Mitch McConnell

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. I further ask unanimous consent that the Blunt amendment, which is at the desk, be considered and agreed to.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I finally ask unanimous consent that 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 proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 382, submitted earlier today.

Mr. McCONNELL. 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. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 2 p.m., Monday, January 29; 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; further, that following leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S. 2311, with the time until 5:30 p.m. equally divided in the usual form; finally, that notwithstanding the provisions of rule XXII, the cloture motions filed during Wednesday's session ripen in the order filed at 5:30 p.m., Monday.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. 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. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum calls for the cloture motions be waived.

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 552, R.D. James.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, yesterday morning, senseless violence struck the community of Benton in Western Kentucky. A shooting at Marshall County High School has claimed two lives, left more than a dozen injured, and thrust an entire community into shock and grief. Such a tragedy is every parent's worst nightmare. School should be a haven where students, faculty, and staff can learn and work without fear of violence. Elaine and I send our thoughts to the victims, their families and friends, and the entire Marshall County High School community. Last night, Kentuckians came together in more than 20 prayer vigils and services across the region. Although few of us can begin to understand their grief, an entire nation stands in solidarity at their side.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, yesterday the Senate took another important step in confirming President Trump's qualified nominees. In strong bipartisan fashion, we confirmed Jerome Powell to serve as Chairman of the Federal Reserve by a vote of 84 to 13. Mr. Powell was a fine choice to lead the Federal Reserve System. His public service and private sector work alike have received accolades from across the political spectrum. He joined the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve in 2012. He has demonstrated an expert grasp of monetary policy and a commitment to improving the Fed's transparency and accountability to Congress and to the public. I enjoyed meeting with him during the confirmation process and look forward to his service in this new position. The position of Fed Chairman is integral to the health of the U.S. economy. Washington must empower the American people to create prosperity through sound policy that gets the government out of the way of workers and job creators. Jay Powell is up to the task. I was proud to vote to confirm him yesterday. The Senate also voted yesterday to advance the nomination of another highly qualified nominee--Alex Azar, who will serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services. In his impressive testimony before the Finance Committee, Mr. Azar discussed his intention to confront head-on the opioid crisis that is hurting so many families across our country, including in my home State of Kentucky. He made clear that he will place an important priority on prevention, education, and enforcement to halt the advance of this scourge. But he recognizes we need effective, compassionate treatment options for those who are seeking recovery, and for all Americans, he will work to expand access to high-quality, affordable healthcare options. His distinguished record, including prior HHS service as Deputy Secretary and private sector work, shows he is the right man for the job. It is vital that this Department be headed by a leader with Mr. Azar's extensive qualifications and excellent reputation. He will be responsible for overseeing $1.13 trillion in Department spending, supervising critical research, and administering and reforming programs that touch millions of American lives, such as Medicare and Medicaid. I look forward to voting soon in support of his confirmation.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the rising tide of economic optimism I have been highlighting on the floor is not showing any signs of subsiding. Yesterday alone, three of the Nation's largest companies announced major new investments in the U.S. economy and workforce. Each said that their decisions were made possible by the improved business climate created by the landmark Tax Code overhaul that Congress passed last year. First, Verizon announced plans to invest a chunk of its tax reform savings right back into its employees. Next month, about 155,000 Verizon workers, including senior management, will receive stock bonuses valued around $2,500. Additional savings will also go to expanded philanthropy and infrastructure investments right here in America. Further, the Walt Disney Company announced a new investment of at least $175 million in its U.S. workforce. Over 125,000 employees will receive cash bonuses, and Disney will invest $50 million in an employee education program designed to help hourly employees access higher education and vocational training. JPMorgan Chase announced a $20 billion, 5-year comprehensive investment plan to support economic growth and American workers. That plan includes permanent raises for 22,000 employees, hundreds of new bank branches across the country, thousands of new jobs, expanded philanthropy, and an increase in loans for affordable housing and small business development. Just this morning, Starbucks has announced it is permanently raising pay and conferring new benefits, like one-time stock bonuses and expanded paid leave. This major investment in its U.S. workforce will affect more than 150,000 employees. So the good news about tax reform and its benefits is rolling in almost faster than I can keep up with it. In retrospect, the surprise here is not that this tax relief has boosted the American economy; the real surprise is that those who opposed tax reform didn't see it coming.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. McCONNELL

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 5 p.m. today, all postcloture time on the Brownback nomination be considered expired and that, if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action. I further ask unanimous consent that the vote on the James nomination occur at 1:45 p.m. on Thursday, January 25, with all other provisions of the previous order in effect.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move to proceed to Calendar No. 294, S. 2311.

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 622, David Stras.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, last week Americans from all across the country--including many from Kentucky--came here to Washington to speak up for unborn children whom our legal system has denied the right to life. Now Congress has an opportunity to take a step forward. The United States is currently one of just seven countries--just seven--including China and North Korea, that permits elective abortions after 20 weeks. It is time we began to remedy this obvious and tragic moral wrong. The long-overdue legislation that we will be voting on soon would do just that. I am pleased to have filed cloture on this bill to protect unborn children who are capable of feeling pain. I am proud to cosponsor it, along with many of my colleagues, and I look forward to voting for it early next week.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session for a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m., Thursday, January 25; 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 proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the James nomination.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. 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. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, first, this morning began with reports of the tragedy at Marshall County High School in Benton, KY. State officials have reported at least one confirmed death and several injuries. My staff in Western Kentucky is at the high school and is in close contact with local officials. They are monitoring the situation and will be providing me with updates throughout the day. I know I speak for communities across my home State in sending prayers of comfort and healing to students, faculty, and everyone affected by this violence. Our hearts are with the entire community in Marshall County, and our gratitude is with the first responders who rushed into harm's way.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, we might call today the ``first day of the rest of the 115th Congress.'' Yesterday, an overwhelming bipartisan majority of Senators voted to end a filibuster of government funding and conclude a short-lived shutdown of the Federal Government. This regrettable episode reminded all of us that, in the Senate, brinksmanship and hostage-taking simply do not work. The only path to meaningful progress is the hard work of crafting legislation and persuading colleagues on both sides to support it. Yesterday evening our agreement to reopen the government, secure funding for our men and women in uniform, extend health insurance for vulnerable children, and further delay three ObamaCare taxes was signed into law. Now serious negotiations can resume on key issues such as immigration and border security, disaster relief, healthcare, and providing adequate levels of defense spending to support the new national defense strategy--just to name a few. Because common sense and bipartisanship won out yesterday, we have a fresh start today. I challenge every one of us to make the most of it. The American people are watching. Once again, I want to thank the bipartisan group of Senators-- spearheaded by Senator Graham, Senator Collins, Senator Flake, and several of our Democratic colleagues--who helped bring an end to this regrettable incident. I particularly wish to thank Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch for his powerful advocacy for the 9 million children and low-income families who rely on the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Senator Hatch co-created SCHIP with Senator Ted Kennedy on a bipartisan basis more than 20 years ago. I know he counts this program among his proudest legislative accomplishments, and with a career like Senator Hatch's, that is really saying something. I understand the 6-year SCHIP extension the Senate passed yesterday will be the longest extension in the program's history. Its passage offers just one more testament, as if we needed one, to Senator Hatch's moral conviction, political skill, and care for the most vulnerable in our society. It reminds us how much we will miss his work when he retires at the end of this Congress.