Floor Statements

The next nominees are TSA Administrator and Under Secretary.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following nominations: Executive Calendar Nos. 163 and 177.

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 related 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. 165 and 225.

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 the en bloc consideration of the following nominations: Executive Calendar Nos. 166, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 236, 237, 238, 245, 289, 290, and 291.

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 the en bloc consideration of the following nominations: Executive Calendar Nos. 227, 235, and 239.

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 the en bloc consideration of the following nominations: Executive Calendar Nos. 158, 252, 253, 256, 258, 257, and 279.

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 the en bloc consideration of the following nominations: PN 567, Executive Calendar Nos. 262, 264, 265, 266, 267, and 268.

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 the en bloc consideration of the following nominations: Executive Calendar Nos. 255 and 259.

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 the consideration of Executive Calendar Nos. 272 through 278 and all nominations placed on the Secretary's desk; that the nominations be confirmed and 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; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

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 the consideration of Executive Calendar No. 98, the nomination of Althea Coetzee to be Deputy Administrator at the SBA; that the nomination be confirmed and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, September 5, the Senate proceed to executive session for consideration of Calendar No. 171, the nomination of Timothy Kelly to be U.S. district judge for the District of Columbia. I further ask that there be 30 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; and that if confirmed, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session.

Mr. President, the Senate has confirmed more executive branch nominees this week than all of the executive branch nominees confirmed this year--combined. This was an important step toward filling critical roles throughout the administration, including the Deputies of multiple Cabinet offices that had been lacking these key positions.

Moving forward, I hope this agreement represents the way forward on confirming nominees so our government can be fully staffed and working for the American people.

Mr. President, Richard Glick and Kevin McIntyre have been nominated by the President for positions on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. I understand they will be heard and marked up in tandem in September and I have told the Democratic leader that they will move as a pair across the floor.

Mr. President, as I said yesterday, the Senate has more work ahead this legislative period, including passing the FDA user fees legislation and confirming a number of nominees.

We have made important progress already, and just last night we passed the critical Veterans Choice legislation. That bill, which is now on its way to the President's desk, will allow many veterans to bypass long wait and travel times at VA facilities by accessing private care.

We also confirmed several nominees. We confirmed eight officials who will be critical to advancing administration policy in the Defense Department. It is a good start, but we have other nominees to confirm for many other positions, both security- and nonsecurity-related, across many different agencies and departments. In the national security realm, for instance, we must confirm nominees for the Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, and the intelligence community.

The Senate also came together to confirm a well-qualified judicial nominee for the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Christopher A. Wray. The position of FBI Director is one of great importance when it comes to protecting the American people, especially at a time when we face a range of threats both at home and abroad. Wray's impressive credentials, demeanor, and commitment to the rule of law make clear that he is the right person to lead the Bureau in its efforts to keep our communities safe. The work of an FBI Director is difficult, but I am confident that Wray is capable of shouldering this important responsibility and that he will lead the FBI with the strength and professionalism that the position demands.

Our work on nominees continues today. We will, for instance, take a procedural vote on the nomination for the National Labor Relations Board later this morning. But there is more to do. I was pleased to hear the Democratic leader reaffirm his interest in working with us now to clear more nominees before the conclusion of this work period. Many of these nominees have been held up far too long, leaving the administration without a number of key officials at various agencies.

I look forward to our Democratic colleagues working with us to finish up the FDA user fees legislation that I mentioned earlier, as well. Members will continue to work on other issues in the meantime, such as tax reform, which is one of the things the Senate--led by the Finance Committee--will turn its collective attention toward after the State work period.