Floor Statements

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.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 en bloc consideration of the following nominations: Executive Calendar Nos. 489, 498, 509, 531, and 532; that the Senate vote on the nominations en bloc with no intervening action or debate; that if confirmed, the motions to reconsider 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 proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following nominations: Executive Calendar Nos. 571, 572, 573, 574, and 575.

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 reconsider 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 at a time to be determined by the majority leader, in consultation with the Democratic leader, on January 3, 2018, the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of the following nomination: Executive Calendar No. 508. I ask consent that there be 30 minutes of debate, equally divided in the usual form; that following the use or yielding back of time, 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. I further ask that notwithstanding rule XXXI, the nomination be held in status quo into the second session of the 115th Congress.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Executive Calendar Nos. 560 through 569 and all nominations placed on the Secretary's desk; that the nominations be confirmed; that 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 proceed to the immediate consideration of the following bills en bloc: Calendar No. 124, S. 117 and Calendar No. 56, S. 501. I further ask unanimous consent that, where applicable, the committee-reported amendment be agreed to, the bills, as amended, if amended, be considered read a third time and passed, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m., Thursday, December 21; 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 be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

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.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to Calendar No. 165,

Mr. President, Congress is standing at the doorstep of a historic opportunity. Today the House will vote on the conference report on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the most significant overhaul of our Nation's Tax Code in more than 30 years. This major tax reform legislation will provide much needed relief to middle-class families and small businesses and will set America on a trajectory toward more opportunity and greater prosperity.

After the House votes this afternoon, the Senate will begin debate and will proceed to a vote on passage later this evening. The final text of this bill is the product of extensive open debate. It is a result of dozens of hearings on tax reform in recent years and an open amendment process. Then, the House and the Senate joined together in a conference committee that carefully reconciled the two Chambers' bills.

Now the time has come to vote. When Senators vote for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, they will be voting for a bill that substantially cuts taxes for middle-class families. By reducing rates, it will let working Americans keep more of their paychecks and send less of their hard- earned money to Washington.

In addition to lower rates, middle-class families will benefit from a standard deduction that is almost double its present level and from a doubling of the child tax credit. They will benefit from the ability to deduct more of their medical expenses, increasing their tax savings during difficult times.

Despite what opponents of the bill have claimed, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act achieves all this while preserving charitable deductions and the adoption tax credit. It protects the exemption for university tuition benefits. A mortgage interest deduction remains, as does a deduction for State and local taxes.

The result is a comprehensive tax reform bill that does what we set out to do: take money out of Washington's pocket and put it back into the pockets of middle-class Americans who earned it. Consider a typical family of four who earns the median family income. A vote for the conference report is a vote to cut their tax bill by more than $2,000 next year.

After a disappointing decade of stagnant wages and shrinking opportunity under the Obama administration, middle-class families are counting on Congress to keep our promise and give them that much needed relief.

In addition to directly cutting taxes for American families, this landmark bill will also set America on a trajectory toward higher wages and better job opportunities by making our country a better place to do business. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act contains a number of provisions that will make it easier to run and grow a small business, to create jobs, and to invest right here in the United States.

The bill creates new tax relief for Main Street businesses. It makes it easier for American companies to bring their earnings back home instead of parking that money elsewhere. It eliminates incentives to shift jobs and manufacturing overseas and replaces them with new incentives to invest and expand operations here at home.

To make America more competitive in the global economy, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act cuts our corporate tax rate from 35 percent--one of the highest rates in the developed world--to 21 percent. This is good news for workers. As more than 100 economists agreed in a recent open letter, ``the question isn't whether American workers are hurt by our country's corporate tax rate--it's how badly.''

Another expert put it this way in a recent op-ed: It is ``the consensus view of professional economists'' that ``lowering corporate income taxes would increase the wages of workers.'' Perhaps that is why reforming the corporate tax rate used to be a bipartisan goal. During the previous administration, prominent Democrats said they supported bringing our rate in line with our competitors overseas.

There may be a new occupant of the White House, but the need for reform has not changed. I hope our colleagues on both sides of the aisle will support this pro-growth, pro-worker policy.

It is no wonder that job creators are enthusiastic about what they will be able to accomplish when tax reform becomes law. I recently received a letter from the chief operating officer of a construction equipment dealer in my hometown of Louisville. This is a direct quote: ``We'll hire more employees and plan investments in our company that we weren't considering prior to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.''

This bill will also help Americans by repealing a punitive tax at the very heart of ObamaCare. For low- and middle-income families who are suffering under the individual mandate tax--including many in my home State of Kentucky--repeal means relief. If the health insurance plans available under ObamaCare are not affordable or not desirable, the blame lies with that failing law, not with Americans who are already struggling to make ends meet. It is unfair and illogical to penalize them further because ObamaCare is failing to meet their needs. By erasing this individual mandate tax, we will give Americans both tax relief and healthcare flexibility--two things that ObamaCare failed to provide.

There is one more element of this bill that deserves special attention. It provides the Nation, and particularly the people of Alaska, with a tremendous opportunity to develop the State's bountiful natural resources. In 1980 Congress set aside a particular nonwilderness area within Alaska's National Wildlife Refuge for potential development of its oil and gas resources. This bill is our chance to finally make good on that promise, enhancing our country's energy security and creating good-paying jobs in the process.

Unlocking the resources of this area will provide a boon to Alaska's economy, but more broadly, it will also advance America's standing as an energy superpower, helping to cut Americans' energy costs and strengthening our national security.

For too long, special interests have stood in the way of responsible development. The people of Alaska have shown time and again that resource development can go hand in hand with environmental protection, and surface development will be limited to just one ten-thousandth of the total land in the reserve. It is long past time to finish what Congress started almost 40 years ago and to begin reaping the benefits of responsible development.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will deliver historic tax relief to American families. It will help put our country on a trajectory toward more innovation and better paying jobs. It will repeal an unfair tax at the center of ObamaCare and will help America achieve greater energy security.

So this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. I want to commend the work of Chairman Hatch, Chairman Enzi, and Chairman Murkowski to bring it within reach. I urge all of our colleagues to join me in voting to approve the conference report and complete this victory for the American people.

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 move to proceed to the conference report to accompany H.R. 1.

Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Madam President, today I wish to congratulate Mr. Bill Daugherty of Lexington, KY, who was recently honored by Berea College with its distinguished alumnus award. Each year, the school recognizes notable alumni who have achieved success in their profession, contributed to the community, and have faithfully upheld Berea's mission. The college, founded in 1855 by abolitionists, fosters an educational institution that cultivates Christian values and challenges students to carry them into action in their community.

Raised on a cattle farm in Jackson County, KY, Bill graduated from Berea in 1976, and he used his degree in agriculture to succeed in the natural resource industry. Less than 10 years later, he founded his own small petroleum business. His company evolved and grew to focus on natural gas in the Appalachian region. After years of success, Bill and his business partner founded an independent oil exploration and production company.

Bill has served his community on the board of the Kentucky Energy Council, Kentucky Oil and Gas Association, and the Independent Petroleum Association of America. He currently serves as the vice chairman of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, which is tasked with helping States find environment-friendly ways to increase the supply of American energy.

Finally, Bill and his business partner founded a successful horse racing and breeding enterprise. His success in the natural gas industry was matched in the thoroughbred racing industry. In fact, Bill's own horse, California Chrome, won the Kentucky Derby in 2014.

The distinguished alumnus award is not only a recognition of significant accomplishment in the recipient's chosen profession, but it also serves as an inspiration to the current students at Berea College who are eager to make their own positive impact in the community. Bill and his wife, Zella, play active roles in the community by hosting events in support of the New Opportunity School for Women, an intensive 3-week program that offers coursework in job search skills, creative writing, and Appalachian literature. I want to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Bill for receiving this award and commending him on a successful career.

Madam President, today I would like to recognize the efforts of Clarence Floyd, a proud Korean war veteran, from Pulaski County, KY. At the age of 84, Clarence still works to serve his community, taking up a campaign to erect reserved-parking spaces for area veterans. These signs are a salute to the men and women who served our Nation in uniform.

As the honor guard commander of Somerset's American Legion Post 38, Clarence cares deeply about America's veterans. To arrange reserved- parking spaces for veterans, Clarence works with local businesses and the city of Somerset's street department. Then, he and his wife, Nancy, install the signs themselves. He says, ``It takes me about 20 minutes to put up two signs.''

To date, there are 10 locations with veterans-only parking throughout Pulaski County. Clarence is also working with other local businesses to install more in the near future. I would like to thank Clarence for his service to our country and to his fellow veterans, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in doing so.

Madam President, today I wish to remember the life of Lohren Martin, of Corbin, KY, who passed away on November 21, 2017, at the age of 87. A man of many talents, Lohren will be remembered most by those who loved him as a caring friend.

A veteran of the Korean war, Lohren worked in his community as an attorney, a businessman, an entrepreneur, and a developer. Lohren's siblings and friends think of his humor, patriotism, and constant friendship.

Elaine and I would like to extend our condolences to Lohren's wife, Arvilla, his children Eddie and Cindy, and all who knew and loved him. His life left a lasting impression on all of those around him, and I hope that their fond memories of Lohren will bring comfort in this time of grief.

The Corbin Times-Tribune recently published an article on Lohren's life. I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the article be printed in the Record.