Floor Statements

Mr. President, first, this morning began with reports of the tragedy at Marshall County High School in Benton, KY. State officials have reported at least one confirmed death and several injuries. My staff in Western Kentucky is at the high school and is in close contact with local officials. They are monitoring the situation and will be providing me with updates throughout the day.

I know I speak for communities across my home State in sending prayers of comfort and healing to students, faculty, and everyone affected by this violence. Our hearts are with the entire community in Marshall County, and our gratitude is with the first responders who rushed into harm's way.

Mr. President, we might call today the ``first day of the rest of the 115th Congress.'' Yesterday, an overwhelming bipartisan majority of Senators voted to end a filibuster of government funding and conclude a short-lived shutdown of the Federal Government. This regrettable episode reminded all of us that, in the Senate, brinksmanship and hostage-taking simply do not work. The only path to meaningful progress is the hard work of crafting legislation and persuading colleagues on both sides to support it.

Yesterday evening our agreement to reopen the government, secure funding for our men and women in uniform, extend health insurance for vulnerable children, and further delay three ObamaCare taxes was signed into law. Now serious negotiations can resume on key issues such as immigration and border security, disaster relief, healthcare, and providing adequate levels of defense spending to support the new national defense strategy--just to name a few. Because common sense and bipartisanship won out yesterday, we have a fresh start today. I challenge every one of us to make the most of it. The American people are watching.

Once again, I want to thank the bipartisan group of Senators-- spearheaded by Senator Graham, Senator Collins, Senator Flake, and several of our Democratic colleagues--who helped bring an end to this regrettable incident. I particularly wish to thank Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch for his powerful advocacy for the 9 million children and low-income families who rely on the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

Senator Hatch co-created SCHIP with Senator Ted Kennedy on a bipartisan basis more than 20 years ago. I know he counts this program among his proudest legislative accomplishments, and with a career like Senator Hatch's, that is really saying something.

I understand the 6-year SCHIP extension the Senate passed yesterday will

be the longest extension in the program's history. Its passage offers just one more testament, as if we needed one, to Senator Hatch's moral conviction, political skill, and care for the most vulnerable in our society. It reminds us how much we will miss his work when he retires at the end of this Congress.

Mr. President, on another matter, we have a long list of legislative priorities to tackle in the coming weeks, but legislation is not the only bipartisan business that the Senate needs to handle. Yesterday afternoon I filed cloture on three nominees to fill important positions in the administration: Alex Azar, to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services; Sam Brownback, to serve as Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom; and Jerome Powell, to serve as Chairman of the Federal Reserve.

Today the Senate is considering the nomination of Mr. Powell, who brings with him degrees from Princeton and Georgetown and a record of high achievement in both the public and private sectors. Since his nomination to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in 2011, which received strong, bipartisan support, he has served as a steady voice and a thoughtful leader. I very much look forward to supporting his confirmation as Chairman.

Mr. President, on one final matter, while the press was focused on the unfortunate lapse in government funding, the good news about last month's historic tax reform law continued to pile up. The number of Americans preparing to receive pay raises, special bonuses, and other benefits, thanks to the historic tax cuts passed last month, continues to grow. These are just the first fruits of a law that also lays a long-term foundation for better job opportunities, higher wages, and more investment.

On this subject, here is something that not many have realized yet. Even the Democrats' government shutdown couldn't keep this Congress from finding new ways to cut taxes and let the American people keep more of their hard-earned money. Included in yesterday's bipartisan bill was an additional $31 billion in tax cuts. Specifically, we delayed three onerous taxes that were created as part of ObamaCare.

Last year, as part of comprehensive tax reform, we repealed the unfair individual mandate tax at the heart of ObamaCare. Now we have taken care of three more. One was ObamaCare's deeply unpopular tax on medical devices. Another was the so-called ``Cadillac tax,'' which Senator Heller of Nevada has worked hard to delay. That tax penalizes employers who offer generous benefits. The third, simply called the ``health insurance tax,'' makes plans more expensive.

All three of these taxes are unpopular. All are key pieces of the failing ObamaCare health law. Now, because this Congress is so intent on saving the American people money, all three of them will be delayed.

Personally, I liked the way the New York Times put it. Their headline read: ``There's a Surprise in the Government Funding Bill: More Tax Cuts.''

Here is the story's first line: ``Congress is apparently not done cutting taxes, even after passing a $1.5 trillion tax overhaul last year.'' I couldn't say it better than the New York Times.

The Senate is never done looking for new ways to take money out of Washington's pocket and to put it back in the pockets of the American people.

Mr. President, on November 16, 2017, Laurel County lost a beloved presence in their community with the passing of Glenn Calebs, Sr. He was 92 and dedicated his life to serving this country and those around him.

A Navy veteran of the Second World War and a member of the Greatest Generation, Glenn had a strong sense of patriotism. Those who knew him said he made it a priority to participate in the annual Veterans Day celebrations in Laurel County whenever possible. The judge-executive of Laurel County recalled that he knew he could count on Glenn to be at his side during the parade every year.

Members of the community knew how deeply Glenn cherished his family and his church. One of his friends said it best when he recalled to a local newspaper, ``He was a true gentlemen of Laurel County. . . . He was a pillar of the community and the community will miss him.''

We are forever grateful for Glenn's service to our country at a time when we needed it most. I ask my colleagues to join Elaine and me as we send our condolences to his three children and four grandchildren. We hope that their fond memories of his selfless spirit will help them heal from their loss.

Mr. President, the Sentinel Echo recently published an article on Glenn's life and service. I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the article be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, today I wish to remember the life of Bud Hays of Knott County, KY, who passed away on November 21, 2017, at the age of 98. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Bud received multiple awards for his military service during World War II.

Born in Quicksand, KY, Bud was the youngest of a dozen children. The family moved to Hindman, KY, where Bud grew up in a small log cabin. He later enlisted in the Army at the age of 16. Serving on the front lines during the Second World War, Bud traveled around the world to Germany, Africa, and Australia in service to his Nation. Under the command of General Patton as an Army infantry medic, Bud risked his own life in order to save the lives of other soldiers. Bud was shot in the hand and, after being discharged, received the Purple Heart, Military Heart, and Bronze Star.

After World War II, Bud returned to Knott County, where he ran a grocery store, drove a school bus, and raised a family. Bud and his wife, Elouise, had four children: his son Doug, as well as his three daughters Kathy, Linda, and Marlene. Elaine and I send our condolences to their children, their family, and friends.

Mr. President, I would like to recognize a legend in Kentucky's high school athletics, Coach Stan Steidel. This month, Dayton High School in Campbell County is marking Stan's decades of service to the school and its students by renaming the basketball court in his honor. I would like to join the community in thanking Stan for his support of Kentucky's student-athletes.

Stan, who graduated from Dayton High School in 1959, has spent more than 50 years in education, helping guide the next generation of Kentuckians to a bright future. Throughout his career, he has earned a long list of accolades as a coach, a teacher, an athletic director, and as an administrator.

In 1979, along with a group of coaches, Stan established Kentucky's ``All A'' Classic, a tournament for smaller schools. The first basketball tournament in 1980 hosted eight schools, all from northern Kentucky. Through the persistence of many individuals like Stan, the classic continued to grow. In 1990, the founders' dream became reality with a statewide tournament with the winning teams from 16 regions.

The classic has continued to develop, adding more sports, arts, academic team competition, and Junior ROTC tournaments. It has also grown as a program to help student-athletes compete at a collegiate level, giving more

than $500,000 in scholarships to attend Kentucky schools. Because of Stan's passionate leadership, countless Kentucky students are able to hone their skills and compete across the Commonwealth.

I would like to congratulate Stan for this impressive honor and thank him for a career of dedicated service to young people throughout Kentucky. I am proud to join with the Kentucky athletic community in celebrating Stan's accomplishments.

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize Gilbert ``Gil'' Vanover, who has committed his life to serving the people of McCreary County, KY, and the country.

A Korean war veteran, Gil joined the U.S. Air Force in 1950 after he graduated from McCreary County High School. During a mission in a B-26 Bomber, Gil's plane was shot down, forcing him and his team to evacuate. Gil parachuted out of the plane and was later rescued by Allied Forces.

During his landing, Gil suffered several injuries, causing him to be discharged from the Air Force. However, that did not dissuade him from serving his country again, and he reenlisted. After 28 years of service to his Nation, he retired as a first sergeant at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. Among his many well-earned recognitions, Gil was awarded the Bronze Star and the Cross of Gallantry Air Medal for his selfless military service to our country.

After his career in the Armed Forces, Gil returned back to his hometown to serve his community in a new way: as a teacher. He taught history for 15 years at McCreary County High School, the same school he had attended years before.

I would like to urge my colleagues to join me in thanking Gil for his bravery and perseverance in his service to our country, as well as his commitment to the next generation of his community in McCreary County. He is an inspiration to his students, neighbors, and all who seek to help others.

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the work of the Southeastern Kentucky Rehabilitation Industries, SEKRI, a nonprofit organization in Corbin, KY, which helps provide employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Before its founding in 1971, men and women with mental or physical disabilities in southeastern Kentucky often struggled to find real opportunities for employment. Since SEKRI was established, it has helped many men and women find work. Seventy-five percent of SEKRI's workforce is comprised of individuals with disabilities who produce garments such as caps and protective gear for the Armed Forces. Today SEKRI has five plants, four of which are in Kentucky, and employs over 550 individuals throughout the region. SEKRI plans to open its sixth plant in Pineville, KY, this year.

For more than 45 years, SEKRI has helped hundreds of workers with disabilities in eastern Kentucky participate in the workforce. I would like to commend SEKRI for its many contributions to the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Mr. President, on behalf of myself and the distinguished Democratic leader, Mr. Schumer, I send to the desk a resolution on documentary production by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. President, the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs recently conducted an investigation into the purchase and shipment of illicit opioids into and throughout the United States. The Subcommittee has now received a request from the Department of Homeland Security seeking access to records that the Subcommittee obtained during the investigation.

In keeping with the Senate's practice under its rules, this resolution would authorize the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, acting jointly, to provide records, obtained by the Subcommittee in the course of its investigation, in response to this request and requests from other Federal or State government entities and officials with a legitimate need for the records.

Mr. President, in 2 hours every Senator can vote to end this government shutdown. At 12 noon we will vote to end the Democratic leader's filibuster and advance instead a bipartisan bill that would put this mess behind us.

The bill before us does three things that every Democrat and Republican should be able to support. First, it ends the shutdown and restores full funding for the Federal Government through February 8. Second, it extends health insurance for 9 million vulnerable children. Third, it will enable Congress to resume serious bipartisan talks on the important issues facing our Nation.

I respect the passion that many of our friends in this Chamber, both Democrat and Republican alike, bring to the major issues before the Senate--all of these issues. Each of us brings our own views and personal perspectives to discussions of immigration policy, healthcare reform, or details of government spending.

But we should not let the political feuds or policy disagreements obscure the simple fact that every Member of this body cares deeply about the challenges facing our country. All of us want to make life better for the American people.

Bearing this in mind, I hope and intend that we can reach bipartisan solutions on issues such as military spending, immigration and border security, and disaster relief before the February 8 deadline.

But yesterday evening, I restated my position that these negotiations can't last forever. Should these issues not be resolved by the time the funding bill before us expires on February 8, so long as the government remains open, it would be my intention to take up legislation here in the Senate that would address DACA, border security, and related issues, as well as disaster relief, defense funding, healthcare, and other important matters.

Let me be clear. This immigration debate will have a level playing field at the outset and an amendment process

that is fair to all sides, and it would be my strong preference for the Senate to consider a proposal that could actually be signed into law. A bipartisan, bicameral group is already negotiating, and I look forward to completion of its work.

But it is abundantly clear that the Senate cannot make progress on any of these crucial matters until the government is reopened. We need to move forward. The very first step is ending the shutdown. It is evident that this government shutdown is doing nothing--absolutely nothing--to generate bipartisan progress on the issues the American people care about. Every day we spend arguing about keeping the lights on is another day we cannot spend negotiating DACA, defense spending, or any of our other shared priorities.

Let's join together and put the filibuster behind us and get back to work for the American people.

Mr. President, I thank the Democratic leader for his comments and his indication that he intends to support the measure before us.

I think if we have learned anything during this process, it is that a strategy to shut down the government over the issue of illegal immigration is something the American people didn't understand and would not have understood in the future. So I am glad we have gotten past that, and we have a chance now to get back to work.

Therefore, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum call be waived.

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

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Con. Res. 33.

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.

Madam President, I know of no further debate on the motion to concur with amendment.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Madam President, after 3 days of an unnecessary lapse in funding, a bipartisan majority has brought the Democratic leader's extraordinary filibuster to an end and passed a bipartisan bill to reopen the Federal Government.

As I have said repeatedly over the past week, shutting down the government is an irresponsible way to do business. It does not reflect the seriousness with which I know my colleagues on both sides would like to approach the people's business here in the Senate.

All our important work for the American people had to be put on hold while this manufactured crisis was dealt with. We made no substantive progress--not one inch--on the serious bipartisan negotiations that it will take to solve issues such as immigration, border security, healthcare, defense spending, and many other matters. I am glad we can finally get back to work here.

Amid the political gamesmanship, the past 3 days have highlighted the commitment of many of my colleagues to honest and bipartisan work. I would like to particularly thank Senator Graham, Senator Collins, Senator Flake, and several of our Democratic colleagues who worked tirelessly to bring this impasse to a conclusion.

Soon, Federal operations will be getting back to normal for the American people. We all know what comes next--challenging negotiations on a host of serious issues. The weeks ahead will require the best from all of us.

I hope we can remember some lessons from this regrettable incident. Brinksmanship and hostage-taking do not work. They make bipartisan progress harder, not easier, to achieve.

Senators must focus on the common good of the American people, not the warped priorities--the warped priorities--of extreme voices, no matter how loudly they shout at us to do otherwise.

With the pointless, damaging, partisan theatrics of this government shutdown behind us, serious and bipartisan negotiations can resume. We have been talking for months about how to address military spending, disaster relief, healthcare, immigration, and border security, and the rest of Congress's unfinished business. Now those talks can get going again. Whether they bear fruit is up to all of us.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 594, Jerome Powell.