Floor Statements

Mr. President, I move to proceed to S. Con. Res. 3.

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

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.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 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, for the first time in three decades, the Kentucky General Assembly began their regular session this month without the fiery voice and passionate character of State Representative Larry Clark. After an impressive career, Representative Clark started a new adventure: retirement. He will be remembered for many accomplishments in Frankfort, among them that he never missed a single floor vote.

Despite our differences, Representative Clark and I both care deeply for Kentucky. As speaker pro tempore of the house, he championed the merger of the Louisville and Jefferson County governments, an issue I fought for when I was the county judge/executive. We also share a passion for the University of Louisville, and Representative Clark has a record of achievements on behalf of the school.

I join the Kentucky General Assembly in congratulating Representative Clark on his career of public service. He dedicated many years to Kentucky, and I wish him well in retirement.

Mr. President, today I wish to celebrate a distinguished Kentuckian and a friend. Robert L. Hendrickson has been the Publisher of the Ledger Independent in Maysville, KY, since 1993. When Bob announced that he would retire at the end of last year, I knew that the paper was not only losing a great journalist, but it also was losing a great man.

Bob graduated from the University of Georgia's Henry Grady School of Journalism. Afterward, he moved back to Kentucky to work on his dad's dairy farm. However, a pair of harsh winters in 1977 and 1978 convinced him, in his own words, ``to put my journalism degree to work.'' He got hired by the Ledger Independent and has served his community ever since.

The Ledger Independent newspaper serves seven counties in northern Kentucky and southern Ohio. Through a series of owners and publishers, the paper continues a 150-year tradition of a local, independent, daily newspaper in Maysville.

Bob became editor of the paper in 1985, calling it ``the best job in the world.'' In 1993, he was promoted to publisher. He oversaw the entire operation and guided the paper into the internet age with the unveiling of Maysville Online. While working full time at the paper, Bob also did postgraduate work at Northwestern University.

Bob and Missy Mann have never stopped working for their neighbors. Bob further dedicates himself to his community, both through his service on the board of directors of the Maysville Chamber of Commerce, and as the moderator of several important political debates in his area.

Bob is a great man and a pillar of his community, and I am honored to call him a friend. I wish him and Missy well in retirement, and I join with countless Kentuckians on thanking him for his service to Maysville.

Mr. President, today I wish to offer my congratulations to an outstanding young man and athlete, the University of Louisville Cardinals' quarterback, Lamar Jackson. On December 10 of last year, Cards fans watched with excitement as Jackson was awarded the Heisman Memorial Trophy, the first in the history of my alma mater. The award is given to the most outstanding player in college football, and Jackson surely has earned it.

We have known for quite some time that Lamar Jackson would be breaking many records. Here are just a few. Jackson was the first player in NCAA Division I history to pass for 3,300 yards and run for 1,500 yards in one season. He holds the Atlantic Coastal Conference, ACC, record for most touchdowns in a single season with 51. Only a sophomore, Jackson is the youngest player ever to win the Heisman Trophy at 19 years old, and he is the University of Louisville's first ever Heisman Trophy finalist. The impressive list goes on and on.

It is clear that Lamar Jackson is a truly spectacular athlete. He has earned his spot in the pantheon of college football greats. It is easy to cheer when the quarterback hurdles a defender to score or runs between some of the best defenses in the Nation. His drive and dedication are traits we all admire, and just wait until you hear where it all started.

In an interview, Jackson said ``[e]verything I do, I do for my mother.'' At an early age, Jackson's mother, Felicia Jones, sparked his interest in football, and she pushed him to be his best ever since. When Lamar and his younger brother were just learning the game, their mom would put on pads in the backyard and run plays with them. She became an active part of all of his teams, all the way to the University of Louisville. He said, ``She would tell me the bad things I did. She wouldn't really tell me the good things I did. And I'd say `All right, Mom. I've got to go fix it.'''

Lamar Jackson's story is just beginning. Under the guidance of some of the best coaches in all of college sports and an athletic director with a strategic vision for the future, the Cardinals are positioned to make a real impact in college football. With the Heisman Trophy already on the shelf, we can only wait and see what Lamar Jackson does next year. As an avid fan of UofL football, I know I can hardly wait.

I would like to join with Cards fans across the Nation to congratulate the entire University of Louisville Cardinals football team and staff on an exciting season and especially congratulate the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner, Lamar Jackson. He has truly made it great to be a Louisville Cardinal.

Mr. President, at the beginning of this year, one of Louisville's foremost community servants began his much-deserved retirement. I rise today to congratulate Joseph Tolan, a man of distinction who dedicated his life to the people of Louisville and Kentucky.

Many years ago, I had the pleasure of working alongside Joe. When I served as the judge/executive of Jefferson County, Joe led the county department for human services. I particularly remember his passion for helping those around him, and that passion has been the driving force of his career. And believe me, I can tell you, from firsthand experience, that passion is contagious.

For the last 30 years, Joe has committed himself to the Metro United Way, a Louisville organization that raises and distributes funds to worthy causes around the region. Spending the last 15 years as president and CEO, Joe led the effort to raise nearly $30 million every year to support approximately 100 organizations. The community support that Joe inspired has led Metro United Way to be ranked in the top 25 markets nationwide.

However, organizations like Metro United Way are measured by so much more than just the donations they raise. True success is counted by the lives impacted and the good work done. With a focus on education, financial stability, and healthy living, Metro United Way impacts thousands of families across the region every single day.

Since joining Metro United Way, Joe has been a major player in the transformation of the city of Louisville and the entire region. Although the organization is over 100 years old, it is constantly adapting to meet today's challenges in the most effective ways possible. With this commitment to excellence and a growing network of strategic partnerships, Metro United Way proved to be a lasting force for good in the community. During his tenure as president and CEO, Joe hasn't just been a part of this innovation, he has been its leader.

Joe has surely earned his retirement, but I know many of us are very sorry to see him go. He leaves behind an impressive list of accomplishments and an organization well positioned to continue his work. I want to extend my congratulations to Joe on such a successful career of dedicated leadership always with a vision to help everyone reach their fullest potential.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m., Thursday, January 5; 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 resume consideration of S. Con. Res. 3.

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, I understand there are two bills at the desk due for a second reading.

In order to place these bills on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to further proceedings en bloc.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to H.R. 240.

Mr. President, the Congress is sending the President of the United States another piece of bipartisan legislation today. Americans of both parties are calling on him to sign it. There is no good reason not to. The Keystone jobs bill is just common sense. Construction of this important infrastructure project would support thousands of American jobs. It would pump billions into our economy and the President's own State Department

told us this could be achieved with minimal--minimal--environmental impact. That is why this jobs and infrastructure bill passed both Houses of Congress with bipartisan support.

I know powerful special interests and political extremists are pressuring the President to veto American jobs. I hope President Obama will join with us in standing for the middle class instead. It is hard to even imagine what a serious justification for a veto might be. Excuses related to the review process obviously won't work, since this bipartisan bill is a solution for fixing a review the Obama administration broke as it ignored deadlines and interfered for political reasons. Plus, the President has called on Congress to send him infrastructure projects, and Keystone is an important infrastructure project that is shovel ready.

Americans are urging President Obama to finally heed scientific conclusions his own State Department already reached. There is no reason for the President to ignore that science any longer. Republicans and Democrats, labor unions and businesses--we are all calling on him to finally allow American workers to build an infrastructure project that just makes good sense.

Mr. President, last night I took action to allow the Senate to consider commonsense legislation that every Democrat should want to support. This targeted measure would address the President's most recent overreach from November.

The bill isn't tied to DHS funding. There is no excuse for our friends on the other side to oppose it. That is especially true of the Democrats who led their constituents to believe they would stand up for democratic principles in this debate. These colleagues have hidden behind all manner of excuses to avoid upsetting the far left. Well, this bill removes the excuses and it sets up a simple political equation: Either stand in defense of extreme overreach or stand with constituents in support of shared democratic values.

As I have said already, my preference remains with the legislation that has already passed the House. It is still the simplest way forward. But as long as Democrats continue to prevent us from even debating that bill, I am ready to try another way. I hope our friends across the aisle will demonstrate similar flexibility.

I am calling on Senators of good faith to work with us and move the bill forward as quickly as possible. So let's get to work.

Recognition Of The Minority Leader

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

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the veto message on S. 1 be considered as having been read; that it be printed in the Record, spread in full upon the Journal, and held at the desk; and that the Senate proceed to its consideration at a time to be determined by the majority leader in consultation with the Democratic leader but no later than March 3.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, this week, the Senate will bid a fond farewell to the director of its Employee Assistance Program, Christy Prietsch.

Christy is retiring after more than a decade of dedicated service in the Senate. She has made quite an impression since coming here in 2004. Senate employees know Christy as a warm and inviting person they can go to whenever they need someone to talk to. She is experienced in helping others overcome obstacles both personal and professional, and it is clear that her care and concern for the Senate community is as genuine as it is deep.

But for Christy, we also know that such a fulsome commitment to serving the Senate has meant spending less time with her husband and her son than she would like. So we hope this decision to retire will give Christy the

opportunity to see more of her family. We also hope that, after helping so many others for so many years--not only in the Senate, but before that in agencies such as the Secret Service and Department of Justice-- Christy will have a little more time to pursue her own passions too.

So the Senate sends its thanks to this dedicated professional who has touched the lives of many, Christy Prietsch, and we wish her well in retirement.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 65 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

I further ask unanimous consent that the Menendez amendment to the resolution be agreed to.

I know of no further debate on this measure.

Mr. President, I further ask unanimous consent that the Menendez substitute amendment to the preamble be considered; that the Rubio amendment to the Menendez amendment to the preamble be considered and agreed to; that the Menendez substitute, as amended, be agreed to; that the preamble, as amended, be agreed to; and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.