Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn, to then convene for pro forma sessions only, with no business being conducted, on the following dates and times, and that following each pro forma session, the Senate adjourn until the next pro forma session: Monday, July 3, at 6 p.m., Thursday, July 6, at 9 a.m. I further ask that when the Senate adjourns on Thursday, July 6, it next convene at 3 p.m., Monday, July 10; 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 Rao nomination; finally, that notwithstanding the provisions of rule XXII, the postcloture time on the Rao nomination expire at 5:30 p.m., Monday, July 10.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, yesterday, Senate Republicans gathered down at the White House for another discussion on the way forward on healthcare. We had a productive conversation. I appreciate the administration's engagement, and I look forward to more discussions in the days that lie ahead.

We will continue working so that we can bring legislation to the floor for debate and, ultimately, a vote. We know that we cannot afford to delay on this issue. We have to get this done for the American people. That is a sentiment that is widely shared in our conference, and I think I speak for everyone in acknowledging, once again, that the ObamaCare status quo is unacceptable and that it simply cannot continue.

ObamaCare has caused premiums to increase by an average of 105 percent in the vast majority of States on the Federal exchange. Next year, premiums will again increase across the country--by as much as 43 percent in Iowa, 59 percent in Maryland, and 80 percent in New Mexico.

ObamaCare has led to 70 percent of our counties having little or no choice of insurance on the exchange this year. Next year, dozens of counties are projected to have no choice at all, which could leave thousands trapped, forced by law to purchase ObamaCare insurance but left without the means to do so. Seven years after Democrats forced ObamaCare on our country, these are the painful realities for countless families across our country.

It is unfortunate that our Democratic colleagues have refused to work with us in a serious way to comprehensively address ObamaCare's failures in the 7 years since they passed it. I regret that they continue to demonstrate an unserious attitude about all of this today, but it is increasingly clear that ObamaCare's negative trends will only get worse, hurting even more Americans all along the way, unless we act. This should not be acceptable to anyone.

Sitting on the sidelines and accepting the status quo will not bring help to anyone's constituents. We have the opportunity to provide relief to those struggling families, and we should take it. Senators will have more opportunities to offer their thoughts as we work toward an agreement, and every Member will have the ability to engage in a robust debate out here on the Senate floor.

But, if one thing is clear, it is this: ObamaCare is a direct assault on the middle class. It is getting worse, and we have to act to finally move beyond its failures.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider the nomination of Executive Calendar No. 116, David Nye to be United States district judge for the District of Idaho.

Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum call with respect to the cloture motion be waived.

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, as we prepare to celebrate our Independence Day, one of the most pivotal moments in the history of our Nation, I rise today to remember one group of Revolutionary War patriots who are too often overlooked. I am speaking of the African- American soldiers who served in the American Revolution. In particular, I would like to recognize the service of men who fought for our independence and who would later become Kentuckians.

In the 1770s and 1780s, African Americans throughout the young Nation joined the Revolutionary War effort. Like so many other patriots, they volunteered to fight for American independence. Many fought under the command of some of the most notable Revolutionary War heroes, including General George Washington.

I would like to focus on 11 soldiers who, after enduring the pains of war and traveling across much of the new Nation, decided to make a new home for themselves in the area that would later join the Union as the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

I would like to tell the stories of a few of these Kentuckians. I believe it is important to remember their service in the war.

Daniel Goff joined the Army in Chesterfield County, VA, in 1777. During his service, Goff marched from Virginia to New Jersey, where he fought in the Battle of Monmouth. He camped at Valley Forge under the command of General Washington and earned his discharge after 3 years in the Army.

In the years after the war, Goff chose to make a home in Boone County, KY. He worked for General James Taylor V, an American banker who was a quartermaster general during the Revolution. Taylor was a founder of Newport, KY, and he took a special interest in Goff. The two men knew each other for over 40 years and developed a close bond.

John Sidebottom, of Prince William County, VA, served for 1 year. In the course of his service, Sidebottom fought in the Battle of Trenton in December 1776, an historic battle in which General Washington led the crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas night to launch a surprise attack against a Hessian garrison.

Sidebottom settled in Clark County, KY. A man who knew him stated that during the Trenton battle, Sidebottom was one of the men who carried a wounded soldier from the battlefield to safety. That soldier was James Monroe, the future President of the United States, who survived the battle, in part, because of Sidebottom's actions.

George Burk enlisted in the Army in Shenandoah County, VA, in 1779. He served for 2 years, traveling around the region in several campaigns. During his time in the Army, he was tasked with guarding British prisoners at Albemarle Barracks and repelling the British and Native American attacks. Burk served under the command of General George Rogers Clark, who founded the city of Louisville, KY. At the end of his service, Burk was discharged in Louisville, and he spent the rest of his life in the area.

I would like to recognize the service and sacrifice of these Kentuckians in the cause of American independence. We owe a large debt to all of our Nation's veterans, and I am glad that we can remember these 11 patriots today.

Mr. President, I have nine requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They do not have the approval of the Democratic leader for the seventh consecutive legislative day, therefore, they will not be permitted to meet after 2 p.m. I ask unanimous consent that the list of committees requesting authority to meet be printed in the Record for today's session and the previous 2 days.

Mr. President, I understand there is a bill at the desk, and I ask for its first reading.

I now ask for a second reading and, in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to my own request.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the

Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 11 a.m., Thursday, June 29; 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 Rao nomination with the time until the cloture vote equally divided between the two leaders or their designees.

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, I move to proceed to executive session to consider the nomination of Executive Calendar No. 154, Neomi Rao to be Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.

Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.

I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum call with respect to the cloture motion be waived.

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 a correction to an appointment made on March 22, 2017, be printed in the Record. For the information of the Senate, this correction is clerical and does not change membership of the Service Academy Board made by the appointment.