Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 390, 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 the Senate recess until 8:25 p.m. tonight and, upon reconvening, proceed as a body to the Hall of the House of Representatives for the joint session of Congress provided under the provisions of H. Con. Res. 101; that upon dissolution of the joint session, the Senate adjourn to then convene for a pro forma session only, with no business being conducted, on Friday, February 2, at 11 a.m.; that following the pro forma session, the Senate adjourn until Monday, February 5, at 3 p.m.; 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 be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, I thank my good friend from Rhode Island. I will not occupy the Senate floor for very long.

Recognition of the Majority Leader

Mr. President, the community of Benton, KY, is continuing to pick up the pieces after last week's harrowing shooting.

I wish, once again, to thank our law enforcement and first responders for their heroism, and I would also like to recognize Marshall County Judge-Executive Kevin Neal for his leadership when his community needed it the most.

For most of us, this tragedy is barely even conceivable, but to the parents of Bailey Holt and Preston Cope, it is now a painful reality. Bailey Holt was 15 years old, and her mother said that she had a ``perfect, sweet soul.'' She has been described as compassionate, confident, and comfortable being herself. When she wasn't busy cheering for the University of Louisville Cardinals, Bailey was always ready with a kind word or a friendly gesture for those who needed it.

On social media, her family and friends are using the expression ``Be Like Bailey,'' encouraging everyone who sees it to act with charity.

Preston Cope, who was also 15, was known for being kind, soft-spoken, and a quick learner. He loved reading about history and playing baseball for Marshall County High School and the Calvert City Sluggers. Preston's friends remember his ability to inspire them and to make them laugh.

One of Bailey and Preston's classmates called them ``the nicest people I ever met. They never had anything negative to say. They always had a smile on their face.''

This weekend, friends and family gathered at the high school gym by the hundreds to remember Bailey and Preston and to comfort one another.

As the other injured students fight to recover and the entire Marshall County community continues to grieve and heal, they will have Bailey and Preston's example to draw on and they will have the prayers of their fellow Kentuckians, of us here in the Senate, and of the entire country.

Work of the Senate

Mr. President, on an entirely different matter, a great deal of work remains in the Senate in the coming days. Bipartisan discussions continue on a variety of important issues, including immigration, border security, disaster relief, healthcare, and funding for our Armed Forces. With our February 8 deadline fast approaching, it is vital that we continue these serious and constructive talks.

Last week, the administration provided its framework for immigration legislation. As I noted, it builds upon the four pillars for reform that the President has consistently put forth and indicates what is necessary for him to sign a bill into law. As discussions continue in the Senate on the subject of immigration, Members on both sides of the aisle should look to this framework as they work toward an agreement.

The President's proposal has received praise as a serious effort to solve some of the problems with our broken immigration system. Not surprisingly with a subject this complicated, it has also received criticism from both the right and the left. Constructive critiques are one thing, but the type of irresponsible racial invective used yet again on this subject by the Democratic leader of the House is decidedly unhelpful.

These comments are precisely the kind of divisive partisanship that dim the prospects that a bipartisan compromise could become law. The American people elected us to legislate, not to trade insults. To resolve President Obama's unlawfully established DACA Program and other important issues in immigration, I would urge my Democratic colleagues to put serious, good-faith discussions ahead of cheap, partisan point scoring.

Nomination of David Stras

Mr. President, now on another matter. These negotiations aren't the only important business before us this week. We will also consider another of President Trump's well-qualified judicial nominees, David Stras, of Minnesota, to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Judge Stras serves as an associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. Three of his former colleagues on that court, now retired, praised him in an open letter last year for his sterling academic record, his considerable experience, and his ability to hear cases ``with objectivity and an open mind.''

Their testimony confirmed Judge Stras's well-known reputation for thoughtfulness, fairness, and intellectual excellence. I look forward to voting to advance his nomination and to send this capable jurist to the Federal bench.

Mr. President, the Senate will vote to take up a measure to ensure that the most vulnerable in our society are granted the protection they deserve under law. The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act reflects a growing mainstream consensus--mainstream consensus--that unborn children should not be subjected to elective abortion after 20 weeks.

There are only seven countries left in the world that permit this, including,

unfortunately, the United States, along with China and North Korea. It is long past time that we heeded both science and commonsense morality and remove ourselves from this very undistinguished list.

Some refer to this legislation as Micah's Law in honor of a little boy who was born premature at just 22 weeks. Today, Micah Pickering is a healthy 5-year-old boy. He shows what can happen when we give life a chance.

This afternoon, every one of us will go on record on this issue. On the commonsense side of this issue are 63 percent of Americans, according to a recent survey, and every other country in the world, save seven. There is no reason why this should be a partisan issue. I hope our Democratic colleagues will not obstruct the Senate from taking up this bill.

I urge every one of my colleagues to join me in voting to advance it this afternoon.

State of the Union Address

Mr. President, now, on a final matter, the President delivers his first State of the Union Address tomorrow. I am especially looking forward to his remarks on tax reform and the state of our economy. Already hundreds of businesses have announced significant bonuses, pay increases, new jobs, and expanded benefits. Just last week, we learned that Verst Logistics, which is based in Walton, KY, and employs nearly 1,600, has distributed bonuses to full-time employees. The company's CEO told workers: ``I want to be sure that you and your families share in the benefits of your accomplishments and the new tax reform legislation.''

When I hear my Democratic colleagues denigrate tax reform bonuses as ``crumbs,'' I think about workers like these. I think about the Verst worker who came to her boss with tears in her eyes when she received word of her bonus. It was Christmas. She and her husband had recently had their fifth child. Money was tight. Mom and dad had enough saved up to buy gifts for the kids but were planning to skip presents for each other, but tax reform changed that. Thanks to the tax reform bonus she earned, this employee and her husband could go out to a nice dinner and buy each other Christmas gifts after all. The CEO says he has never been hugged so hard in his life.

It is a shame that none of my Democratic colleagues voted for tax reform--not a single one of them--and it is jarring to hear some of them now denigrate the pay increases and the benefits that only wealthy people could deem insignificant. Maybe in San Francisco or New York an extra $500 or $1,000 is no big deal, but try telling that to families in North Dakota, Missouri, and Montana. Try telling that to that mother of five. I suspect you would get an earful.

Tomorrow evening when the President describes tax reform's impact for middle-class Americans, every one of us should stand and applaud.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H. Con. Res. 101, which was received from the House.

Mr. President, this week, the Senate has moved past a partisan paralysis and checked off several important items for the American people.

On Monday, we passed the bipartisan measure that funds the government through February 8. But that bill didn't only end the shutdown, it also extended the State Children's Health Insurance Program for 6 years. That is long-term security for millions of vulnerable children and peace of mind for their families. And the bill delayed three onerous taxes that ObamaCare would otherwise have imposed on the American people.

Yesterday, I filed cloture on commonsense legislation to protect unborn children who can feel pain. There are only seven countries left that still permit elective abortion after 20 weeks, including us, unfortunately, China, and North Korea. On issues of human dignity, this is not the company we ought to keep. I look forward to voting to advance this bill next week.

We also made important headway in another vital area--the personnel business. We confirmed three of President Trump's highly qualified nominees for important posts. We have a new Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Mr. Powell. We have a new Secretary of Health and Human Services, Mr. Azar. And we have a new Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, our former colleague Sam Brownback. Here in the Senate, Mr. Brownback championed legislation to combat human trafficking and work to facilitate cooperation on issues facing vulnerable children. As the voices of religious minorities are being suppressed around the world, I am glad they will have Ambassador Brownback to speak up for them.

Of course, a great deal of work lies ahead of us. In the near future, we need to make bipartisan progress on areas such as immigration and border security, disaster relief, healthcare, and securing adequate funding for our Armed Forces. It is my strong preference that Senators reach bipartisan agreements on these issues in advance of the February 8 deadline. Fortunately, with the government shutdown behind us, serious discussions have resumed on all these matters. A bipartisan, bicameral group, including Senators Cornyn and Durbin, is hard at work on immigration. We will also hear from the White House on Monday, and I look forward to the framework they will present.

I am optimistic these ongoing negotiations will lead to results; nonetheless, I came to the floor on Sunday night and again on Monday to restate a possibility I had previously discussed with Members with diverse views on immigration policy. I restated that if the February 8 deadline for the current funding bill passes and a long-term agreement still eludes us, as long as the government remains open, the Senate will proceed to a variety of priorities on the subject of immigration, including border security, the DACA issue, and other aspects of immigration policy.

The bill I choose to introduce for debate will have an amendment process that will ensure a level playing field at the outset. The amendment process will be fair to all sides, allowing Members to offer their own legislation for consideration and votes. While I obviously cannot guarantee any outcomes, let alone supermajority support, I can ensure the process is fair to all sides.

I am glad that my restating this simple position helped my Democratic colleagues to persuade their leader to abandon his filibuster and permit the government to reopen. The American people are waiting for us to act as soon as possible, so I hope that hard work and honest discussions will yield agreements before February 8.

Mr. President, on another matter, on Tuesday, President Trump will deliver his first State of the Union Address. He will have good news to deliver on a variety of fronts. I am particularly looking forward to his remarks on our economy.

Consumer confidence is up. Unemployment is down. Markets are breaking records. From small businesses to our largest job creators, pay raises, bonuses, and plans for new investments are all in season.

Of course, the engine of American prosperity is the American people, but smart policy can help by getting the government out of their way.

Last December, Republicans in the House and the Senate joined the President to deliver once-in-a-generation tax reform. Every day, more evidence piles up that tax reform is already working for the American people. The headlines are full of major employers announcing pay raises and bonuses for workers, as well as new investments.

For example, Brown-Forman--a global spirits company headquartered in my hometown of Louisville that employs more than 1,000 Kentuckians-- announced yesterday that tax reform will help the company to start a new charitable foundation for community investment and commit $120 million to fund employee pensions.

Soon, thanks to tax reform, a Main Street small business owner will finally be able to realize her dream to expand into the vacant shop next door. Of course, that will mean hiring more help.

Soon, thanks to tax reform, a father-and-son manufacturing plant will be able to afford the new equipment they have been eyeing and give their workers new skills in the process.

Stories like these may not make waves here in Washington, but believe me, they will be front-page news in communities all across our country. From coast to coast, Americans' lives will improve as Main Street businesses operate for the first time under a 21st-century tax code.

This is not just a tax law for the big guys. Now even the smallest businesses will be able to take a significant deduction on their business income, giving them more money to buy new equipment, hire new employees, or provide health coverage for their team.

So much focus has been on bonuses, pay raises, and 401(k) matches, and for good reason. But we should not forget all of the jobs that will be created when businesses decide to invest more because they can immediately deduct their capital expenditures. I am already hearing from small business owners this law was designed to help.

Before tax reform, one franchise restaurant owner in Kentucky wrote me to say that ``the current high tax rate that I pay as a pass-through entity reduces the amount of earnings I can reinvest into my business, employees, and community.'' She went on to say, ``I am very encouraged that tax reform is under way in Congress and hope that it can be accomplished in a timely manner.'' Well, Republican majorities in Congress and the President did just that.

In Nicholasville, KY, another constituent of mine operates a rental business for event equipment. He recently explained that ``the relief that will be provided by the new tax bill gives companies like mine the capital to purchase new inventory . . . as well as hire additional employees.''

Summing it up, American enterprise is thriving. Tax reform helped make it happen.

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, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of the following nomination: Executive Calendar No. 474.

Mr. President, 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 Senate proceed to legislative session and 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 Committee on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S. 1873 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

I further ask unanimous consent that the Blunt amendment, which is at the desk, be considered and agreed to.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and the Senate proceed to vote on passage of the bill, as amended.

Mr. President, I finally ask unanimous consent that 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. 381, 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 the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 382, 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, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 2 p.m., Monday, January 29; 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; further, that following leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S. 2311, with the time until 5:30 p.m. equally divided in the usual form; finally, that notwithstanding the provisions of rule XXII, the cloture motions filed during Wednesday's session ripen in the order filed at 5:30 p.m., Monday.

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.