Floor Statements

Mr. President, we have been talking for weeks about the millions of Americans who are already benefiting from tax reform. Already, millions of workers have received a tax reform bonus, pay increase, or other benefit.

I understand that a $1,000, $2,000, or $3,000 bonus might not seem like much to our colleagues from New York or San Francisco. I understand why people who are already very wealthy might agree with my friends the House and Senate Democratic leaders who said these bonuses and benefits are merely ``crumbs.'' But, look, I can assure them that the working families I represent do not see a permanent raise or a multithousand-dollar bonus as a crumb to sweep off the table. In millions of households, thanks to tax reform, paying the bills has already gotten a little less painful and planning for the future has already gotten a little easier. And this is just the beginning.

Soon, millions and millions more Americans will see the impact of tax reform in their paychecks. IRS withholding is going down, take-home pay is going up, and families everywhere will be keeping more of their hard-earned money. This is great news for middle-class Americans. So why are our Democratic friends afraid to acknowledge it? The reason is simple. Every single one of them voted against tax reform.

Every Democrat in the House and in the Senate voted against these new benefits for American workers. Every one of them voted against a pay raise for the 90 percent of American workers who, according to a Treasury Department estimate, are about to see their take-home pay go up. I don't envy their position. I don't envy having to explain why they voted to keep more money in Washington rather than give their constituents a raise.

Tax reform bonuses and more take-home pay aren't the only ways tax reform will help American workers. The law also includes a creative new solution to directly help the communities that are struggling the most. We all know that too few new jobs were created during the Obama years. Through heavy taxing and excessive regulation, Washington had its foot on the brake of the U.S. economy. Job creation and wage growth were weaker than they should have been, but another aspect of this often goes overlooked.

Of the new jobs that were created from 2010 to 2016, according to one estimate, three-quarters went to major metropolitan areas. Let me say that again. Of the new jobs that were created between 2010 and 2016, three-quarters went to major metropolitan areas. Only 3 percent of those new jobs went to rural America. Across the Nation--including my home State of Kentucky, particularly in Eastern Kentucky--many rural areas, small cities, and suburbs were left behind in the Obama economy. It is time to change that.

That is why my colleague the junior Senator from South Carolina made sure that tax reform included a provision to create ``opportunity zones'' across the United States. My Republican colleagues and I were proud to support this policy. It allows State Governors to designate economically depressed areas for special tax incentives that will make them more attractive places to invest and create jobs. It will empower communities that have been passed over time and again to put up, in effect, big neon signs that say: ``We are open for business.'' It will help these struggling communities reach their full potential.

This Congress is determined to reignite an economy that works for everyone. That is why tax reform lets families across the country keep more of what they earn. That is why tax reform makes America a more attractive place to create jobs, and it gives our businesses a fairer fight with foreign competitors. That is why tax reform includes this ``opportunity zones'' provision, which will help deliver targeted relief to communities that need it the most.

To most Americans, all this sounds like common sense. Republicans in Congress thought so too. We came together to deliver these historic achievements for the American people. It is too bad that not one single Democrat got on board with any of this.

But at least the bigger paychecks, new bonuses, and new investments will continue to roll in, and our constituents know exactly who stood up for them.

Mr. President, I understand that there are three bills at the desk due for a second reading en bloc.

Mr. President, in order to place the bills on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to further proceedings en bloc.

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

Mr. President, I understand that the Senate has received a message from the House to accompany H.R. 695.

Mr. President, I move that the Chair lay before the Senate the message to accompany H.R. 695.

Mr. President, I move to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 695.

Cloture Motion

I send a cloture motion to the desk on the motion to concur.

Mr. President, I move to refer the House message on H.R. 695 to the Committee on Appropriations to report back forthwith with instructions.

Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays on my motion.

Mr. President, I have an amendment to the instructions.

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

Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays on my amendment.

Mr. President, I have a second-degree amendment at the desk.

Mr. President, 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, I have 10 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 Armed Services

The Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a closed hearing.

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 Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Virtual Currencies: The Oversight Role of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Commodity and Futures Trading Commission.''

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on bills S. 2182, Bikini Resettlement and Relocation Act and S. 2325, Northern Mariana Island and U.S. Workforce Act.

Committee on Foreign Relations

The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, February 6, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``The Administration's South Asia Strategy on Afghanistan.''

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Reauthorizing the Higher Education Act: Access and Innovation.''

Committee on the Judiciary

The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Beneficial Ownership: Fighting Illicit International Financial Networks Through Transparency.''

Select Committee on Intelligence

The Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a closed hearing.

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``One Year Later: The American Innovation and Competitiveness Act.''

Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and

Data Security

The Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized to meet during the

session of the Senate on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at 3 p.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Data Security and Bug Bounty Programs: Lessons Learned from the Uber Breach and Security Researchers.''

Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security

The Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Exploring the `Gig Economy' and the Future of Retirement Savings.''

Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management

The Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Ways of Funding Government: Exploring the Cost to Taxpayers of Spending Uncertainty Cause by Governing through Continuing Resolutions, Giant Omnibus Spending Bills, and Shutdown Crises.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 393, submitted earlier today.

Mr. President, I further 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 consideration of S. Res. 394, 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.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 7; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; finally, that following leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of the House message to accompany H.R. 695.

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

Madam President, I wish to begin this afternoon by offering condolences to the family and friends of Christopher Foley of Louisa County, VA. Mr. Foley was killed last Wednesday when his truck collided with an Amtrak train carrying many of my fellow lawmakers to a conference in West Virginia. He was just 28 years old. He leaves behind his fiancee Adriana and Rylan, their 1-year-old son.

Our thoughts are with them especially, along with Christopher's family, his community, and his colleagues at Time Disposal. They and all those who were injured in the accident are in our prayers.

Our heartfelt thanks are with the first responders who rushed to the scene. It is too easy to take for granted

that our brave law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency personnel will be there for us on our worst days, forgetting that, for them, heroism and service are everyday realities. I would like to recognize some of our own colleagues who immediately sprang into action to assist the wounded. Senator Cassidy and Congressmen Wenstrup, Burgess, Roe, and Bucshon are all doctors by training, as are Senator Cassidy's wife Laura and Congressman Bucshon's wife Kathryn. All of them sprang into action and rushed to aid the victims, alongside our attending physician, Dr. Brian Monahan. Senator Flake and several others also hurried to help.

I thank all of them for their efforts when every moment counted, and I am proud to call them colleagues and friends.

Madam President, on a related matter, in the few days since last week's tragedy, yet another fatal train crash has already taken place. Two lives were lost yesterday when a passenger train and a freight train collided in South Carolina. Last December, three people were killed and scores were injured near Seattle when a passenger train jumped its tracks and crashed into a busy highway.

This worrying spate of accidents offers a sobering reminder that partisan obstruction has kept the Federal Railroad Administration, the top rail regulator, without an Administrator.

The President's nominee, Ronald Batory, has more than 40 years of rail experience. I know of no questions about his qualifications. He was reported out of committee by voice vote on August 2 of last year, meaning that this important safety regulator has now been sitting on the Senate calendar for 6 months--6 months. My Democratic colleagues are holding his nomination over a parochial issue that is completely unrelated to rail safety. This needs to come to an end.

The FRA Administrator is the Nation's top rail safety regulator. There is an urgent need and a highly qualified candidate. I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will put a stop to their partisan games on this front. We can and should confirm Mr. Batory today--today.

Madam President, on another matter, our deadline to fund the Federal Government is this Thursday. Serious bipartisan negotiations continue on long-term spending levels, along with other important issues. I am optimistic that these talks will bear fruit.

In the meantime, as broader discussions continue, we have the opportunity to remove the uncertainty facing our all-volunteer Armed Forces.

Since the passage of the Budget Control Act, it has become increasingly obvious that current funding levels are not sufficient for our Armed Forces to accomplish each of the missions and tasks that our Nation asks of them.

Secretary Mattis's new national defense strategy will require considerable new investment, and he has repeatedly pointed out that short-term continuing resolutions harm the readiness of our forces.

I am pleased that we are making real headway in our negotiations over spending caps and other important issues, but there is no reason why our warfighters need to continue to face uncertainty until all of the other issues are resolved.

Last week, a bipartisan majority in the House passed a bill that would fund our national defense through fiscal year 2018. Democrats and Republicans came together, voting to secure adequate, predictable, annual funding for our Armed Forces while we continue our productive negotiations on all these other subjects. The Senate will soon take up this House-passed bill.

I have recently heard many of my Democratic colleagues detail the harmful effects of short-term funding measures on our servicemembers. Soon, each one of us will have a chance to vote to give them the certainty they deserve while our other work continues.

Madam President, on one final matter, in the State of the Union Address last week, President Trump detailed signs that our Nation's economy is thriving under the policies of his administration and this Republican Congress. Evidence keeps piling up that good things happen when the government takes its foot off the brake and gets out of the way of American workers and job creators.

Last week, UPS, the largest private employer in my hometown of Louisville, KY, announced that tax reform will enable them to invest $12 billion in expanding their smart logistics network, funding employee pensions, and other capital improvements.

Their chairman and CEO had this to say:

We applaud President Trump and Congress for their bold

action. . . . Tax reform is a tremendous catalyst.

On Thursday, another major American employer, Lowe's, announced that it will give bonuses of up to $1,000 to more than a quarter of a million hourly employees and expand family friendly employment benefits, like adoption assistance and paid parental leave.

The very same day, the major pharmaceutical company Amgen, which houses a distribution facility in Louisville, announced that tax reform is causing them to shift more of their planned investments here to the United States, including the construction of a new ``next-generation manufacturing plant'' right here at home.

Already, our historic tax reform law is giving employers the flexibility to invest more, expand more, hire more American workers, and give bonuses, pay raises, and new benefits to their employees, and, already, middle-class families across the country are seeing the benefits.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.