Floor Statements

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I rise today to offer my congratulations to the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide on the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship victory against the University of Georgia Bulldogs.

I join the University of Alabama, the Crimson Tide Faithful, and the entire State of Alabama--my State--in commending this team on its hard- fought win and for showing perseverance in the midst of adversity time and time again. This year, the Tide overcame a host of injuries and midseason struggles to reach this achievement. The team even had to overcome, as the Presiding Officer will recall, a 13-point deficit in the second half of the championship game in Atlanta, winning ultimately 26 to 23 in the first overtime in a college football playoff national championship game. What a game.

Under Head Coach Nick Saban's leadership, the Crimson Tide fought to earn its fifth national title since 2009--demonstrating, I believe, nearly 10 years of dominance. This year's team, among other things, won various awards.

Minkah Fitzpatrick, who is a safety, won the Bednarik Award for best defensive player in the Nation and the Thorpe Award for best defensive back in the Nation. He was also named Associated Press First Team All- American.

Bradley Bozeman, an offensive lineman, was named AP Second Team All- American.

Jonah Williams, an offensive lineman, was named AP Third Team All- American.

Additionally, five players on the University of Alabama's football team were named First Team All-SEC.

Head Coach Nick Saban has now won six college football national championships, equaling the record of former Alabama football Head Coach Paul ``Bear'' Bryant. The Crimson Tide coaching staff has helped produce high-caliber student athletes and gentlemen. This team has brought great pride to the University of Alabama, the loyal fans of the Crimson Tide, and to the entire State of Alabama.

I would like to take a minute to thank Crimson Tide Head Coach Nick Saban, Athletic Director Greg Byrne, President Stuart Bell, and Chancellor Ray Hayes for their leadership.

Mr. President, at this time, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 375, 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 suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, today I wish to honor my good friend and colleague from Alabama, Senator Luther Strange, prior to his departure from the U.S. Senate.

While Luther and I have worked closely together in the Senate, our friendship dates back nearly four decades. Over the years, I have had the privilege of not only getting to know Luther, but also getting to know his wife, Melissa, and his two sons, Luke and Keehn.

Even before Luther was appointed to the U.S. Senate, he and I worked alongside each other throughout much of our careers. When Luther was sworn in to fill Attorney General Sessions' seat, I was pleased to have him just down the hall from my office.

As soon as Luther was sworn into the Senate, he hit the ground running. His camaraderie, integrity, and great attitude did not go unnoticed. Another thing we all quickly observed about Luther in the Senate was his willingness to help in any situation. He was always the first to volunteer, whether the task be big or small. Luther is admired by Members on both sides of the aisle, which is rare in Washington. He has made a lot of friends in the Senate and has worked in a bipartisan fashion.

In addition to his work ethic and great attitude, Luther was able to accomplish an incredible amount legislatively in a short period of time. His successes include his work on the final National Defense Authorization Act conference negotiations, securing three littoral combat ships, his help in achieving the 51 votes needed to pass a once- in-a-generation tax reform package, and helping repeal Obamacare.

Luther's time in the Senate was cut too short. I would be remiss not to mention how much I, along with my Senate colleagues, have enjoyed his company.

I thank Senator Strange for his time and service both to Alabama and our Nation here in the Senate. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors, and I look forward to continuing our close friendship.

Thank you.

Madam President, today I wish to pay tribute to Steve Johnson who is retiring on December 22, 2017, from his position as the manager of the U.S. Senate Dining Room.

Mr. Johnson is a well-respected member of the Senate family. For over two decades, Mr. Johnson has managed the Senate Dining Room with care, enthusiasm, poise, and the utmost hospitality. He understands the rich history and importance of this institution and has witnessed much of its tradition over the years, serving Supreme Court Justices, Vice Presidents, and many of my Senate colleagues.

Starting in 1995, Mr. Johnson's leadership has kept the Senate Dining Room running smoothly and efficiently. Whether it is tallying receipts

at the end of the day or providing specialized off-menu items to guests, everything Mr. Johnson does is done with the utmost attention to detail. Mr. Johnson treats everyone the same and always maintains a high level of professionalism.

Mr. Johnson's work ethic and perseverance are visible throughout his personal life as well. In addition to his impressive tenure, he has completed 18 marathons while working in the Senate Dining Room, including the Boston Marathon a total of seven times.

My colleagues and I would like to express our sincere thanks and gratitude for Mr. Johnson's 22 years of service. His institutional knowledge and unparalleled courtesy are greatly appreciated and will be deeply missed. Please join me in wishing Mr. Johnson and his wife, Joanne, a long and healthy retirement.

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

Madam President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, today I wish to honor the life of Horace Sellers Merrill of Micaville, AL, who passed away on February 17, 2017. He will be remembered as a dedicated public servant who worked faithfully for the citizens of Alabama. He was committed to bettering his community and State through his public service and involvement in the community.

Mr. Merrill began a career with the Dixie Mines Mica Mining Company in the late 1950s before entering Alabama politics. In 1964, he was elected circuit clerk of Cleburne County, a position he held for 12 years. Following his term as circuit clerk, Mr. Merrill was elected probate judge and chairman of the Cleburne County Commission, where he served for 6 years.

Mr. Merrill will be remembered for his leadership in completing the Alabama welcome center and rest area on Interstate 20, as well as his efforts to utilize the Dyne Creek watershed to service the citizens of Cleburne County with a countywide water system.

Outside of his professional career, Mr. Merrill was a very active member of his community. He served as president of the Lions Club, the Jaycees, and the local Athletics Boosters Club. In his earlier years, Mr. Merrill was an accomplished athlete. He lettered in both baseball and football and then attended Southern Union Junior College on an athletic scholarship. He later served as the announcer for Little League and junior high football games in Cleburne County and helped organize the first youth baseball program in Heflin.

Additionally, Mr. Merrill was a longtime member in the Cleburne Baptist Association, serving as an officer and pastor of several churches. A member of Heflin Baptist Church for more than 50 years, Mr. Merrill served as a deacon, a Sunday school teacher, Sunday school superintendent, church training director, and sanctuary choir member.

Horace's many accomplishments and contributions to the State of Alabama will long be remembered. He touched the lives of many over the years, and he will be greatly missed.

I offer my deepest condolences to Horace's wife, Mary, and to all of their loved ones as they celebrate his life and mourn this great loss.

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

Mr. President, I rise today in support of Kevin Newsom, formerly Alabama's solicitor general and currently the President's nominee for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

He is someone whom the Presiding Officer knows well, having himself been the solicitor general for the State of Texas before he became a U.S. Senator.

I believe Kevin Newsom to be an exceptional choice for this high honor. I have the utmost regard for his intellect and integrity.

Kevin grew up in Birmingham, AL. He graduated first in his class from Samford University in Birmingham and went on to graduate with highest honors from Harvard Law School, as the Presiding Officer did.

One month prior to Harvard Law School, Kevin married his wife Deborah. They went on to have two sons, Chapman and Marshall James, who are now 12 and 14 years old respectively.

Kevin is no stranger to the courtroom. He began his legal career as a law clerk on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals for Judge O'Scannlain, as well as U.S. Supreme Court Justice David

Souter. He has argued four cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.

In 2011 and again in 2014, Kevin was appointed to the Advisory Committee on Appellate Rules by Chief Justice John Roberts. This is a signal honor, as the Presiding Officer knows. He is one of only 3 private practitioners on the 10-person committee.

Currently, Kevin serves as the chairman of his firm's appellate group and has been recognized by several national publications and organizations for his leadership in the legal field.

As the former solicitor general of Alabama, Kevin has proved to be an exceptionally skilled attorney. He understands and respects the law, and I believe he will be an asset to our Nation's judicial system as a Federal judge on the Eleventh Circuit. Moreover, the American Bar Association unanimously gave Kevin a ``well qualified'' rating to serve on the Eleventh Circuit--the highest possible recommendation they are able to give.

I am confident that Kevin Newsom will serve honorably and apply the law with impartiality and fairness, which I believe is required of all judges. I believe that President Trump has made the right decision in selecting Kevin Newsom to sit on the Eleventh Circuit. I am hopeful that later today my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will vote to confirm Kevin Newsom without any reservations.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, today I wish to mark the retirement of VADM James D. Syring from the U.S. Navy following more than three decades of military service to this great Nation.

In his last post, he served as the Director of the United States Missile Defense Agency, MDA. As Director, Admiral Syring made enormous contributions to the successful development and fielding of the Ballistic Missile Defense System, BMDS, in order to protect our Nation, American troops deployed abroad, our allies, and our international partners.

Beginning as a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy, the Navy recognized his potential early on and designated him an engineering duty officer, where he served in various assignments.

Upon selection to flag rank in 2010, Admiral Syring served as the program executive officer for Integrated Warfare Systems, where he managed integrated weapons systems for ships, submarines, carriers, and aircraft within the Fleet and Joint Force.

His intellect, work ethic, and ability to deliver complex weapons systems resulted in his being nominated and confirmed as the ninth Director of MDA in November 2012, the first naval officer to assume the directorship of this multibillion-dollar Agency. He oversaw MDA's worldwide mission to develop and deliver to the warfighter a capability to defend the United States against ballistic missile attacks. He has done an outstanding job.

During his time at MDA, the Agency and the Department of Defense made significant progress in addressing current and emerging ballistic missile threats of all ranges. The progress made is even more remarkable considering the budget cuts sustained during that time. In response to the growing North Korean ICBM threat, Admiral Syring implemented a program to expand the capacity of homeland missile defenses. His leadership brought acquisition rigor to the critical Ground-based Midcourse Defense--GMD--Program and laid the foundation for the Agency to implement ground system modernization, a robust ground-based interceptor--GBI--Stockpile Reliability Program, as well as the Redesigned Kill Vehicle Program.

Under Admiral Syring's steady hand, the Agency successfully fielded a new data terminal at Fort Drum, NY, providing the warfighter the capability to improve communication with homeland defense interceptors.

He also oversaw a strategy to improve the overall sensor and discrimination capability of the Ballistic Missile Defense System. With the Long Range Discrimination Radar--LRDR--Program, MDA will deploy an improved persistent midcourse BMDS discrimination capability to enhance the Pacific architecture. The program today is within cost and is on schedule to deliver an initial capability to the warfighter in 2020. Those most familiar with major defense acquisition programs know that this is no small accomplishment.

Overall, Admiral Syring's advocacy for additional interceptor capacity, improved GBI reliability, a redesigned kill vehicle, and LRDR resulted in a fielded system that meets the threat today and is well- positioned to be expanded upon for future challenges.

Admiral Syring was also responsible for major BMDS asset deployments around the globe. He strengthened regional defenses by continuing deliveries of terminal high altitude area defense--THAAD--interceptors and Standard Missile-3--SM-3--Block IBs for use on Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense ships and at Aegis Ashore sites. He took steps to ensure that the United States remained committed to the planned European phased adaptive approach--EPAA--deployments.

He oversaw the delivery of the Aegis Ashore system in Romania in support of EPAA Phase 2, which was accepted for operations by the warfighter in May 2016. In addition, under his leadership, construction of the Aegis Ashore

site in Poland commenced to improve European NATO defenses against medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. He kept the Agency on track to deliver by the end of 2018 the initial SM-3 Block IIA missiles developed in cooperation with Japan to support EPAA Phase 3.

Additionally, Admiral Syring supported successful negotiations between the United States and the Republic of Korea, ROK, on the deployment of a THAAD battery to the ROK, shoring up defenses against the growing threat from North Korean ballistic missiles.

In order to deal with future missile threats, Admiral Syring pursued an advanced technology program with the goal of reducing the cost of engaging increasing and complex ballistic missile threats.

Finally, Admiral Syring successfully initiated the development of an experimental space sensor layer for the BMDS, a new, low-cost program called Space-based Kill Assessment, SKA. The program will increase the performance of the BMDS by collecting data on missile intercepts, a critical capability of which the significance cannot be overstated.

Our Nation has long hoped and, indeed, expected that we will always be able to recruit and retain capable individuals with a strong sense of patriotism, who will spend their careers ensuring that our country is safe in peacetime and capable in time of war. The contributions that VADM James D. Syring made to the Missile Defense Agency, the U.S. Navy, and the national security of the United States of America over his career have again shown our Nation's hopes are not too great to be met. As he retires after more than three decades of military service, I wish him and his family well, and I hope he has a deep appreciation of his legacy to this Nation and of the gratitude of his fellow citizens.

Madam President, today I wish to pay tribute to the work and 37-year career of Ms. Nancy E. DiCarlo on the occasion of her retirement from the Department of Defense.

Since January 2007, Ms. DiCarlo has served as the Director for International Affairs for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. In this capacity, Ms. DiCarlo has played an important role in the successful initial fielding of our integrated, layered, ballistic missile defense system, which currently protects our Nation, American troops deployed abroad, and our friends and allies from attack by ballistic missiles.

Ms. DiCarlo's career has been marked by increasing responsibility across a number of departments and programs important to the national security of the United States. Beginning her career in the Department of the U.S. Navy, Ms. DiCarlo contributed to the cost, schedule, and performance of the Navy's F/A-18 international programs, undersea surveillance programs, electronic hardware programs, and logistics programs.

Her performance caught the attention of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development & Acquisition, who selected Ms. DiCarlo to join the Navy acquisition team. In this role, she worked on a strategic implementation plan and performance measures across the Navy acquisition enterprise.

Ms. DiCarlo went on to join the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency and lead both military and civilian staff in the management of Asian, European, NATO, and African security cooperation strategy, programs, and engagement. She was later selected for the Senior Executive Service and named as MDA's Director for International Affairs for MDA, where she diligently promoted U.S. national security goals and objectives.

Her service has assisted the sale of U.S. missile defense assets which has strengthened the cooperation of our international partners, thereby expanding the capabilities and effectiveness of U.S. missile defenses.

Additionally, Ms. DiCarlo's efforts have enhanced the U.S. partnership with the Government of Israel on missile defense programs. As the lead U.S. negotiator, she instituted codevelopment programs for the David's Sling Weapon System to defend Israel against long-range rockets and short-range ballistic missile threats and for the Upper Tier Interceptor Program as part of the Arrow Weapon System designed to defend Israel against longer-range ballistic missile threats. Ms. DiCarlo led negotiations with Israel on coproduction agreements for Iron Dome and David's Sling Weapon Systems.

The American people rely upon civilian and uniformed Federal employees to protect and advance their interests. Our country has been fortunate to have had Ms. Nancy DiCarlo's dedication and contribution to our Nation's defense for nearly four decades.

I hope my colleagues in the Senate will join me in recognizing Ms. Nancy DiCarlo for her work and thanking all of the men and women of the Missile Defense Agency for their service to our Nation.

Mr. President, I wish to inform all Senators that on Friday, May 19, 2017, the Committee on Rules and Administration adopted amendments to the U.S. Senate Travel Regulations and corresponding changes to the committee and administrative office staff regulations, which are published as part of the travel regulations. All amendments are effective immediately.

I ask unanimous consent that a summary of these modifications and the text of the amended regulations be printed in the Record.

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

Mr. President, I wish to address the Senate for a few minutes about the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch, which is the topic of the day and has been the topic for weeks. It probably has been said, but I am going to go through some of it again.

Judge Gorsuch is a native of Denver, CO, where he currently resides with his

wife Louise and their two daughters. He is currently 49 years old.

I want to talk about some of his credentials. Judge Gorsuch received his bachelor of arts degree from Columbia University in 1988, his juris doctor from Harvard Law School in 1991, and a doctorate in legal philosophy from Oxford University in the UK in 2004.

At Columbia, he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, a Truman scholar at Harvard Law School, and a Marshall scholar at Oxford.

Following law school, Judge Gorsuch served as a law clerk to Federal appellate judge David Sentelle and then to Justice Byron White of the U.S. Supreme Court and Associate Justice Anthony M. Kennedy of the Supreme Court.

In 1995, Judge Gorsuch entered private practice as an associate of Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evans & Figel, and he was elected partner in that law firm in 1998. His practice focused on general litigation in both trial and appellate matters.

Judge Gorsuch left private practice in 2005 to serve as the Principal Deputy to the Associate Attorney General at the Justice Department in Washington.

President George W. Bush nominated Judge Gorsuch to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, located in Denver, on May 10, 2006. He was confirmed in the Senate by a voice vote on July 20, 2006.

We talk about qualifications for judges. I want to share some of his. Judge Gorsuch has served over a decade on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He has an outstanding judicial record that speaks for itself. He has participated in over 2,700 appeals on the Tenth Circuit, and 97 percent of them have been unanimously decided. In those cases, he was in the majority 99 percent of the time.

Of the approximately 800 opinions he authored on the Tenth Circuit, 98 percent of his opinions were unanimous, even on a circuit where 7 out of the 12 active judges were appointed by Democratic Presidents. His opinions on the Tenth Circuit have the lowest rate of dissenting judges at 1.5 percent. That is unheard of. Out of the eight cases he has decided that were reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court, seven were affirmed and one was vacated.

Judge Gorsuch's nomination to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2006 was met without opposition, and he was confirmed by voice vote.

Notably, Senators serving during this time include a lot of my former colleagues: then-Senator Barack Obama, Senator Joe Biden, Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator John Kerry, Senator Harry Reid, and 12 other current sitting Democratic Senators in this body, including the minority leader, Chuck Schumer.

In March, the American Bar Association, ABA, unanimously gave Judge Gorsuch a ``well qualified'' rating, their highest possible mark. Minority Leader Schumer and Senator Leahy have both previously referred to the ABA as the ``gold standard by which judicial candidates are judged.''

In the area of jurisprudence, Judge Gorsuch has a mainstream judicial philosophy, which he clearly articulated during the Senate Judiciary's confirmation hearing.

I believe his record is unequivocal in that he believes judicial decisions should be based on the law and the Constitution and not personal policy preferences. He has a deep commitment to the Constitution and its protections established by our Founding Fathers, including the separation of powers, federalism, and the Bill of Rights. Judge Gorsuch's decisions demonstrate that he consistently applies the law as it is written, fairly and equally to all individuals.

Additional information about Judge Gorsuch: The American people deserve to have their voices heard in selecting Justice Scalia's replacement. This is what we are doing.

Some of my colleagues intend to oppose Judge Gorsuch based solely on the fact that they disagree with the outcome of the Presidential election.

During President Trump's campaign last year, he clearly defined the type of Justice he wished to nominate to the current vacancy. He even published, as you will recall, a list of 21 judges who possessed what he believed are the necessary qualifications to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Following Judge Gorsuch's nomination, he sat for over 20 hours of questioning in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Senate-- the longest hearing of any 21st-century nominee. Additionally, he was given 299 questions for the record by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. This also is the most in recent Supreme Court confirmation history.

Simply put, I believe this is the most open and transparent process in choosing a Supreme Court nominee ever conducted by an administration. By filibustering this nomination, some of my colleagues are breaking a nearly 230-year tradition of approving Supreme Court nominees by a simple-majority vote.

I believe the American people spoke clearly when they elected President Trump. I believe this is the American people's seat, and I believe Judge Gorsuch is an exceptional choice for the Supreme Court. He deserves an up-or-down vote, and that is why I believe we are getting ready in the next few hours to confirm him.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, on April 6, 2017, the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library organized, elected a chairman, a vice chairman, and adopted committee rules for the 115th Congress. Members of the Joint Committee on the Library elected Congressman Gregg Harper as chairman and Senator Richard Shelby as vice chairman. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 2, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the committee rules be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, on April 6, 2017, the Joint Committee on Printing organized, elected a chairman, a vice chairman, and adopted committee rules for the 115th Congress. Members of the Joint Committee on Printing elected Senator Richard Shelby as chairman and Congressman Rodney Davis as vice chairman. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 2, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the committee rules be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, the Committee on Rules and Administration has adopted rules governing its procedures for the 115th Congress. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 2, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, on behalf of myself and Senator Klobuchar, I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the committee rules be printed in the Record.