Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 16; 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; finally, that following leader remarks, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Otting 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, following the remarks of Senator Merkley.

Mr. President, tax reform represents our best chance today to get the economy living up to its true potential, and it is a once-in-a-generation opportunity.

The last time major tax reform happened was more than 30 years ago. In the years since, our country, our economy, and the global marketplace have changed in profound ways. Moreover, the lingering economic challenges of the last decade only compound the urgency to get this done.

Jobs went overseas. Wages didn't grow like they should have. Hard- working families worried if they would be able to send their kids to college or save for retirement. It is clear that families and small businesses had a rough go of it during the Obama economy.

They deserve relief. They deserve the chance for something better. Tax reform is an important way to help get the economy, jobs, and opportunity moving again in a serious way.

Listen to this small business owner and franchisee from Lexington, KY. She recently wrote to my office expressing the need for tax reform: ``With the rising cost of doing business,'' she wrote, ``and the [g]overnment regulations that have been imposed on small businesses over the past several years, we desperately need tax relief and competitive rates. The current high tax rate that I pay,'' she continued, ``reduces the amount of earnings I can invest into my businesses, [into my] employees, and [into my] community.''

For small business owners in Kentucky and throughout the country, we want to make it easier to grow, invest, and hire. For families everywhere, we want to make taxes lower, simpler, and fairer. In short, we want to take more money out of Washington's pockets and put more in the pockets of the middle class. That is why we are pushing tax reform.

Yesterday, the Senate Finance Committee began to mark up its tax reform legislation. The meetings this week represent the next step in a years-long campaign, which included dozens of hearings and significant input from both sides.

Chairman Hatch said yesterday:

First and foremost, this legislation will provide much-

needed tax relief to American workers and families. It

reduces rates across the board, particularly for those in the

middle class who have struggled to get through the past 8

years of economic stagnation.

Indeed, under the Finance Committee's proposal, the typical American family of four earning the median income could see a tax cut of nearly $1,500.

As these hearings continue, I would like once again to commend Chairman Hatch for his leadership of the committee and his commitment to regular order. As the tax proposal advances through an open process, members of the Finance Committee will consider many of the hundreds of amendments that have already been filed on the bill. Once the committee completes its work, the bill will come before the full Senate.

Along with our colleagues in the House, as well as President Trump and his team, we will continue to push for tax reform to fulfill important shared goals for our country. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but we are committed to getting this done for the

American people. I hope that our Democratic friends will join us.

As I said before, until very recently, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle used to support many of the ideas included in this bill. The underlying ideas haven't changed. The urgent need for tax reform hasn't changed. The only thing that has really changed is the occupant of the White House. So I hope Senate Democrats will put aside partisanship and work with us in a serious way to deliver this much needed relief to small businesses and the middle class.

Mr. President, in addition to the other work being done by the committees, the Senate is continuing to confirm qualified and talented nominees sent to us by the President. Yesterday we confirmed an important official for the Department of Transportation, and today we will confirm another.

Then, we will advance the nomination of David Zatezalo to serve as the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health, a position of particular importance in my home State of Kentucky, where mining supports thousands of good jobs.

Mr. Zatezalo has spent a lifetime working in the mining industry. He began as an underground coal miner and worked his way up through the ranks to most recently lead a mining company based in Lexington, KY. He knows about various levels of the business, which would be an important asset as he works with operators, miners, and inspectors to ensure that mining operations are safe for our Nation's mine workers.

Having begun his career as a coal miner himself and having later managed and operated a number of mines, Mr. Zatezalo has a keen understanding of the challenges and risks sometimes associated with mining. This firsthand experience will serve him well in his new role. As Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health, Mr. Zatezalo will be given the responsibility to reduce workplace accidents and promote safe and healthy workplaces for miners.

I strongly support his nomination to serve in this role, and I would ask my colleagues to join me in advancing this nomination.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that with respect to the Bradbury nomination, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, at 11:50 a.m. on Wednesday, November 15, the Senate proceed to the consideration of the following nomination: Executive Calendar No. 463; further, that there be up to 10

minutes of debate on the nomination, equally divided in the usual form, and 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 and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

I further ask unanimous consent that following the disposition of the Esper nomination, all postcloture time on Executive Calendar No. 383 be considered expired.

For the information of all Senators, there will be three rollcall votes at 12 noon tomorrow.

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 immediate consideration of Calendar No. 121, S. 534.

I further ask unanimous consent that the committee- reported substitute amendment be withdrawn; that the substitute amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed; and 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 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 318 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

I further ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to; the amendment to the preamble, which is 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 with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 15; 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; finally, that following leader remarks, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Zatezalo nomination.

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, for too long many in America's middle-class families felt left behind by the Obama economy. Paychecks seemed to stagnate, good-paying jobs seemed harder to find, and opportunities seemed difficult to come by.

Our country can do better for hard-working families, and that is exactly what we are working to deliver as we continue our efforts to pass tax reform. It is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and it is the most important thing we can do today to get our economy really growing again and going again.

Last week, the House Ways and Means Committee passed its proposal to lower taxes and to boost economic growth. I would like to commend Chairman Brady for his efforts to get the bill approved by the Committee and to the floor of the House.

Here in the Senate, we also remain focused on tax reform this week. Today, the Finance Committee began its mark-up of the tax reform proposal released last week. Under the leadership of Chairman Hatch, the committee will consider this plan that really has been many years and dozens of hearings in the making.

The Finance Committee's tax plan will help hard-working Americans keep more of their own money. It will help create more jobs here at home, and it will help increase opportunities for the middle class. Consider this from a recent news report titled: ``Middle class biggest winners in Senate tax plan, study says.''

``Moderate-income people would consistently see the largest percentage declines in their tax bills,'' the article says, ``according to an analysis released late Saturday by the official, nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation.''

``In 2019,'' the article continues, ``people in the middle of the income spectrum earning, between $50,000 and [$75,000], would see their taxes fall by 7.1 percent. Those earning between $20,000 and $30,000 would see a 10.4 percent decline.''

Here is another recent article, titled: ``Senate bill would cut taxes by $1.78 trillion, create [925,000] new jobs, study finds.''

The article noted that the Finance Committee's bill ``would boost the economy, creating 925,000 new jobs and raising wages by 2.9 percent over 10 years, according to a new analysis released Thursday by the Tax Foundation.'' According to that study, families in my home State of Kentucky can see a boost to after-tax incomes for middle-income families,'' of nearly $2,000.

Earlier today, I had an opportunity to meet with a number of Kentucky small business owners and workers to hear from them about the importance of tax reform. We discussed how this effort can help provide relief to small businesses and middle-class families by making taxes lower, simpler, and fairer. Tax reform can help provide real relief to families and small businesses that felt left behind by our economy.

The proposal that the committee will take up today is the product of years of listening to people across the country who are calling out for relief. It is from careful study of our current Tax Code, understanding what it gets right and what it too often gets wrong.

The Senate's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act represents the consensus views of the Finance Committee members and it reflects the values shared by the House, the Senate, and the Trump administration, put forward in our unified framework earlier this year. Chairman Hatch has shown impressive leadership to craft this proposal, and I look forward to his continued guidance of the committee under regular order.

Today, members will have the opportunity to give opening statements and provide their insights on the proposal. During this process, the committee will consider amendments from both sides. As of this morning, more than 300 amendments have been filed by both Republican and Democrat members. Additionally, all Senators will have the chance to share their opinions here on the Senate floor. This is an open process.

It is time to reform our Tax Code and provide much needed relief to the hard-working men and women of this country. The Finance Committee's proposal would do just that.

In a related action this week, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, under the leadership of Chairman Murkowski, will begin to mark up legislation supporting our Nation's energy security. Further developing Alaska's oil and gas potential in an environmentally responsible way is an important effort to help create new jobs, generate new wealth, and provide for our energy future and energy security.

These committee markups are positive steps toward growing our economy and helping the middle class.

Madam President, the Senate will continue its progress in confirming the President's nominees. Last week we confirmed multiple nominees to a number of Federal agencies. Soon they will get on the job for our country.

This week we will start by considering two nominees for the Department of Transportation. Later today, the Senate will vote to confirm Derek Kan to serve as the Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy. Mr. Kan has experience in a wide range of transportation matters, from Amtrak to ride-sharing platforms. His career in both the private and public sectors will serve him well as he works to develop important policies related to our Nation's infrastructure. I will be supporting Mr. Kan's nomination, and I would urge all Senators to join me.

Next, we will consider the nomination of Steven Bradbury to be general counsel of the Department of Transportation. During Mr. Bradbury's service at the Justice Department in the Bush administration, he advised the executive branch on various legal and constitutional questions. I am grateful that he has chosen to serve our Nation once again.

Next up will be David Zatezalo to serve as the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health and, then, Joseph Otting to be the Comptroller of the Currency. Finally, we have two more talented and qualified nominees to serve as Federal district court judges, Donald Coggins and Dabney Friedrich.

Thoughtful consideration of President Trump's nominees is an important responsibility of the Senate, and we will continue to move swiftly so they can get to work for the American people. I look forward to considering each of them this week, and I would urge all of our colleagues to join me.

Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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.