Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 158, submitted earlier today.

Mr. President, I further ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, the comeback votes on Monday night are on confirmation of Heather Wilson as Secretary of the Air Force, and cloture on the nomination of Scott Gottlieb to head the FDA. We plan to move on the U.S. Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, as well, next week.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until Friday, May 5, at 12 noon, for a pro forma session only, with no business being conducted. I further ask that when the Senate adjourns on Friday, May 5, it next convene at 2 p.m., Monday, May 8; 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 resume executive session as under the previous order.

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 Tester.

Mr. President, later today, the House will vote to pass a funding agreement that advances a number of America's priorities, achieving important things that would not have been possible under the previous administration.

Let's take the border. President Trump and the Republican Congress made securing the border a priority, and this funding bill acts on it. After years of an administration that failed to get serious on border security, this bill provides the largest border security funding increase in a decade.

Passing this bill means updating physical border infrastructure. It means enhancements in surveillance technology. It means increasing support for border personnel. It means finally providing resources to end the practice of catch and release.

On securing our border, this bill obviously makes a departure from the Obama years, and it is an important step forward.

Let's take defense. President Trump and the Republican Congress made rebuilding our military a priority, and this funding bill acts on it. After years of an administration that drew down our conventional force structure and failed to address increasing threats across the globe, this bill provides a critically needed downpayment on rebuilding our military. Passing this bill means allowing our force to retain higher levels of end strength. It means funding the largest military pay raise in 6 years. It means replacing munitions used in the fight against ISIL. It means finally ignoring the Obama-era demand of requiring defense funding increases to be equally matched to nondefense increases.

On rebuilding our military, this bill obviously makes a departure from the Obama years and is another important step forward. These are notable wins, and they wouldn't have happened without this administration's tireless work in conjunction with the Republican Congress.

Of course, there is further to go in both areas. We know more work remains when it comes to strengthening our border infrastructure and stemming the tide of illegal immigration. We know more work remains when it comes to restoring our military's combat readiness and meeting the full needs of the force.

But this legislation represents a step in the right direction in both of these areas, and it advances conservative priorities in many others. It adheres to the spending caps, it reforms bureaucracy, and it consolidates, eliminates, or rescinds funds for more than 150 government programs and initiatives.

It supports the implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act, which shifts control of education out of Washington, and it extends an important school choice program. It helps tackle terrorism, fight crime, support veterans, protect life, reform the IRS, and freeze funding for it.

It cuts funding for the EPA, prohibits funding for President Obama's climate slush fund, and advances an all-of-the-above energy policy that prioritizes research on technical advancements in nuclear, natural gas, and coal power generation.

This research funding, along with the bill's support for troubled coal mining communities and dislocated miners, is important for States like mine, as is the provision I was proud to secure that will permanently protect healthcare benefits for thousands of retired coal miners and their families.

This bill also extends resources for a pilot program I worked with Congressman Hal Rogers to secure, which will fund the reclamation and development of abandoned mine sites.

Moreover, this bill also provides significant new resources to tackle the prescription opioid and heroin epidemic that continues to ravage communities in Kentucky and across our country.

The many achievements in this bill resulted from countless hours of committee work and bicameral negotiations. I want to recognize again the appropriators, our Members, and this Republican administration for the tireless effort that made this bill possible.

The President and his team should be commended for their efforts in working with the Republican Congress to address many important needs for our country in this bill. I look forward to the House passing the bill today so that we can take it up and send it to President Trump for his signature soon.

Now on to the legislation we will turn to today.

In recent months, the Republican Congress has voted to provide much needed relief to the American people from Obama administration regulations pushed out the door at the eleventh hour. We have voted to eliminate 13 harmful regulations already, using the tools contained in the Congressional Review Act, and we will vote to eliminate another later today.

Too often, the Obama administration pursued regulations that grew government at the expense of jobs, wages, and economic growth. Too often, under the guise of helping ordinary Americans, the administration was really just helping to expand the reach of government.

That is certainly the case with the regulation we are considering today. President Obama's Department of Labor issued regulations that would impose new burdens on employers and employees when it comes to saving for their retirement. These regulations would give State officials the power to force employers to enroll their employees into government-run savings plans.

Though the State-run plans might not seem too bad on the surface, what they really add up to is more government at the expense of the private sector and American workers.

They would provide government-run retirement plans with a competitive advantage over private sector workplace plans, while providing fewer basic consumer protections to the workers who would be forced to contribute to them.

As I mentioned when we voted on related regulations concerning municipalities, States always had the power to set up these plans, but until this regulation, they had to actually follow Federal laws that protect the workers who would be automatically enrolled. In other words, States preferred that the basic retirement protections that apply to those who manage private sector retirement plans not apply to the government as well.

As a coalition of employers and human resource managers recently pointed out, the Obama administration was ``encouraging State governments to provide private sector employees retirement programs that do not''--I repeat, do not--``have the same high-level protections as other private employer-sponsored plans.'' So, as they put it, ``passage of [the legislation before the Senate] would ensure that all retirement plans''--all of them--``for private sector workers are subject to equal consumer protections under the law.''

That is why we will vote today to overturn this regulation, which undermines a private retirement savings system that millions of Americans have counted on for decades. By blocking this State-run retirement regulation--as we already did with a similar regulation aimed at municipalities--we can empower families in making their own decisions when it comes to saving for the future.

So I want to recognize Senator Hatch, the Finance Committee chairman, who has been leading the charge on this important issue. We look forward to sending this resolution to the President's desk very soon.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to H.J. Res. 66.

Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I ask the Chair to lay before the body the message to accompany H.R. 244.

The Presiding Officer laid before the Senate the following message from the House of Representatives:

Resolved, That the House agree to the amendments numbered 2

and 3 of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 244) entitled ``An Act

to encourage effective, voluntary investments to recruit,

employ, and retain men and women who have served in the

United States military with annual Federal awards to

employers recognizing such efforts, and for other purposes.''

and be it further

Resolved, That the House agree to the amendment numbered 1

of the Senate to the aforementioned bill, with an amendment.

Motion to Concur

I move to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 244.

Cloture Motion

I send a cloture motion to the desk on the motion to concur.

Mr. President, I move to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 244, with a further amendment.

I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

I ask for the yeas and nays on the motion to concur with amendment.

I have a second-degree amendment at the desk.

I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. President, I move to refer the House message on H.R. 244 to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions with instructions to report back forthwith with an amendment numbered 212.

I ask for the yeas and nays on my motion.

I have an amendment to the instructions.

I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

I ask for the yeas and nays on my amendment.

I have a second-degree amendment at the desk.

Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, the Omnibus appropriations bill is now pending. I filed cloture to ensure that the Senate can pass it and send it to the President for his signature before the end of the week. It is my hope that we can enter into an agreement to vote on the omnibus tomorrow rather than running out the clock into the weekend.

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, today I wish to celebrate the retirement of my friend, Dr. Gary A. Ransdell, who, since September 12, 1997, has served as the ninth president of Western Kentucky University.

During his nearly two decades leading WKU, Gary has overseen a complete transformation of the school. An alumnus of the school himself, graduating in 1973 with a bachelor of arts degree in mass communications and again in 1974 with a master of public service degree in public administration, Gary said that ``[s]erving my alma mater has been a dream come true.''

Under Gary's leadership, the school has grown into a prominent university with an international presence. Since 1997, enrollment has increased from 14,500 to 21,000, with strong improvements in graduation numbers, the number of applicants, and student retention. WKU has attracted hundreds of millions of dollars in private donations, completing two major capital campaigns under Gary's guidance. Those funds have revitalized the campus and created state of the art buildings and classrooms.

Students at WKU have a world of education within their reach. New undergraduate degree programs focusing on mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering and doctoral degree programs in education, nursing, physical therapy, and psychology promote research and prepare students for their careers. The university is also committed to transferring its technology into the Kentucky workplace to help develop the State's economy. WKU's regional campuses throughout Western Kentucky make education accessible to many Kentuckians for the first time. The creation of the Gatton Academy of Math and Science, which reached a milestone in 2014 when the school was ranked as the No. 1 high school in America for its 3rd year in a row by Newsweek, has helped Kentucky students blossom into scholars and future leaders.

During Gary's time at WKU, the school successfully transitioned into Conference USA and, in the 2014-2015 school year, set a record with eight conference championships. The WKU

football program is nationally recognized and won two consecutive bowl games. The Hilltoppers--named because of the school's scenic location atop ``the Hill''--are strong student-athletes both on the field and in the classroom, leading Conference USA in academic performance.

Gary is especially engaged in WKU's international outreach. He and his wife, Julie, herself a WKU alumna, have led students into new learning experience around the world in England, France, Italy, China, Ecuador, Iceland, Scandinavia, and Africa. The school is also home to Kentucky's first Confucius Institute and only Chinese language flagship program and has been recognized as a top producer of Fulbright scholars.

Gary has been at the center of each of these significant accomplishments. The growth in campus infrastructure, academic prestige, and community and alumni engagement at WKU have benefited Kentucky students and are in large part due to Gary's work. With his nearly 20 years of service, he is currently the longest serving university president in Kentucky.

I have enjoyed every opportunity to work with Gary over the years and support his vision for higher education in Kentucky. We have partnered together to secure Federal funding for worthwhile projects like WKU's mobile health unit and the agricultural research service Federal research lab. He is a dedicated public servant committed to student success. In addition to all of the work that Gary and I have collaborated on, I am proud to call him a friend. Along with the WKU community, I am sad to see Gary leave his alma mater at the end of this school year, but I am deeply grateful for his passion and leadership.

After a brief sabbatical, Gary will continue working to connect students with an international education. Starting next year, Gary and Julie begin their next adventure, as he becomes the president and CEO of Semester at Sea, a global study abroad program that uses a ship as a traveling campus around the world. I wish him the best of luck as he continues his passion for higher education in this next chapter, and I wish him and his family congratulations on a remarkably successful career at Western Kentucky University.

(At the request of Mr. Schumer, the following statement was ordered to be printed in the Record.)

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following Senate resolutions, which were submitted earlier today: S. Res. 151, S. Res. 152, and S. Res. 153.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of and the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 60.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m., Thursday, May 4; 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 resume consideration of the House message to accompany H.R. 244; finally, that at 10:30 a.m., Senator Young be recognized for up to 20 minutes.

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 Senators Hatch, Whitehouse, and Moran.

Mr. President, yesterday, after months of committee work and bicameral negotiations, the government funding agreement that abides by the spending caps set in the bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 was filed over in the House. This legislation will promote a number of American and conservative priorities.

It will help to strengthen the border with the largest border security funding increase in a decade.

It will help to strengthen the military with funding for a pay raise for our troops, along with a critically needed downpayment on the long overdue task of rebuilding our military.

It will help to streamline the Federal bureaucracy with the elimination or consolidation of more than 150 government programs and initiatives.

It contains many other conservative wins, too, like freezing funding for the IRS, cutting funding for the EPA, prohibiting funding for President Obama's climate slush fund, and prohibiting a taxpayer bailout of ObamaCare's risk corridors. It maintains the Hyde Amendment, will help veterans, and will fund implementation of the law that shifts control of education back to parents, States, and local school districts.

Additionally, this legislation will provide more of the resources we need to help communities across our country that continue to suffer from the opioid epidemic. It also permanently extends healthcare for thousands of retired coal miners from States like Kentucky--something for which I have fought for a long time and something I was proud to secure in this bill, as we put together the final package.

Each of these measures is included in the funding bill we will take up later this week.

I wish to commend President Trump and his team, including Director Mulvaney, Secretary Mattis, and Secretary Kelly, for quickly identifying national security priorities and working with the Republican Congress to enact some of them. Secretary Mattis has made clear that rebuilding our military and restoring combat readiness for today and tomorrow will require a multiyear, bipartisan commitment to meet the needs of the force. The additional contingency operations funding provided in this legislation represents an important first step toward meeting that goal.

While this funding bill is the product of bipartisan negotiations, it delivers some important conservative wins, including critical steps forward on defense and border security. Senators should continue reviewing the bill text now so that we can pass it without delay after we receive it from the House.