Floor Statements

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, I have two requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders.

Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

committee on commerce, science, and transportation

The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized to hold a meeting during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, September 13, 2017, at 10 a.m. in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building.

The Committee will hold a Hearing ``Transportation Innovation: Automated Trucks and our Nation's Highways.''

committee on environment and public works

The Committee on Environment and Public Works is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, September 13, 2017, at 10 a.m., in room 406 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled, ``Expanding and Accelerating the Deployment and Use of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Sequestration.''

committee on homeland security and governmental affairs

The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, September 13, 2017, at 9:55 a.m. for a business meeting to consider pending committee business.

committee on indian affairs

The Committee on Indian Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, September 13, 2017, in room 628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct an Oversight Hearing on ``High Risk Indian Programs: Progress and Efforts in Addressing GAO's Recommendations.''

committee on indian affairs

The Committee on Indian Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, September 13, 2017, in room 628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a business meeting to consider the following: H.R. 984, Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017; S. 1285, Oregon Tribal Economic Development Act; S. 1333, Tribal HUD-VASH Act of 2017.

subcommittee on regulatory affairs and federal management

The Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at 10 a.m., in order to conduct a hearing entitled, ``Examining OMB's Memorandum on the Federal Workforce, Part II: Expert Views on OMB's Ongoing Government-wide Reorganization.''

Mr. President, this week we will work toward passing one of the most important bills we consider each year, the National Defense Authorization Act. This is the legislation that authorizes the resources, the capabilities, and the pay and benefits that our men and women in uniform need to perform their missions. This bill is always important, but it is especially important in light of the many security threats we face around the globe.

Consider Iran. We have seen the regime work aggressively to dominate its neighbors and to expand its sphere of influence across the Persian Gulf and the broader Middle East.

Consider North Korea. We have watched Pyongyang become ever more determined to develop its nuclear weapons capabilities, as well as a means to deliver them.

Consider Russia. We have witnessed the Kremlin continue its efforts to undermine NATO and the Western nations it views as threats to its own power.

Consider China. We have looked on as the nation has grown in regional and economic strength, making clear its intent to displace U.S. influence so that it can dominate the Asia Pacific on its own.

These are state actors, and the challenges they pose include the employment of asymmetric means like propaganda, coercion, cyber attacks, and espionage, but these are not the only threats to our Nation. Consider how groups like ISIL, Al Qaeda, and other affiliated terror organizations have continued to threaten the United States and other nations. Consider how they continue to plot to strike our homeland and those of our allies.

Unfortunately, the Obama administration too often failed to mitigate these kinds of threats, instead pushing a foreign policy marked by a drawdown of our conventional military posture, a heavy reliance on international organizations, and overreliance on special operations forces to train and equip partner units in other nations. This drawdown and the harmful consequences of sequestration have inflicted upon our forces a genuine readiness crisis. Our force structure simply is not sufficient to address the challenges I mentioned in either a comprehensive or responsible way.

We need to correct this. That means equipping our servicemembers with the resources and training necessary to sufficiently address these myriad threats. I was pleased that this spring's government funding bill made an important downpayment toward rebuilding our forces, but more work remains.

Fortunately, we can add to that progress with this year's Defense authorization legislation. The bill before us will allow our Nation to start rebuilding our military and restoring combat readiness. It will aid in rooting out waste and bringing reform to the Pentagon. It will help improve our missile defense and help us better prepare for cyber threats, and it will go a long way toward reviving troop morale, authorizing a well-deserved pay raise to

our men and women in uniform, along with continuing the benefits that they and their families rely on.

As Senator McCain, the chairman of the committee put it, not only does this legislation ``[build] upon the sweeping reforms that Congress has passed in recent years'' but ``[b]y continuing important efforts to reorganize the Department of Defense, spur innovation in defense technology, and improve defense acquisitions and business operations, the NDAA seeks to strengthen accountability and streamline the process of getting our warfighters the equipment, training, and resources they need to succeed.''

Senator Reed, the top Democrat on that committee, said that the NDAA ``invests in much needed readiness to allow our fighting men and women to be properly trained and equipped for a wide range of threats.''

``I salute Chairman McCain's leadership,'' Senator Reed added, ``in maintaining the Committee's tradition of bipartisan cooperation and support of our Armed Forces.''

Let me echo that sentiment. This good bill has already earned the bipartisan support of every single member of the Armed Services Committee--every single member, Democrat and Republican. They reported it out unanimously. I appreciate the committee's work on this year's Defense authorization bill, as well as the ceaseless efforts of Chairman McCain and Ranking Member Reed. With their continued leadership and a little hard work from both sides, we can pass the Defense authorization bill this week.

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, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m., Wednesday, September 13; 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, and notwithstanding the provisions of rule XXII, the Senate resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R. 2810 with no postcloture time remaining.

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, today we opened the Senate with a moment of silence. We remember all those lost 16 years ago on September 11, 2001, the day that changed our Nation in profound ways.

It wrenched our hearts with grief. It opened our eyes to cruel threats from afar. But it could neither extinguish the basic decency that unites us as a people nor the common humanity that defines us as a nation.

It could not stop first responders from rushing toward danger to save others. It could not stop Americans from donating to strangers in need or volunteering their time to help. It could not stop the people of our country from being who they are: kind, caring, compassionate.

It is the same spirit we see again in response to Hurricane Harvey. It is the same spirit that is giving hope to those in the path of Hurricane Irma. Although the full extent of Irma's impact will not be known for some time, it is clear that this intense storm is causing widespread damage, and it is clear that the recovery will require a massive undertaking. Our thoughts are with those in the areas affected by Irma.

We are again prepared to play our role in the recovery. Congress passed a critical downpayment on disaster relief last week. If more assistance is required due to Irma, we are ready to do what is needed.

What is most important, I think, is the knowledge that the American people and our first responders will again be there to reach out to do whatever is needed to help. That is especially true on a day like today.

We will never forget the thousands of innocent lives taken from us 16 years ago. We will never forget the heroism of our first responders and the compassion of our neighbors, nor will we forget the thousands of men and women who have stood guard to protect us every day since.

Mr. President, our servicemembers voluntarily put their lives on the line to protect us, and, in return, we must keep our commitments to them. Today we will begin debate on the National Defense Authorization Act, the bill that allows Congress to authorize resources, capabilities, and the pay and benefits our men and women need to perform their missions.

For more than five decades, Congress has acted every year to fulfill this responsibility by passing the Defense authorization bill. We will have our opportunity to do so again this week. This legislation, which was reported out of committee unanimously, will signal support for our servicemembers with more of the capabilities they need to be successful against an array of threats all across the globe.

After years of failed defense policy under the previous administration, this year's NDAA will make significant and necessary strides toward keeping America safer. It will do so by authorizing the beginning steps to rebuild our military, to invest in modernization, and to restore readiness; by reforming the Pentagon and reducing waste; by restoring missile defense and responding to cyber threats; and by reviving troop morale with a pay increase they deserve and continued reform of the benefits that they and their families rely on.

I think it is fair to say that no Senator understands the importance of this legislation quite like Senator

McCain, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee. His commitment to our Nation's heroes is unfailing, which is why, amidst his own battles, Chairman McCain has returned to the Senate to manage this bill and see it through passage. We are all proud to have him with us now.

As we begin considering this bipartisan defense authorization, Members from both sides will have opportunities to work with Senator McCain and to offer amendments. Ultimately, we will keep working to find consensus so that we can pass this critical defense legislation without further delay.

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, Senator Paul be given up to 4 hours of postcloture debate on the pending motion to proceed.

Mr. President, notwithstanding the provisions of rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that at 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday, September 12, the Senate proceed to executive session for consideration of Calendar No. 110, the nomination of Kevin Hassett to be Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. I further ask that there be 20 minutes of debate on the nomination equally divided in the usual form; that following the use or yielding back of time, the Senate vote on confirmation 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 and the Senate 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, I ask unanimous consent that the junior Senator from Montana be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions on Monday, September 11, 2017.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 3732.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time.

I know of no further debate on the bill.

I ask unanimous consent that 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 Calendar No. 212, S.J. Res. 49.

Mr. President, I further ask unanimous consent that the joint resolution be read a third time and passed, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to consider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S. 416 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 proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 11, S. 327.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported amendments be considered; the Warren-Heller amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to; the committee- reported amendments, as amended, be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.