Mitch McConnell

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk for the conference report.

Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum call be waived.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, we will then turn back to appropriations. This week we will vote to approve the conference report that will fund energy and water, military construction and the VA, and the legislative branch. This week's bills contain $147 billion for projects ranging from waterways infrastructure to military family housing, to nuclear security and much more. This legislation equips the Army Corps of Engineers to carry out harbor maintenance, inland waterways restoration, and critical flood damage reduction efforts. It enables the Department of Energy to support groundbreaking research in computing systems and energy efficiency and to step up the security of our Nation's nuclear arsenal. The Military Construction and VA title funds overdue maintenance to operational facilities, as well as nearly $2 billion in support for military family and personnel housing, and it expands resources for in- house VA medical services and broadens community options for veterans seeking vital treatment through funding of the VA MISSION Act. These are national priorities with local impacts that will be felt in every one of our States. In my home State of Kentucky, hundreds of millions of dollars will go toward training facilities at Fort Campbell and Fort Knox, infrastructure improvements in Appalachia, and environmental cleanup efforts in Paducah. I know all Senators can tell similar stories for their own States. So we are looking forward to taking another step forward on regular appropriations and passing this conference report this week. I want to thank Chairman Shelby and Senator Leahy for all they have done to keep this process going forward. Thanks also to the subcommittee chairmen, Senator Boozman and Senator Daines; Senator Alexander, who chaired the conference; and all of my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee. So let's pass this legislation and keep making progress together.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. For the information of our colleagues, these will be the only rollcall votes during this week's session.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I thank my friend from Mississippi. I will be brief.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to celebrate one of the great public educational resources in my home State of Kentucky. This month, we mark the 50th anniversary of Kentucky Educational Television, KET, which has provided a vital service to the Commonwealth. It is my privilege to take a look back at the distinguished history of this organization and its impact on Kentucky families. When KET officially signed on the air in 1968 under the leadership of its founding director, University of Kentucky professor O. Leonard Press, it did so during school hours on the second largest land-based network in the world. Its first instructional program was ``Kentucky is My Land,'' which directly addressed KET's mission to deliver quality educational programming for all levels and to explore the beauty and heritage of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. That original goal has animated the remarkable educational and public affairs programming of this network for half a century. During its first decade on the air, KET continued to expand and provide important services to its viewers, which included the debut of consequential Kentucky journalists such as Al Smith and KET's first nationally distributed instructional series, ``Universe & I.'' In addition, the network began its televised coverage of the proceedings of the Kentucky General Assembly, providing unprecedented access and public transparency to our State's legislature and a valuable civic education to our citizens. As an affiliate of the Public Broadcasting Service, PBS, KET also brings nationally treasured programs into the homes of thousands of Kentuckians. Programs such as Julia Child's ``The French Chef,'' ``Masterpiece Theatre,'' and many of Ken Burns's historical documentary series have made an indelible impact on our country. As KET has grown, it has expanded its programming around the clock to provide educational opportunities to Kentuckians 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Throughout the years, KET has also grown its public affairs content, delivering news of the day and critical information to viewers. Staffed with top-notch journalists and featuring interviews with well-known Kentuckians, these programs are an important part of the network's overall mission. Throughout my career, I have enjoyed both viewing and periodically joining these programs to discuss vital issues to the future of Kentucky. Keeping faith with its educational goals, the network has developed important partnerships with educational institutions and universities in Kentucky. In fact, Morehead State University began offering KET distance learning courses for dual credit, and the KET Fast Forward program has excelled as a learning system for GED test preparation. I commend KET's 50 years of award-winning service to my home State. It is my privilege to congratulate the network on its success, and I look forward to many more years of quality programming in our Commonwealth. I urge my Senate colleagues to join me in celebrating KET's exemplary work.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, on behalf of myself and the distinguished Democratic leader, Mr. Schumer, I send to the desk a resolution on documentary production by the Select Committee on Intelligence, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the Select Committee on Intelligence has received a request from the Department of Justice in a pending criminal case against Paul J. Manafort, Jr., for a copy of a transcript of an interview that the Committee staff conducted of a witness named W. Samuel Patten in January 2018. In response to this request, this resolution would authorize the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, acting jointly, to provide a copy of the interview transcript, under appropriate security procedures, to the prosecution, which intends to share it with the defense under a protective order entered in the case.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 623, submitted earlier today.

Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in recess subject to the call of the Chair.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I have 4 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 banking, housing, and urban affairs The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, September 6, 2018, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Outside Perspectives on Russia Sanctions: Current Effectiveness and potential next steps.'' committee on foreign relations The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, September 6, 2018, at 10 a.m., to conduct a business meeting. committee on the judiciary The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, September 6, 2018, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``The nomination of the Honorable Brett M. Kavanaugh to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.'' 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 Thursday, September 6, 2018, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing on the nomination of Harold B. Parker, to be Federal Cochairperson of the Northern Border Regional Commission.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask that the Chair lay before the Senate the message to accompany H.R. 6157. The Presiding Officer laid before the Senate the following message from the House of Representatives: Resolved, That the House disagree to the amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 6157) entitled ``An Act making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes.'', and ask a conference with the Senate on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses thereon. Ordered, That Mr. Frelinghuysen, Ms. Granger, Messrs. Cole, Calvert, Womack, Aderholt, Rogers of Kentucky, Mrs. Roby, Mrs. Lowey, Mr. Visclosky, Mses. DeLauro, Roybal-Allard, and McCollum, be the managers of the conference on the part of the House. Compound Motion

Mr. McCONNELL. I move that the Senate insist on its amendment, agree to the request of the House for a conference, and authorize the Chair to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate at a ratio of 4 to 3. I know of no further debate on the motion.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the en bloc consideration of the following nominations: Executive Calendar Nos. 1054, 1055, 1056, 1058, and 1059.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate vote on the nominations en bloc 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. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar Nos. 1001, 1002, 1003 and all nominations placed on the Secretary's desk in the Foreign Service; that the nominations be confirmed; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order; that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask that the Chair lay before the Senate the message to accompany H.R. 6147. The Presiding Officer laid before the Senate the following message from the House of Representatives: Resolved, That the House disagree to the amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 6147) entitled ``An Act making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes.'', and ask a conference with the Senate on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses thereon. Ordered, That Messrs. Frelinghuysen, Aderholt, Simpson, Calvert, Cole, Diaz-Balart, Graves of Georgia, Young of Iowa, Rutherford, Mrs. Lowey, Messrs. Price of North Carolina, Bishop of Georgia, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Quigley, and Ms. Pingree, be the managers of the conference on the part of the House. Compound Motion

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move that the Senate insist on its amendment, agree to the request by the House for a conference, and authorize the Chair to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate at a ratio of 6 to 5. I know of no further debate on the motion.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be discharged from further consideration of S. 1417 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Hatch amendment at the desk be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 255, S. 1586.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to and the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time.

Mr. McCONNELL. I know of no further debate on the bill.

Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.