Floor Statements

Mr. President, I have 13 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They include the Armed Services Committee briefing on capabilities to counter Russian influence in cyberspace, a Banking Committee hearing on North Korea, and a Homeland Security Committee hearing on cyber threats facing America. These committees and all the other committees are doing important work; therefore, I ask unanimous consent that the 13 committees be allowed to meet.

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

Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 37, Jeffrey Rosen to be Deputy Secretary of Transportation.

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 move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 35, Rachel L. Brand to be Associate Attorney General.

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, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 11; 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 to resume consideration of the Lighthizer nomination, with the time until the cloture vote equally divided in the usual form.

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, following the remarks of Senator Whitehouse and Senator Tillis.

Mr. President, the heroin and prescription opioid epidemic is taking a heartbreaking toll on families and communities across our country. Experts estimate that as many as 2 million Americans are struggling with prescription drug addiction, with heroin and opioid overdoses claiming an average of 91 lives every day.

We continue to read the devastating headlines, too, like one article published by CNN entitled ``A Generation of Heroin Orphans.'' It told the story of five Kentucky children living with their grandparents due to their mother's addiction. Sadly, this family is not unique. Nearly 3 million grandparents or other relatives across the country are caring for grandchildren. According to experts, this uptick in children left without their parents is due, at least in part, to this epidemic. It is one of the many reasons the heroin and prescription opioid crisis requires continued action.

Americans across the country--law enforcement, nurses, family members, and many others--have dedicated themselves to reversing this crisis. Congress has taken significant steps to combat this growing problem on a bipartisan basis. Through legislation like the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, CARA, and the 21st century cures bill, we authorized important ways to help fight the opioid epidemic through things like expanded education and prevention initiatives, improved treatment programs, and we bolstered law enforcement efforts. Implementation of these initiatives is already helping to tackle this crisis.

I was proud to support these pieces of legislation because I knew they could make a real impact in the fight against opioid abuse, and they are. We were able to take another positive step just last week. Congress passed an important piece of funding legislation, now law, that is helping advance and support many of the programs Congress authorized in CARA and the 21st century cures bill last year--programs that can advance medical innovation

and promote research and treatment development.

That funding legislation dedicated significant new resources to the fight against the opioid epidemic. It helped fund groundbreaking research into the field of regenerative medicine. With its passage, Congress took one more critical step forward in the advancement of medical research and addiction treatment.

The Senate will soon have another opportunity to move ahead in the fight against this devastating disease by voting to confirm Dr. Scott Gottlieb to oversee the Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA plays a central role in the approval of new drug treatments and therapies. An important part of the 21st Century Cures Act provided an accelerated pathway for the FDA to approve regenerative medicines. I look forward to having a Commissioner like Dr. Gottlieb, who is committed to the development of groundbreaking medicines and treatments to combat serious illnesses.

Additionally, the FDA will continue to be a crucial partner as States like Kentucky continue their fight against the opioid epidemic. The FDA plays an important regulatory and oversight role in combating this crisis.

I have encouraged the agency to incentivize the approval of safer, more abuse-deterrent formulations of drugs, and I am glad when they have concurred. These types of constructive policy decisions show an FDA that is ready to join the fight against heartbreaking disease and opioid abuse, and I am proud to support that kind of rigorous oversight from the agency.

Dr. Gottlieb has the necessary experience to serve in this key role. Not only has he worked in hospitals, interacting directly with those affected by disease and treatment, but he has also developed and analyzed medical policies in both the public and private sectors. He formed his perspectives on the dynamic public health sector by overseeing medical research and innovation projects.

In 2005, Dr. Gottlieb was appointed the FDA's Deputy Commissioner for Medical and Scientific Affairs. He also has served as senior adviser to the FDA Commissioner and as the agency's Director of Medical Policy Development.

As a practicing physician with a wealth of policy experience, Dr. Gottlieb has the necessary qualifications to lead the FDA at this critical time. The Senate voted to advance his nomination last night on a bipartisan basis, and I look forward to his confirmation.

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 armed services

The Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 9, 2017, at 9:30 a.m., in open and closed sessions, to receive testimony on United States Cyber Command.

committee on armed services

The Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 9, 2017, at 2:30 p.m., in open session to consider nominations.

committee on foreign relations

The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 9, 2017, at 10 a.m.

committee on foreign relations

The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 9, 2017, at 10:15 a.m., to hold a hearing entitled ``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 Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at 2:30 p.m., in room SH-219 of the Senate Hart Office Building.

Subcommittee on surface transportation and merchant marine

infrastructure, safety and security

The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized to hold a meeting during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 9, 2017, at 2:30 p.m. in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building.

The Committee will hold Subcommittee Hearing on ``Maritime Transportation: Opportunities and Challenges for the Maritime Administration and Federal Maritime Commission.''

Committee on Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on

Transportation and Infrastructure

The Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the Committee on Environment and Public Works is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 9, 2017, at 2:30 p.m., in Room 406 of the Dirksen Senate office building, to conduct a hearing entitled, ``Water Resources: The Role of the Public and Private Sectors.''

Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 52, Robert Lighthizer to be U.S. Trade Representative.

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 when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 10; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; finally, that following leader remarks, the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.