, today President Trump will put forward his budget request for the next fiscal year. I look forward to reviewing the President's priorities. With a bipartisan funding agreement now in place, Congress and the White House can work together to begin rebuilding our military, improve care for veterans, and tackle other urgent matters, from disaster relief to the fight against drug addiction.

I especially appreciate the President's focus on improving America's infrastructure. The quality of our country's infrastructure affects everything from our long-term economic future to working Americans' everyday routines. As of 2016, nearly 1 in 10 bridges in our Nation is structurally deficient. The average commuter loses 42 hours per year to delays. The average age of our inland waterway locks and dams is over 50 years old. We are intimately familiar with this in Kentucky, where we ship millions of tons of coal, agricultural products, and other cargo on more than 1,900 miles of inland waterways.

The problem runs deeper than dollars and cents. American workers built skyscrapers in less time than our government now spends reviewing--not even building but reviewing--plans for new bridges and stretches of highways. So I am particularly happy that the President is proposing to eliminate regulatory barriers and streamline lengthy and overcomplicated permitting processes.

Historically, infrastructure has been an area of bipartisan cooperation. Our last three highway bills passed with large bipartisan majorities, averaging more than 80 ``yes'' votes. So did our last three WRDA bills and our last three FAA bills. I hope we can build on this record and make more bipartisan progress on this subject.

Now on another matter, Mr. President, as I have repeatedly stated, now that there is an agreement on long-term government funding, the Senate will proceed to a fair debate over the DACA issue, border security, and other matters pertaining to the subject of immigration. This process begins in just a few hours. We will vote to proceed to an unrelated, neutral House-passed bill that will serve as the vehicle for any legislation that succeeds here in the Senate. As I have repeated many times, I will ensure that a fair amendment process gives Senators the opportunity to submit proposals for consideration and votes. I hope this body can seize this opportunity and deliver real progress toward securing our border, reforming aspects of our immigration policy, and achieving a resolution for individuals who were brought to our country illegally when they were young.

The American people have heard no shortage of rhetoric on this issue. They have heard many of my colleagues across the aisle insist that this issue requires swift action. Now is the time to back up this talk with the hard work of finding a workable solution. That means finding an agreement which can pass the Senate, pass the

House, and which the President will sign--not just making a point.

A number of my colleagues--Senators Grassley, Cornyn, Tillis, Perdue, Lankford, Cotton, and Ernst--will introduce a balanced proposal that tries to meet these requirements. I support the President's proposal and my colleagues' legislation to implement it.

The Secure and Succeed Act is fair and addresses both sides' most pressing concerns, conforming to the conditions the President has put forward. It offers a compassionate resolution for 1.8 million illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. In exchange, this solution delivers funding for President Trump's promise to fully secure the border, reforms our approach to extended family chain migration, and reallocates our arbitrary visa lottery into a more sensible, merit-based system.

This legislation is a fair compromise that addresses the stated priorities of all sides. It is our best chance of producing a solution that can actually resolve these matters, which requires that a bill pass the Senate, pass the House, and earn the President's signature. It has my support.

The time for political posturing is behind us. Now we have an opportunity to resolve these issues. I hope we make the most of it.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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, today I wish to pay tribute to Andy Croley, who will be honored by Leadership Tri-County, LTC, as the 2018 Leader of the Year. LTC was established in 1987 to serve Knox, Whitley, and Laurel Counties. According to LTC's board of directors, the annual award is given ``to the individual who has made an outstanding contribution to leadership in the area and has done a lot to contribute to the growth and development of the area.'' A lifetime resident of Whitley County, Andy has served as the county coroner since 2002, and he began serving as the county's deputy coroner in 1995. Because of his years of service to southeastern Kentucky, Andy is an ideal choice to receive this distinction.

In addition to his work in Whitley County, Andy has responded to national tragedies such as Hurricane Katrina and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. As part of a recovery team in New York, Andy spent several weeks working in the wreckage of the World Trade Center. In appreciation for his brave efforts, New York officials gave him a beam from the fallen towers. Andy donated the beam to the University of the Cumberlands, where it was established as part of the school's Patriot Park in 2003.

Andy is also dedicated to helping members of the next generation succeed. Promoting high school football in Kentucky and Tennessee, he has served as the chairman of the Border Bowl for several years. This nonprofit organization hosts a football game in Williamsburg, KY, featuring top players from both States. Andy's work on the Border Bowl has given young athletes in both States the chance to hone their skills and compete in a popular event.

I want to congratulate Andy Croley on being named the 2018 Leader of the Year. I would like to commend him on this accomplishment, and I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing his work.

Mr. President, I have a request for one committee to meet during today's session of the Senate. It has the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 403, submitted earlier today.

Mr. President, I further 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, 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 Hassan.

Mr. President, I call for regular order.

Mr. President, I know of no further debate.

I withdraw the amendment.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to Calendar No. 302,

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

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, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H. Con. Res. 104, which was received from the House.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment at the desk be agreed to, the concurrent resolution, as amended, 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. 400, submitted earlier today.

I further 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 the senior Senator from Alaska, the junior Senator from Wyoming, the junior Senator from North Carolina, and the junior Senator from South Dakota be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions on Friday, February 9, 2018.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 36, H.R. 1301.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment at the desk be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.