Floor Statements

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 the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 26, submitted earlier today.

Mr. President, 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 with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the upcoming adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the President pro tempore, and the majority and minority leaders be authorized to make appointments to commissions, committees, boards, conferences, or interparliamentary conferences authorized by law, by concurrent action of the two Houses, or by order of the Senate, and that they be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. on Friday, January 27, for a pro forma session only, with no business being conducted; further, that when the Senate adjourns on Friday, January 27, it next convene on Monday, January 30, at 3 p.m.; 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; further, that following leader remarks, the Senate be in a period of morning business until 5 p.m., with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each; further, that at 5 p.m. on Monday, January 30, the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of Calendar No. 2, Rex W. Tillerson to be Secretary of State, and that there be 30 minutes of debate equally divided in the usual form; finally, that notwithstanding the provisions of rule XXII, the cloture vote on the Tillerson nomination occur at 5:30 p.m. on Monday.

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 Schatz and Sullivan.

Mr. President, last week, President Trump gave his first major address to the Nation. The week before, President Obama gave his last. These are different men. They come from different parties, but their speeches were more similar than you might think, and there were some common themes: The world is dangerous, our economy isn't living up to its potential, Americans are divided, worried about their futures and don't feel like Washington is listening.

Here is one quote:

Too many families, in inner cities and in rural counties,

have been left behind--the laid-off factory worker; the

waitress or health care worker who's just barely getting by

and struggling to pay the bills--convinced that the game is

fixed against them, that their government only serves the

interest of the powerful--that's a recipe for more cynicism

and polarization in our politics.

That was former President Obama at the end of his term. It is obvious the situation today for many families simply isn't sustainable. As my friend the Democratic leader said in his speech on inauguration day, ``We live in a challenging and tumultuous time.'' Our economy, he cautioned, leaves ``too many behind.'' Our politics, he warned, is ``consumed by rancor,'' and we face threats ``foreign and domestic.''

Americans are reeling after 8 years of grand promises and diminished dreams, leftwing experiments and heavy-handed overreach. Small businesses are literally drowning in regulations, bigger employers, as well. College graduates are struggling to make it and too often simply move back in with their parents. The middle class feels under assault, as kitchen tables pile ever higher with health care bills, energy bills, and paychecks that fail to keep pace. Americans feel like they don't have a say in what is happening either.

So let us not underestimate the challenges President Trump is inheriting. They are indeed formidable. There is a lot to fix, but we can move forward if we work together. The first thing we have to do is move beyond this us-and-them mentality that has so often characterized the last 8 years. Our goal should be to give confidence to everyone, regardless of race, religion or income, regardless of where someone lives or whom they voted for. We are all in this together. We rise and fall as one.

When I applied for the job of majority leader, I vowed to open up the Senate for a reason. I thought it would give more Americans a voice again. I thought it would give both sides skin in the game again. I thought it would bring us closer to durable solutions, and it has--on education, on transportation, on the fight against cancer, on so many other issues we passed meaningful legislation that can positively impact millions. The way we did it was simple--really simple, actually. We set the slogans aside. We listened to each other. We listened in good faith. We kept our focus where it truly belonged, on areas where both sides can agree. Wouldn't you know it, it turns out we actually agreed on a lot. It turns out we all want to give our kids a better future, turns out we all want better roads and infrastructure, turns out we all want a country that is healthy. It seems obvious, but we can forget these things in the midst of a divisive campaign. We can get lost in the politics and lose sight of our common humanity.

The campaign is over. The time for governing is upon us, and we face huge challenges. Many of these issues President Obama sought to solve. Sometimes his policies moved us forward. More often, they moved us backward or created new problems altogether. This is not an attack on the sincerity of his aims. It is a critique of the efficacy of his means.

Mr. President, we have seen quite clearly over the last 8 years which policies do not work. We now have the opportunity to try policies that can work. ObamaCare offers a great example. Democrats came into office in 2009 with a promise to unify the country and big majorities that allowed them to ignore half of it. They

made their choice with partisan, highly ideological laws like ObamaCare that divided us further--and often made things worse. We have seen how ObamaCare, in particular, has hurt the middle class. Choices are dwindling, costs are skyrocketing, and too many middle-class families don't know how much more they can sustain.

This is why we promise to repeal and replace ObamaCare, and this is why we will meet our responsibility to do so. ObamaCare came into this world on a party-line vote and a flurry of Executive actions, and it can leave the same way. What repeal presents is a fresh canvas where we can start over with durable, lasting reforms that both parties--if they choose to engage--can take credit for.

I hope our Democratic friends choose to engage. I hope they join in the hard work of improving health care for the American people because, let us remember, this should not be about winning or losing. It isn't about scoring points. It is about replacing a law that doesn't work with reforms that can. It is as simple as that. You can hardly accuse President Trump of being a rigid ideologue. He is interested in health care that actually works. Americans are interested in health care that actually works. All of us are.

So we can work together to finally solve big problems like ObamaCare or we can continue to bludgeon each other election after election. Our Democratic friends can crank the faux outrage machine up to 10, claim Republicans are motivated by some desire to make America sick, and get right back to the Hatfield-and-McCoy routine, but that will not solve the problem or move us forward. The moment calls for something more.

The question now is whether we have the courage to begin binding our national wounds. We can fight about the things that divide us forever or we can take a moment to finally move forward as one country.

One way to begin moving forward is by proceeding with confirmations without delay, especially when it comes to key national and economic security nominees.

Tonight we will vote on the nomination of Mike Pompeo to be Director of the CIA. He enjoys overwhelming support to be confirmed, just as we know that many other Cabinet nominees command sufficient support as well. So let us confirm them now and never forget the way Republicans worked with the administration of former President Obama to confirm seven members of his Cabinet the day he took office and nearly his entire Cabinet within 2 weeks.

Both parties appear to agree that our economy, our health care, and our politics need fixing so let us get down to fixing them. Let us join hands and move forward. The American people are ready for solutions, and after 8 long years, they are ready for Democrats to work with Republicans to deliver them.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that all debate time on the nomination be yielded back.

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

Mr. President, today I wish to remember the life of James H. ``Jim'' Skaggs, a Louisville resident, who passed away in December at the age of 94. To his family, his church community, and to those who knew him, Jim was a man known for his kindness, patience, and compassion. As a member of this Nation's Greatest Generation, he was an example of commitment and devotion.

Like so many other brave men and women, Jim answered his country's call in the Second World War. Kentucky has a proud history of military service, and Jim is a fine model of that tradition. As a staff sergeant in the 755th Railway Battalion, U.S. Army Transportation Corps in England, France, and Belgium, Jim showed the deep passion he held for his country.

Jim leaves behind a legacy of love and family. His daughter Debbie is my personal friend and archivist. If it is possible to measure a father by his daughter, Jim will surpass all standards. She is impressive in her own right, and she is surely a reflection of him. He will be remembered fondly. Elaine and I send our deepest condolences to Jim's family and friends.

Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to a good friend and a true Kentucky hero, Robert L. ``Bob'' Williams. Bob, a northern Kentucky native, passed away in December at the age of 94. He left behind many loved ones, including his wife, Barbara, but he also left his mark on our Nation and the Commonwealth.

As a member of the Greatest Generation, Bob answered the call of duty and bravely served in World War II. On June 6, 1944, he was one of the first Allied paratroopers to land during the D-day invasion. With his fellow soldiers, Bob fought well behind enemy lines before the beach battle began. His mission to secure roads and bridges was vital to the success of the entire operation.

With uncommon courage, Bob and his comrades completed their dangerous mission, overcoming enemy fire and capturing the crucial junctures. Once the invasion began, they continued their fight joining the largest amphibious assault in world history. Without faltering, Bob heroically battled for 10 more days, before suffering a serious injury on June 16, 1944.

It is without question that Bob's actions during the war displayed the highest possible valor. But his actions after the war proved his dedication to those who lost their lives on the battlefield. He spent his life after the War commemorating those who served in any way possible. If there was a parade to march in, you can be sure that Bob marched in it. To remember the 50th anniversary of the D-day invasion, Bob joined other veterans and parachuted into Normandy again. In an interview with the Lexington Herald-Leader, Bob remembered ``[t]he government said, `There's no way we're going to let you do that, you're all too old.' [. . .] We did it anyway.''

The following week, TIME magazine published a double-page, full color picture of Bob. Triumphantly walking away from his 1994 jump with dozens of parachutes still gliding behind him, Bob looked overjoyed. He was paying tribute to his comrades, those with him on that day and those who were not.

To further honor those with whom he served, Bob wrote a book to share veterans' stories of the war for future generations. He has impacted countless lives and is someone I very much respect and admire.

In 2013, it was my privilege to recommend Bob for admission to the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame. This honor was a recognition of something I already knew well: Bob exemplifies the highest American values of service, self-sacrifice, and heroism.

Bob's family represents the greatest of Kentucky values with kindness, compassion, and charity. It was easy to see the love between Bob and his wife, Barbara, and they raised wonderful children in Barbara, Diane, Jeffrey, Kim, and Kevin. Although they endure the pain of loss, I know they are comforted in the memory of Bob's deep love for all of them.

My wife, Elaine, and I were deeply saddened to hear the news of Bob's

passing. He lived an admirable life with courage and devotion, and I am proud to say he was my friend.

Mr. President, I join many Kentuckians who were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Parker Beam, the master distiller emeritus of Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, KY. Parker was a giant of the industry, and he helped promote ``the new Golden Age'' of bourbon in the United States.

The Beam family is no stranger to bourbon. Tracing its distilling roots in Kentucky back to 1795, Parker Beam continued the tradition of his lineage. When he succeeded his father as master distiller, Parker grew Heaven Hill Distillery with its first premium small batch and single barrel bourbons. During his long career, Parker won numerous awards and accolades for his craft and became a charter member in the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame.

Parker was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease in 2010. Since then, he dedicated himself to finding a cure and established the Parker Beam Promise of Hope Fund. After 50 years of bourbon and a courageous battle with this disease, Parker passed away at the age of 75.

Kentucky's bourbon heritage has brought pride, culture, and economic development to the Commonwealth. Parker Beam helped cultivate that tradition and pass it on to the next generation. He was a man of skill, authenticity, and passion, and his legacy will surely live on. Elaine and I send our condolences to his friends and family.

Mr. President, The Herald-Leader in Lexington, Kentucky published an article on Parker Beam's career. I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the article be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, in November's election, the people called for a new direction, a change from the last 8 years. Today, we took a meaningful step toward that new direction as we inaugurated a new President of the United States.

I think it is important for all Americans--regardless of party--to remember the significance of inauguration day. As we celebrate our Nation's rich electoral tradition, we can begin to move our country forward together.

It is always an honor to participate in the historical transition of power and the ceremonies surrounding it. Today was certainly no exception. On behalf of the Senate, I wish to express our gratitude to each individual, from law enforcement personnel to Inaugural Committee staff, to congressional staff of volunteers whose efforts made this event a success.

I wish to again congratulate President Trump and Vice President Pence on today's inauguration. We are eager to work with you and the administration in advancing policies that can improve the lives of the American people.

Today marks a new beginning. We are faced with many new opportunities. We are faced with some new challenges too. I will have more to say on that in the coming days. For now, the Senate remains hard at work as we move forward with the confirmation process on President Trump's nominees. We will have an opportunity to confirm some today.

It is imperative to proceed with confirmations without delay, especially when it comes to key national and economic security needs. I urge colleagues to remember that we worked with the administration of former President Obama after he was first inaugurated. We confirmed seven--seven--members of his Cabinet on the day he took office and nearly the entire Cabinet was filled within 2 weeks.

I wish to say, parenthetically, there is a lot the minority can do at the very beginning by refusing to give consent to drag this out, and that is what apparently is occurring here. The nominations we are not doing are not even controversial.

I would hope the feeling around here would be at least on day one to have some level of cooperation. We should work in the same spirit with the current administration and put the rest of President Trump's team in place as soon as possible. Specifically, it is important that we confirm General Mattis and General Kelly to their crucial positions as the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security.

That is not enough. We live in dangerous times. As the Democratic leader noted earlier just today, ``We face threats foreign and domestic.'' It is critical for the President to have a full national security team today, day one. That includes, in particular, the Director of the CIA. It makes no sense to

leave the post open, not for another week, not for another day, not for another hour. America's enemies will not pause in plotting, planning, and training simply because the Democrats refuse to vote. The American people expect more.

Earlier today, the Director and Deputy Director of the CIA resigned. They left. They are gone. The Director's job is open and unfilled. We need to confirm a new Director today. We need to confirm the rest of the Cabinet as quickly as we can.

Republicans treated a newly inaugurated President Obama's nominees fairly, and our Democratic friends should do so now. Our country is counting on it. I am told we want to have some debate about this. We will have as much debate time, starting right now, as our Democratic colleagues would like, but at the end of the debate, today--not Monday--we should install a new CIA Director.

Mr. President, I wish to offer a few words regarding our outgoing President. I had a chance, as some others did yesterday, to receive a call from him, which I appreciated. I want to say farewell to President Obama. I think it is worth, once again, reflecting on the significance of his election and the historic achievement it represented in terms of our country's past. That is something both he and our country should be very proud of.

It is no secret that the President and I and other Members of my party have not always seen eye to eye. Over the years, we have pursued totally different legislative priorities. Everybody around here knows that. The American people know that too. It is a big country. We have different views about what ought to be done.

Let me say this. I think I speak for all Americans when I thank our former President for his tremendous service to our Nation. As can be said of all First Families, he and his family have made many personal sacrifices over the past 8 years. Through it all, they have done so with dignity and with grace.

To our 44th President, I wish to say, for your leadership, we are grateful. We wish you, Michelle, Malia, and Sasha all the best as you embark on this new chapter of your lives.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the en bloc consideration of the following nominations received today: James N. Mattis to be Secretary of Defense; and John F. Kelly to be Secretary of Homeland Security. I ask consent that there be 20 minutes of debate on the nominations, equally divided in the usual form, and that following the use or yielding back of time, the Senate vote on the nominations in the order listed 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 suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. President, I renew my unanimous consent request that I previously stated.