Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session for 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 consideration of Calendar No. 257, S. Res. 279.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported amendment be agreed to, the resolution, as amended, be agreed to, the committee-reported amendment to the preamble be agreed to, the McCain amendment at the desk be agreed to, the preamble, as amended, be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following Senate resolutions which were submitted earlier today: S. Res. 337, S. Res. 338, S. Res. 339, and S. Res. 340.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, 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 to then convene for pro forma sessions only, with no business being conducted, on the following dates and times, and that following each pro forma session, the Senate adjourn until the next pro forma session: Friday, November 17, at 11 a.m.; Tuesday, November 21, at 11 a.m.; Friday, November 24, at 11 a.m; I further ask that when the Senate adjourns on Friday, November 24, it next convene at 4 p.m., Monday, November 27; 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 proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Friedrich nomination, with the time until 5:30 p.m. equally divided between the two leaders or their designees; finally, that notwithstanding the provisions of rule XXII, the cloture motion filed on the Katsas nomination ripen following disposition of the Friedrich nomination.

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, the need for tax reform has been obvious for a long time now. Many Republicans have said it. Many Democrats have said it. We certainly hope Democrats will continue to stand by their strong statements in support of tax reform today, because while the occupant of the Oval Office may have changed, the need for tax reform certainly hasn't.

Indeed, after many long years of an Obama economy that so often failed the middle class, its effects continue to be felt across the country for many: for single parents who still struggle to make ends meet; for moms and dads who still struggle to find a way to send their kids to college, make a car payment, or save for retirement; and for small business owners who still find themselves frustrated when they try to hire more employees, reinvest in their business or pursue their dreams.

There are many obstacles to tackle--an out-of-control regulatory state, for one. We have taken significant action to tame that already, and we will continue to do so.

Another huge factor is our seriously outdated Tax Code. Filled with complicated schedules, worksheets, deductions, and loopholes, the code is easy for the wealthy and well-connected to game and almost impossible for almost anyone else to understand. If you are wealthy, you hire accountants and lawyers to navigate a complicated process. But the young, small business owner starting out can't afford a team to do her taxes and bring on a new employee or raise wages.

Moreover, the Tax Code actively punishes those small businesses and the middle class with rates that are too high, provisions that are clearly outdated, and incentives that are just plain ridiculous--like the fact that it actually encourages the shipping of American jobs and businesses overseas. Our Tax Code actually encourages that. That is why this Congress, in conjunction with the White House, is working hard to pass tax reform.

Today the Senate Finance Committee will continue to examine its tax reform proposal under Chairman Hatch's leadership. Members are continuing to discuss the best path forward to deliver relief to the men and women we represent. This week's hearings are just the latest in a years-long process to write a tax code that supports the middle class. In fact, since Chairman Hatch has been the top Republican on the Finance Committee, it has hosted 70 hearings in the last 6 years. Each one of those hearings considered how to improve the Tax Code to make it work better for all Americans.

The committee has made numerous serious efforts to engage across the aisle to get this done. Members on both sides agree that a pro-growth tax plan will move our economy forward, help create more jobs, and help families keep more of their hard-earned paychecks, or at least our Democratic friends used to, seemingly, until President Trump came along.

The plan before the committee fulfills important goals that all of us

should share. It aims to make taxes for families lower, simpler, and fairer. According to the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation and recent news reports, the ``Middle Class [are the] biggest winners in [the] Senate tax plan.''

It also aims to make it easier for small businesses to grow, invest, and hire. For Kentucky's small businesses and for those across the country, this proposal will help to do just that by creating incentives to bring investment and jobs home and keep them here.

The plan before the Finance Committee fulfills our main goal for tax reform, which is taking more money out of Washington's pockets and putting more money into the pockets of the middle class.

Last evening, the committee released a modified chairman's mark that, among other important elements, will effectively repeal ObamaCare's individual mandate tax so we can provide even more tax relief to low- and middle-income families. In short, the goal is to repeal an unpopular tax from an unworkable law in order to provide more tax relief to middle-class families.

Now, as the committee continues its legislative markup through an open process, it will explore further ways to improve this good legislation. Both Republicans and Democrats have offered hundreds of amendments. Chairman Hatch is setting aside full days for the committee to consider them. Once the Finance Committee completes its work and reports its proposal to the Senate floor, all Members will have the chance to offer their amendments under the regular order.

Another Senate committee is having an important markup today as well. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is beginning its consideration of an important proposal to support good jobs, our energy future, and our national security.

So, once again, I commend Chairman Murkowski and the members of the committee for their work on this proposal to further develop Alaska's oil and natural gas potential in an environmentally responsible way-- more American jobs, more American energy, and more energy security and independence. I look forward to the Energy Committee reporting its legislation today.

Mr. President, yesterday the Senate continued its efforts to confirm the President's talented nominees to staff the Federal Government.

We advanced the nomination of David Zatezalo to serve as the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health, an important position to the thousands of miners in States like Kentucky. I look forward to confirming his nomination early this afternoon, along with that of Mark Esper, who will be confirmed to another important position, Secretary of the Army.

Also, we will turn to Joseph Otting, President Trump's nominee to serve as Comptroller of the Currency. This position is crucial to protecting our national banking system, and Mr. Otting has the experience necessary to excel there.

Then, the Senate will continue our efforts to ensure that our Nation's judiciary fulfills its proper role in our democracy by confirming two more talented nominees to serve as Federal district court judges. President Trump has continued to nominate individuals who will interpret the law as it is actually written, not as they wish it were.

Donald Coggins has been nominated to serve as district court judge for the District of South Carolina. He has been in private practice in South Carolina for over three decades. The Senate Judiciary Committee reported his nomination by a voice vote. He is a talented nominee, and I look forward to confirming him soon.

Then the Senate will consider the nomination of Dabney Friedrich to serve as district court judge for the District of Columbia. Ms. Friedrich has a wealth of experience, having been in private practice and having served as assistant U.S. attorney in both the Eastern District of Virginia and the Southern District of California, and she has been confirmed twice by the Senate as a Commissioner of the U.S. Sentencing Commission. The Judiciary Committee also reported her nomination by a voice vote. These nominees will respect the rule of law on the Federal bench, and they should be confirmed without delay.

I would like to again thank Chairman Grassley for his commitment to bringing the President's impressive judicial nominees to the floor. These are both respected nominees who have the support of Members on both sides of the aisle, and I hope we can consider their nominations without any partisan procedural hurdles. We should confirm them soon.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, that at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 16, there be 30 minutes of postcloture time remaining on the Otting nomination, equally divided between the leaders or their designees, and that following the use or yielding back of that time, the Senate vote on the confirmation of the Otting nomination; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action. I further ask consent that following disposition of the Otting nomination, the Senate vote on the pending cloture motions on the Coggins and Friedrich nominations in the order filed, and that if cloture is invoked, the postcloture time on the nominations run consecutively.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following nominations: Executive Calendar Nos. 486 and 487.

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 the Senate proceed to legislative session for a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, today I wish to celebrate an institution in Spencer County marking 150 years of community journalism in Kentucky, the Spencer Magnet. Since the weekly newspaper began operations in 1867, it has covered celebrations, tragedies, wars, elections, and so much more. Today the Spencer Magnet is the oldest continuously operated business in Spencer County and reaches more than 4,000 homes each week.

Over the years, the paper has operated under different names with different owners. In 1925, the paper came under the ownership of Katie Beauchamp, and she changed its name from the Spencer Courier to its current title. She justified the new name because it matched her mission for the paper, to serve as a means to draw the people of Spencer County together.

For 150 years, the paper has done just that. The publication covered national and international news, but the Spencer Magnet's focus on community journalism has endeared it to many of my constituents in the area.

As the Spencer County community looks back on its history, it recognizes great successes and painful challenges, but the journalism from this newspaper has been a constant presence in community through it all. To properly mark its sesquicentennial anniversary, the Spencer Magnet is rededicating itself to its mission to draw the community together.

The population of Spencer County continues to grow and change. Now, many residents work in Louisville and then come home to the rural Spencer County to escape the city. Whatever the future may bring, the Spencer Magnet stands ready to deliver the news to its readers.

Kentucky is home to many community newspapers, which have their finger on the pulse of their readers. Organizations like the Spencer Magnet are incredibly important for chronicling our past and for shaping the news of tomorrow. I am proud to help the Spencer Magnet celebrate this anniversary. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Spencer Magnet on many years of reporting.

Mr. President, earlier this year, the Spencer Magnet published an article reflecting on its years of community reporting. I ask unanimous consent that excerpts of the article be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 258, S. 807.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 3949, which was received from the House.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1545 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following Senate resolutions which were submitted earlier today: S. Res. 332, S. Res. 333, and S. Res. 334.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, the preamble, where applicable, be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.