Floor Statements

Mr. President, I have 9 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 banking, housing, and urban affairs

The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is

authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on

Thursday, July 20, 2017 at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing

entitled, ``Housing Finance Reform: Maintaining Access for

Small Lenders''.

committee on energy and natural resources

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is

authorized to meet during the session of the Senate in order

to hold a nomination hearing on Thursday, July 20, 2017, at

10 a.m. in Room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in

Washington, DC.

committee on finance

The Committee on Finance is authorized to meet during the

session of the Senate on Thursday, July 20, 2017, at 10 a.m.,

in 215 Dirksen Senate Office Building, to consider favorably

reporting the nomination of David J. Kautter, of Virginia, to

be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, vice Mark J.

Mazur.

committee on foreign relations

The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet

during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 20, 2017,

at 9:30 a.m., to hold a hearing entitled ``Nominations.''

committee on judiciary

The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during

the session of the Senate, on July 20, 2017, at 9:30 a.m., in

SD-226 of

the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct an executive

business meeting.

committee on veterans' affairs

The Committee on Veterans' Affairs is authorized to hold a

business meeting during the session of the Senate on

Thursday, July 20, 2017, off the senate floor and in

conjunction with afternoon votes, to consider pending

nominations.

committee on intelligence

The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized

to meet during the session of the 115th Congress of the U.S.

Senate on Thursday, July 20, 2017 from 2 p.m., in room SH-219

of the Senate Hart Office Building to hold a Closed Hearing.

subcommittee on technology, innovation, and internet

The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is

authorized to hold a meeting during the session of the Senate

on Thursday, July 20, 2017, at 10 a.m. in room 253 of the

Russell Senate Office Building. The Committee will hold

Subcommittee Hearing on ``An Update on FirstNet.''

committee on environment and public works

subcommittee on fisheries, water and wildlife

The Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water and Wildlife of the

Committee on Environment and Public Works is authorized to

meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 20,

2017, at 10 a.m., in Room 406 of the Dirksen Senate Office

Building, to conduct a hearing entitled, ``Innovative

Financing and Funding: Addressing America's Crumbling Water

Infrastructure.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 4 p.m., Monday, July 24; 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; further, that following leader remarks, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Bernhardt nomination; finally, that the postcloture time on the Bernhardt nomination expire at 5:30 p.m., Monday, July 24.

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, ObamaCare was imposed on our country 7 long years ago. It has been hurting the people we represent ever since. Families were supposed to spend less on healthcare costs. They actually paid more. Families were supposed to have more healthcare choices. They ended up with fewer, sometimes none at all.

Worse still, for many years, we had an administration that often waived away the concerns of middle-class families who were hurting. Today, we thankfully have an administration that has chosen instead to listen and agrees with us that Americans deserve a lot better.

I appreciate the efforts of the administration at every step of the process to move beyond the failures of ObamaCare. The President, the Vice President, Secretary Price, Administrator Verma, so many others-- we thank them for all the work they have done so far. We look forward to continuing these collaborative efforts when we travel to the White House later today because we have a very important task before us.

As I announced last evening, after consulting with both the White House and our Members, we have decided to hold a vote to open debate on ObamaCare repeal early next week. The ObamaCare repeal legislation will ensure a stable 2-year transition period, which will allow us to wipe the slate clean and start over with real patient-centered healthcare reform. This is the same legislation that a majority of the Senate voted to send to the President in 2015. Now we thankfully have a President in office who will sign it, so we should send it to him.

Mr. President, today the Senate will vote to move forward on the nomination of John Bush, of Kentucky, to serve as a judge on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

As I said when I introduced Mr. Bush to the Judiciary Committee, I am pleased to join the bipartisan chorus of voices supporting his nomination. More than 100 lawyers and law professors from around the country have written in support of his nomination. Nearly one-third of those supporters are Democrats. They laud Mr. Bush's ``excellence, professionalism, and leadership in the legal profession.'' They also note his ``capacity to approach issues with an open mind and to respectfully consider the viewpoints of others.''

In addition, some of his supporters from across the ideological spectrum and from around the country who have known Mr. Bush for decades have written separately to underscore their support for his nomination. They are confident he understands the role of a judge, which is to fairly consider the arguments of both sides in a case and then to decide that case based on the law and nothing else. Indeed, it is precisely because of his firm belief in the rule of law that they strongly support his nomination, despite the fact that he and they may hold different political and policy views.

As an illustration, I think we can all agree it is not common for current or former leaders of Planned Parenthood

to praise judicial nominees of Republican Presidents, just as it is not common for me to quote leaders of that organization.

More than one has praised the President's nomination of John Bush because of his fairness, thoughtfulness, and respect for the views of others, regardless of his personal opinions. For instance, Christie Moore is on the board of directors of Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky. She has practiced law with Mr. Bush for nearly two decades. She is ``confident'' that ``he will follow the rule of law regardless of his personal or political opinions. In my experience, John naturally approaches issues with an open mind and has always been respectful of differing viewpoints. In fact, I am a living example of John's ability to seek out and respect differing viewpoints and opinions. John and I come from opposite ends of the political spectrum--I am a life-long registered Democrat and proudly approach life and politics as a Democrat. Yet John and I have practiced closely together and enjoy a strong and respectful relationship.''

She concludes: ``I can personally attest John is a consummate professional, and I believe he will be a tremendous asset to the federal court of appeals.''

Her law firm colleague, Janet Jakubowicz, similarly explains why Mr. Bush will do an outstanding job on the Sixth Circuit. She states that he ``has shown himself to have both the legal ability and temperament to be an outstanding judge.''

She writes it is precisely because she is a ``long time registered Democrat'' that she can say ``with extreme confidence'' that John Bush ``approaches issues with an open mind and has always been respectful of differing viewpoints'' and that he will make decisions on the bench ``in the same manner, and follow the rule of law regardless of his personal or political opinions.''

Sheryl Snyder, also from my hometown, notes that he and Mr. Bush ``come from different political parties and have different perspectives on many political issues.'' Mr. Snyder says that he is ``a Member of the American Civil Liberties Union, and not the Federalist Society.'' Nevertheless, he has ``every confidence that as a Court of Appeals Judge, John will scrupulously follow the law and apply precedent.'' He notes that Mr. Bush is ``well known . . . as an experienced, capable, ethical litigator'' and that ``his knowledge of the law is unquestioned.''

Praise for Mr. Bush is not confined to those from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, however. Ted Boutrous, Jr. practices law in Los Angeles. Among other matters, Mr. Boutrous represented the plaintiffs in their challenge to California's Proposition 8. He has known John Bush for a quarter century. He writes that ``while we come from different political parties . . . I am certain John will make an absolutely superb Circuit Judge. He is an extraordinary lawyer and an exceptionally fair, decent, and honest person. I have every confidence that as a judge, John will scrupulously follow the law and Constitution and precedent.''

Mr. Bush has received numerous professional awards. For instance, the Best Lawyers in America named him the ``Louisville Litigation-Antitrust Lawyer of the Year in 2017,'' this year. Last year, the same organization recognized him as the ``Louisville Appellate Practice Lawyer of the Year.'' He has been included on the Kentucky Super Lawyers list every year for the last decade.

Beginning in 2012, the Sixth Circuit appointed him to serve on its advisory committee on rules, in recognition of his in-depth knowledge of the court's practice and procedure.

In sum, as evidenced by the impressive testimonials of those who actually know him, John Bush is a man of integrity and considerable ability. He will do an outstanding job on the Sixth Circuit.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate recess from 1:45 p.m. until 4 p.m.; further, that all time during morning business, recess, adjournment, and leader remarks count postcloture on the nomination.

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

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., Thursday, July 20; 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; further, that following leader remarks, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Bush nomination; further, that all postcloture time on the Bush nomination expire at 12:15 p.m.; finally, that notwithstanding the provisions of rule XXII, the cloture vote with respect to the Bernhardt nomination occur at 1:45 p.m. tomorrow.

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, one of the Senate's very first acts this Congress was to pass the legislative tools necessary to repeal ObamaCare. We did so because the American people, who had suffered for years under the failures of ObamaCare, were calling out for relief.

Everyone knows about ObamaCare's skyrocketing costs and its plummeting choices. Too often, however, this discussion seems to veer into the abstract. These are not just numbers on a page. These are the lives of real people. These are the men and women we represent, Americans who are hurting, middle-class families who deserve better than ObamaCare's failures. We worked hard to provide them with a better way. We did so in the knowledge that this task would not be easy. We understood it would not come quickly. But we knew it was the right thing to do, so we pushed forward anyway. I believe we must continue to push forward now.

I regret that the effort to repeal and immediately replace the failures of ObamaCare will not be successful. That doesn't mean we should give up. We will now try a different way to bring the American people relief from ObamaCare. I think we owe them at least that much.

In the coming days, the Senate will take up and vote on a repeal of ObamaCare combined with a stable 2-year transition period as we work toward patient-centered healthcare. A majority of the Senate voted to pass the same repeal legislation back in 2015. President Obama vetoed it then; President Trump will sign it now.

I imagine many Democrats were celebrating last night. I hope they consider what they are celebrating. The American people are hurting, they need relief, and it is regretful that our Democratic colleagues decided early on that they did not want to engage with us seriously in the process to deliver that relief.

But this doesn't have to be the end of the story. Passing the repeal legislation will allow us to accomplish what we need to do on behalf of our people. Our Democratic friends have spoken a lot recently about wanting bipartisan solutions. Passing this legislation will provide the opportunity for Senators of all parties to engage with a fresh start and a new beginning for the American people.

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, at the request of the President and the Vice President, and after consulting with our Members, we will have the vote on the motion to proceed to the ObamaCare repeal bill early next 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 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 19; 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; further, that following leader remarks, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Bush nomination; finally, that the time until the cloture vote on the Bush nomination be equally divided between the two leaders or their designees.

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.