Floor Statements

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, that at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 2, there be 30 minutes of postcloture time remaining on the Eid nomination, equally divided between the leaders or their designees; that following the use or yielding back of that time, the Senate vote on the confirmation of the Eid 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.

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 congratulate Brig. Gen. Steven P. Bullard of the Kentucky Air National Guard as he begins his retirement after more than three decades of achievement, service, and sacrifice. This Nation and the Commonwealth of Kentucky thank him for his diligence in defending our safety and security.

Brigadier General Bullard has served as the chief of staff, Headquarters, for the Kentucky Air National Guard and the deputy chief of the Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters-Kentucky National Guard since 2012. In these roles, he has been responsible for the guidance and direction of more than 8,500 Army and Air Guardsman in my home State. Brigadier General Bullard has skillfully carried out his responsibilities in these positions, as well as the duties of his civilian role as director of the division of administrative services within the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs.

On numerous projects, he was the critical link between my office and the Kentucky Guard. I know that many on my staff who have had the privilege of interacting with him have appreciated Brigadier General Bullard's dependability and talent, which I am told also extends to the golf course.

Entering officer training school at Lackland Air Force Base in 1985, Brigadier General Bullard took the first steps of his decorated military career. He later achieved the rating of master navigator, having completed more than 5,500 flight hours on various aircraft. Over the years, Brigadier General Bullard flew missions in 75 countries, including a deployment to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. One might think that, with such aviation skill, he would have more luck traveling as a passenger on commercial air, but his colleagues report that throughout his career, a number of commercial flights he has traveled on have experienced weather or maintenance delays resulting in numerous nights in the airport for the trained airman.

Brigadier General Bullard has earned and been awarded numerous military awards and decorations for his selfless service to the Commonwealth and his Nation. These honors include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two bronze oakleaf clusters, the Air Medal with one bronze oakleaf cluster, and the Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal. These awards are recognition of Brigadier General Bullard's distinguished actions on behalf of our Nation and Kentucky.

The men and women of Kentucky's National Guard serve a unique mission in our Armed Forces. Their efforts to help fight our Nation's wars, defend our homeland, provide relief from natural disasters, and maintain critical State, Federal, and international partnerships in support of our Nation's safety and security have demonstrated the vital nature of the National Guard's service. I am proud to represent them in the U.S. Senate, and I am grateful for their sacrifice on behalf of our Commonwealth and our Nation.

As we celebrate Brigadier General Bullard's retirement, we are also saddened to lose such a capable and dedicated public servant. In addition to his responsibilities at headquarters, Brigadier General Bullard has also worked as the chairman of the Louisville Armed Forces Committee, two terms as the president of the National Guard Association of Kentucky, and as the volunteer executive director of the Kentucky Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. On behalf of the people of Kentucky, I would like to thank him for his 32 years of achievement and service. He has earned a relaxing retirement, spending time with his family and friends. Finally, I would ask my colleagues in the Senate to join me in paying tribute to Brigadier General Bullard, a brave American, a selfless public servant, and a proud Kentuckian.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 320, 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 when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m., Thursday, November 2; 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 Eid nomination under the previous order.

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 opioid crisis is hurting communities across our country. Its challenges are complex and its causes are many.

As I said last week, no single bill or program is going to solve this crisis on its own. Only a sustained, committed effort can do that. That has been my view over the many years that I have been involved in this issue, from the first time I invited the White House drug czar down to Eastern Kentucky to see the challenges posed by prescription drug abuse firsthand to my work on other initiatives, such as helping pass a law to help address the tragedy of babies born addicted to drugs.

It is also what I believed as the Republican-led Senate worked hard to pass important legislation such as Jessie's Law, the 21st Century Cures Act, and the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act in the last Congress.

I believe President Trump took the same view as he announced another important step last week by declaring a public health emergency for opioids. I would like to, once again, thank the President for his commitment to confronting this crisis.

We all know there is much further to go, and as we move forward, Republicans and Democrats, the House and the Senate, the States and the White House, we should remain committed to working together on policies and programs that actually deliver results.

About an hour ago, the Government Accountability Office released a report I requested about the Federal Government's response to opioid use disorders. The Government's chief watchdog recommends that as the Department of Health and Human Services expands access to medication- assisted treatment, it should also develop clear measures to gauge performance. This GAO study will help to ensure that dollars are spent wisely to fight the crisis of opioid abuse taking lives in communities all across our country. The announcement of GAO's conclusions will help us as we continue to build a comprehensive approach to combating heroin and prescription drug abuse. It is another step in the right direction.

As government officials review this morning's report and as agencies develop new plans to fulfill its objectives, I will continue to work with partners in Washington and Kentucky to address this important crisis. The goal, of course, is that one day we can finally put the pain of opioid abuse behind us once and for all.

Mr. President, yesterday the Senate advanced the nomination of Professor Amy Barrett, President Trump's impressive nominee to be a judge on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. She is the first of four strong nominees to our Nation's circuit courts that the Senate will confirm this week.

Professor Barrett's experience as a distinguished law professor at the University of Notre Dame shows her qualifications to serve our Nation on the Federal bench. She is going to be an asset to our judiciary.

Of course, some on the left have tried to invent any reason to prevent this President's nominees from advancing. For an outstanding nominee such as Professor Barrett, their task was not easy. They can't attack her credentials, which are truly impressive; they can't attack her belief in the rule of law--Professor Barrett's writings and her testimony clearly show a nominee who will uphold our Constitution and our Nation's laws as they are written--as they are written--not as she wishes they were.

Unbelievably, some on the political left, including some of our Democratic colleagues, are actually criticizing Professor Barrett for a law review article she cowrote back in law school by saying it says the opposite of what it actually says.

They claim Professor Barrett wrote that a judge should put her personal beliefs ahead of the rule of law, when, in fact, she said a judge should not do

that--exactly the opposite. She wrote that if a judge's personal views were to impede that judge's ability to impartially apply the law, then the judge should recuse herself from the case.

As the coauthor of that article and current president of Catholic University recently put it, ``The case against Prof. Barrett is so flimsy, that you have to wonder whether there isn't some other, unspoken, cause for their objection.''

It does make you wonder.

To those using this matter as cover to oppose Professor Barrett because of her personally held religious beliefs, let me remind you, there are no religious tests--none--for public office in this country. That is not how we do things here. Our government and our Nation are made better through the service of qualified people of faith. That will surely be true of Professor Amy Barrett.

I look forward to voting to confirm this accomplished law professor and devoted mother of seven later today, and I would urge our colleagues to join me.

Once we do, the Senate will advance another of President Trump's well-qualified circuit court nominees, Michigan Supreme Court Justice Joan Larsen, to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Justice Larsen is the second of three accomplished women whom the Senate will consider this week for appointment to our circuit courts. I assume that all three of these impressive women will receive strong support from our Democratic colleagues who never seem to miss an opportunity to talk about the war on women.

Here is what nominees such as Larsen and Barrett and the others we will consider this week represent for our Federal judiciary: equal justice under the law for all and a fair shake for every litigant. What a refreshing departure from President Obama and his so-called empathy standard for selecting judicial nominees--really just another of the left's ideological purity tests and one that was anything but empathetic for individuals on the other side of the case. If you are the litigant for whom the judge does not have empathy, you are in a tough position before such a judge.

Finally, I would like to express my gratitude, once again, to Chairman Chuck Grassley for his continued work to bring these outstanding nominees to the Senate floor.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, that at 3:30 p.m. today, there be 30 minutes of postcloture time remaining on the Barrett nomination, equally divided between the leaders or their designees; that following the use or yielding back of that time, the Senate vote on the confirmation of the Barrett nomination; and 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.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Executive Calendar Nos. 443 through 454 and all nominations placed on the Secretary's desk; that the nominations be confirmed, 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 be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, today I remember the life of a great Kentuckian, Ted Cook, who passed away on October 1, 2017, at the age of 70. He was a great friend, a local businessman, and a fixture of Laurel County. Passing away after a battle with cancer, Ted's loss will be felt by many.

A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Ted was driven by a sense of patriotism and community service. He was a generous man and a strong supporter of the Kentucky High School Athletics Association. Ted made it a priority to watch every basketball game he could, and he was an ideal role model for the next generation of Kentuckians.

Ted loved the outdoors, spending time hunting, fishing, and raising quail. He tried to instill that passion in young people, especially his children and, later, his grandchildren. Ted also helped lead local, State, and national organizations dedicated to the service of others.

Ted rarely sought any recognition for his good works, instead always caring primarily for others. Those he impacted with his love and friendship, however, will always remember him. Elaine and I send our condolences to Ted's wife, Debbie, their children, their family, and friends. I hope that their fond memories of Ted will help ease their grief.

Mr. President, the Corbin Times-Tribune recently published an article on Ted's life and career. I ask unanimous consent that a copy 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. 244, S. Res. 245.

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 en bloc consideration of the following Senate resolutions which were submitted earlier today: S. Res. 315, S. Res. 316, and S. Res. 317.

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 notwithstanding rule XXII, that at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 1, there be 30 minutes of postcloture time remaining on the Larsen 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 Larsen nomination; and 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.