Mitch McConnell

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the majority leader, in consultation with the Democratic leader, the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of the following nomination: Executive Calendar No. 430. I ask consent that there be 10 minutes of debate, equally divided in the usual form; that following the use or yielding back of time, the Senate vote on the nomination with no intervening action or debate; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; 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 nomination be printed in the Record.

Mr. McCONNELL

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. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following nominations: Executive Calendar Nos. 499 and 500.

Mr. McCONNELL

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. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the en bloc consideration of the following nominations: Executive Calendar Nos. 405 and 406.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.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, today the Senate will continue another historic week confirming more of President Trump's impressive judicial nominees to the Federal bench--Steven Grasz, confirmed; Don Willett, confirmed. And soon we will add James Ho to the list by confirming him to serve on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is an exceptionally well-qualified nominee whose career in both public service and the private sector has garnered respect from both sides of the aisle. The former Democratic mayor of Dallas supported his nomination, calling him ``among the most brilliant appellate lawyers in the United States.'' When we vote to confirm Mr. Ho, we will be adding another fair and impartial judge to the Federal bench, and by doing so, the Senate will take another important step to ensure that the Federal judiciary fulfills its proper role in our constitutional system. Each of them will be an asset to our Nation's courts. Under Chairman Grassley's leadership, the Senate Judiciary Committee has done outstanding work to move these judicial nominees to the floor. I am grateful for his efforts, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in voting to confirm Mr. Ho soon.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 3 p.m., Monday, December 18; 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 proceed to executive session and proceed to the consideration of Calendar Nos. 241 and 193 under the previous order, en bloc, with the debate time on the nominations to run concurrently; finally, that at 5:30 p.m., the Senate vote on confirmation of the nominations in the order listed with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

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 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. Now, on one final matter, Madam President, later today, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act conference committee will host an open meeting to discuss its progress in resolving the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. The conferees have been working diligently to produce a report that both Chambers can vote on soon. Once they complete their work, Congress will be able to fulfill our commitment to the American people and deliver real tax reform. For too long, the hardworking men and women of Kentucky and our Nation have endured a struggling economy and a broken tax code. Rates are too high. The structure is too complicated to understand, and it is too easy for the wealthy and the well-connected to exploit. Incentives are so nonsensical that some actually encourage corporations to ship American jobs overseas. It is time for a change. Passing pro-family and pro-growth tax reform is the single most important action we can take right now to grow our economy and help the middle class get ahead. Families deserve a tax system that works for them; and along with President Trump and his team, this Republican-led Congress is working to deliver. This is our chance to set a new course--to undo the damage that our outdated Tax Code has inflicted on the economy over the last decade. For the Americans who were left behind by the Obama economy, this is our opportunity to provide relief. We want to make your taxes lower, simpler, and fairer. We want to bring investment and jobs back home and keep them here. The bottom line is this: We want to take more money out of Washington's pocket and put more money into the pockets of the middle class. I am confident the conference committee will finalize a bill that does just that. It will also repeal ObamaCare's individual mandate tax, delivering relief to low- and middle-income Americans who have struggled under an unpopular and unworkable law. In addition to this once-in-a-generation tax relief, our legislation will also provide for our Nation's energy future. By further developing Alaska's oil and gas potential, this bill will help create jobs, support energy independence, and promote our national security. The forthcoming conference report represents our chance to provide a real benefit to families and small businesses across the Nation. I am grateful to the members of the conference committee for their hard work to resolve the differences between the two bills. I look forward to voting for the final product soon.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, this week, the Senate is continuing to consider President Trump's outstanding judicial nominees. Yesterday, we confirmed a talented individual to be a circuit court judge, and soon we will confirm another. Next, we will advance the nomination of James Ho to be a judge of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Ho is another well-qualified individual, and, like all of President Trump's judicial nominees, he is dedicated to upholding the rule of law and serving as an impartial arbiter on the bench. Similar to Justice Willett, whom I discussed yesterday, Mr. Ho has an inspirational story. Immigrating to the United States from Taiwan at the age of 1, he learned English by watching ``Sesame Street.'' He went on to graduate from the University of Chicago Law School with high honors and earned a clerkship with Judge Jerry E. Smith of the Fifth Circuit. In 2001, Mr. Ho joined the Department of Justice as the Special Assistant to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights and later worked in the Office of Legal Counsel. In addition to his service in the executive branch, he worked here in the Senate as chief counsel for the Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on the Constitution. Afterward, he went across the street to clerk for Associate Justice Clarence Thomas. After his distinguished and successful legal career in Washington, Mr. Ho returned to Texas, joining a top law firm and specializing in appellate litigation. He then served as the solicitor general of Texas, succeeding our colleague Senator Ted Cruz. It was while he was serving in that role that he won the Supreme Court Best Brief Award from the National Association of Attorneys General. He went on to earn the award two more times. After his time in State government, Mr. Ho returned to his private practice firm and currently serves as the cochair of its appellate and constitutional law group. He has presented oral arguments in State and Federal courts around the country, including the Supreme Court. It is clear that Mr. Ho possesses impressive credentials, with the experience necessary to excel on the Fifth Circuit. He also earned the praise of prominent Democrats who believe he will make an excellent addition to the Federal court. Ron Kirk, the Obama administration's Trade Representative and the former mayor of Dallas, supported Mr. Ho's nomination to the Judiciary Committee. He wrote: Jim possesses the temperament, integrity, and intellect that anyone, Republican or Democrat, should insist on in a federal judge. He is wickedly smart, and is among the most brilliant appellate lawyers in the United States. If there is one thing that my liberal and conservative colleagues agree on, it is that Jim just has it in his DNA to be a great judge. A Commissioner on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights appointed by President Obama also recommended Mr. Ho in a letter to the Judiciary Committee. She knows him from his volunteer work with the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. She wrote that he ``has a strong reputation as an intelligent, reasonable, fair and principled lawyer.'' I would like to commend President Trump for another very strong nomination. I would also like to express my gratitude to Chairman Grassley and the members of the Judiciary Committee for their work to process the President's judicial nominees. I look forward to advancing Mr. Ho's nomination soon.

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, following the remarks of our Democratic colleagues.

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, December 14; 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 proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Ho nomination; finally, that all time during recess, adjournment, morning business, and leader remarks count postcloture on the Ho nomination.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the majority leader, in consultation with the Democratic leader, the Senate proceed to executive session for consideration of Calendar No. 241, the nomination of J. Paul Compton to be General Counsel of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. I further ask that there be 120 minutes of debate on the nomination, equally divided in the usual form; that following the use or yielding back of time, the Senate vote on confirmation with no intervening action or debate; 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.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the majority leader, in consultation with the Democratic leader, the Senate proceed to executive session for consideration of Calendar No. 193, the nomination of Owen West to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense. I further ask that there be 30 minutes of debate on the nomination, equally divided in the usual form; that following the use or yielding back of time, the Senate vote on confirmation with no intervening action or debate; 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.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Now, on another matter, Madam President, over the last eight years, our foreign policy was guided by a Commander in Chief who wished to draw down conventional military power from across the globe. Iran, China, and Russia have sought to fill this vacuum and exploit the perception that America was withdrawing. This Republican Congress has made a commitment to work with President Trump to rebuild our military and give our men and women in uniform the resources they need to face the challenges of a dangerous world. We know there is more work to do in restoring our military's combat readiness and meeting the full needs of the force. Earlier this year, we passed a funding measure that was an important departure from the Obama years. The President has renewed our commitment to Afghanistan, and is trying to train and equip a force that can meet the daunting challenge posed by North Korea. To begin rebuilding our military, we ignored the Obama-era demand that any increase in defense funding must be equally matched to nondefense increases. We did that earlier this year, and we must do it once again. As we continue to discuss a plan to fund the government, we must prioritize efforts to provide for our warfighters. The Defense Department suffered a disproportionate reduction under the Budget Control Act--one that has real consequences for readiness. If we are not able to come to a funding agreement, our military--and many other critical functions of the Federal Government--will suffer intolerable budget cuts next year. I hope that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will work with us in a serious manner to make sure that we are able to responsibly fund the government so that our military has the tools it needs to keep us safe.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, one of the great advances of our time has been the development and expansion of the internet and wireless technologies. The internet connects people across the globe in an unprecedented way. It brings together producers and consumers, students and educators, and even Members of the Senate with our constituents. It is difficult to exaggerate the impact the internet has on our society and our economy each and every day. Even a few decades ago, the technologies many of us take for granted today would have been totally unfathomable. But the success of the Internet wasn't an accident. Today's internet--and all the incredible innovations that utilize it--aren't the product of unnecessary and burdensome government regulations that hindered growth. Instead, they were the direct result of a bipartisan desire to create an environment of advancement--one that utilized a light regulatory touch. Innovators were free to create and develop what they wanted to, without having to think about complying with overbearing Washington regulation. As the internet grows, so does the United States. Our Nation has led the world in internet technology, and citizens throughout the country and the world have enjoyed the benefits. However, the previous administration seemed bent on subjecting the internet to a whole host of new regulations--rules designed in the age of the rotary phone and rooted in the railroad era of the 1800s. Through unprecedented government overreach, the Obama administration argued that this change would fix a problem. But there wasn't a problem that needed fixing. Therefore at the behest of President Obama in 2015, the partisan majority at the Federal Communications Commission rejected our decades- old approach and reclassified broadband internet access. This overreach subjected it to new burdens and regulations and threatened the marketplace freedom and innovation that brought us the internet we have come to know today. It shouldn't shock any of my colleagues to hear that an increase in burdensome regulations created uncertainty for businesses of all sizes and negatively impacted investment. In the last 2 years, broadband investment has suffered a serious decline, even though many Americans, including large numbers in rural States like Kentucky, lack access to crucial internet services at home. Earlier this year, President Trump changed direction from the previous administration. He elevated Ajit Pai to serve as the Chairman of the FCC, and tomorrow, the Commission will vote to repeal the misguided 2015 rule. Chairman Pai submitted a proposal to restore freedom to the internet and to classify broadband internet access once again as an information service, just like it was until 2015. When the FCC votes tomorrow, they will be voting to return the internet to a consumer-driven marketplace free of innovation-stifling regulations. Opponents of Chairman Pai's plan have expressed their concerns about unfair or disruptive business practices that may hurt consumers' access to the internet. However, his proposal will actually restore the Federal Trade Commission's authority to protect consumers and police companies that engage in unfair practices. Chairman Pai's proposal will also require internet service providers to clearly disclose how they treat their customers' data so that consumers can choose the services that are right for them. I look forward to their vote in support of the open internet and to Congress's actions in the future to keep the internet open for consumers in a lasting way. Before I continue onto another matter, I feel that it is necessary to take a moment to discuss the vitriolic and divisive debate over this topic. As my colleagues know, I am a strong defender of political speech, and I have fought for decades to protect the rights of all Americans to question government policies. However, the discussion on this issue took on a new tone. While the First Amendment protects political speech, it is no excuse for bad conduct. Instead of debating the effects of a proposal, some of the far left engaged in personal attacks, even going as low as to promulgate attacks citing Chairman Pai's children. This type of behavior does nothing to elevate our Nation's discourse or forward a particular policy. I hope that we can all agree that this type of harassment deserves universal condemnation.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I have 9 request 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 Energy and Natural Resources The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at 10 a.m. in room SD-366 to consider the following nominations: Linda Capuano, of Texas, to be Administrator of the Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy, and Timothy R. Petty, of Indiana, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at 10 a.m. in room SD-366 to conduct a hearing. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at 10 a.m. in room SD-430 to conduct a hearing entitled ``The Cost of Prescription Drugs: An Examination of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Report ``Making Medicines Affordable: A National Imperative'. Committee on the Judiciary The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ``Oversight of the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act''. Select Committee on Intelligence The Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at 2:30 p.m. in room SH-219 to conduct a closed hearing. Subcommittee on Communication, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet The Subcommittee on Communication, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ``Digital Decision-Making: the Building Blocks of the Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence'' Subcommittee Ocean, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard The Subcommittee Ocean, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at 2:30 p.m. in room SR-253 to conduct a hearing entitled ``National Ocean Policy: Stakeholder Perspectives''. Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation The Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation of the Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at 10 a.m. in room SR-253 to conduct a hearing entitled ``European Energy Security: U.S. Interests and Coercive Russian Diplomacy''. Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy The Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy of the Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at 2 p.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ``The Future of Zimbabwe''.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 357, submitted earlier today.

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 when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 12 noon, Wednesday, December 13; 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 proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Willett nomination; finally, that all time during recess, adjournment, morning business, and leader remarks count postcloture on the Willett nomination.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, today I wish to commemorate a groundbreaking program in my home State, the John G. Heyburn II Initiative for Excellence in the Federal Judiciary at the University of Kentucky. As I will explain, the initiative, under the leadership of my dear friend, Dr. Martha Heyburn, is both a testament to its namesake and a powerful representation of its leader. Through its work, this program will benefit and educate our citizens, students, and members of the Federal judiciary. Judge John G. Heyburn II served on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky for more than two decades. During his distinguished time on the bench, John excelled as a scholar, a jurist, and a public servant. He was a man of intellectual curiosity, which could be seen in his work and his relationships. In addition to his efforts in the Western District, Chief Justice William Rehnquist appointed John to serve on the Budget Committee of the U.S. Judicial Conference in 1994. John eventually became the committee's chairman in 1997, where he was responsible for working with Congress to set the budget for the Federal judiciary. In 2007, Chief Justice John Roberts appointed him to chair the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, a body tasked with promoting efficiency and consistency in litigation across the Federal courts. During his career on the Federal bench, Judge Heyburn lived out a vision, in his words, ``to ever improve the legal system considered the envy of the world.'' Through each of his roles, John sought to continue the development and improvement of the Federal judiciary, understanding that the quality of justice was inexorably tied to sound administration. Throughout his life, I was proud to call John my friend. Like so many others who knew and cared for him, I was heartbroken by his passing in April of 2015. After John's death, his wife, Martha, was left with what she called ``the unenviable task'' of organizing his judicial papers. She expected to find his books, his notes, and his memos from a lengthy career on the Federal bench. What Martha found, however, surpassed even her grandest expectations. For many of his most important cases, John maintained meticulous records of his decisions. For one case in particular, Martha found a collection of 26 drafted opinions, news clippings, source citations, and even the biographies of the law clerks who had helped John reach his final decision. She recalled that, during his career, John would work tirelessly on his opinions, struggling over individual words or sentences to ensure he got each and every word just right. As she examined the vast quantity of research, documentation, and papers, Martha reached a conclusion that would ultimately inspire the establishment of the Heyburn Initiative. She knew ``this doesn't belong in [her] basement.'' Martha recognized the historical importance of the documents she had found. She knew that these papers should be seen by wider audiences so future students of the law can learn from them and understand her husband's decisions and the decision-making of the broader Federal judiciary. Martha believed that if there were any chance that John's work could inspire a future student, it was her responsibility to help make that happen. With this realization, Martha began to plan the future of the Heyburn Initiative. By organizing the papers and making them publically available, they would become the anchor of a national resource dedicated to understanding the Federal judiciary and its place in our democracy. Many of us are familiar with Presidential libraries and congressional centers throughout the country, but this project would be distinctive in its study of the Federal judiciary. From an impressive career of service, John had accumulated a wealth of materials that would be of interest to many students and judicial researchers. However, Martha knew that, to make this new program attractive to a broad audience, she would need more papers than just those of her late husband. Therefore, as is typical for a groundbreaker like Martha, she understood the best way to accomplish her goal would be to establish an archive with an ambitious mission. She wanted to create a repository for the papers of every article III judge in Kentucky's history that she could acquire. An undertaking of this size had never been attempted before in judicial archiving in any State, but Martha knew that, if she could pull it off, it would be an incredible resource for Kentuckians and those who study the courts for generations to come. From the initial planning stages through today, the Initiative has already obtained the papers of about a dozen Federal judges from Kentucky, and I expect that number to grow. Next, Martha decided that, to be of greater benefit to future generations, the documents in an archive would need to be put in their proper context. One of the best ways to do that would be to record oral histories from policymakers, contemporaries, and the judges themselves. These interviews provide a personal account of the history of our Commonwealth and our Nation. They are an incredible resource for students and researchers now and in the future. To date, many of the Federal judges in Kentucky have agreed to provide their own accounts for the archive, discussing their opinions, their work, and the judiciary. Martha chose to gather oral histories from other members of the Federal Government as well to show the interactions among the three branches at any particular moment in time, but to accomplish this feat, Martha would need resources and a staff to make her vision a reality. She entered into an agreement with the University of Kentucky to host this portion of the Heyburn Initiative. Martha chose John's charge, ``to ever improve the legal system considered the envy of the world,'' to be the initiative's mission statement, and I was proud to stand with her in Lexington in October of 2016 as she publically unveiled her vision. The initiative became her effort to enshrine her husband's legacy and to inspire future generations into public service. With a permanent home and a vision for the future, the Heyburn Initiative launched its second component. After the passing of Associate Justice Antonin Scalia in February of 2016, Martha recognized a new level of awareness about the importance of the Federal courts throughout our Nation. That attention sparked her interest in developing an approachable and programmatic feature to the Heyburn Initiative by hosting speakers and conferences for the benefit of students, current judges, and the public. By hosting these events in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Martha sought to make our State a destination for scholars and jurists, and she has already found great success in her efforts. In its first year, Martha hosted Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch at the Heyburn Initiative in Lexington. Both of these renowned jurists presented their views on the judiciary's particular place in our system of government. During each of these visits, Martha ensured that the distinguished speakers participated in both public events and in meetings with law students. Her aim for these carefully organized interactions with some of the most influential jurists in our country was to provide an opportunity for inspiration and learning. She hoped that the students would be inspired by the speakers and, in turn, the speakers might be inspired by the students. Martha also views Heyburn Initiative events as opportunities to showcase our home State. With a ``uniquely Kentucky'' event, she wanted the visitors to remember more than just a judicial conference. Martha wanted the judges and justices to remember the culture of Kentucky. That is why, for example, when Chief Justice Roberts came to Lexington, she organized a group to attend a University of Kentucky men's basketball game, a coveted experience in the Commonwealth. In the Heyburn Initiative's first year, it has already achieved much success and has set itself on course for a bright future, and the credit for all the achievements belongs to Martha. Her vision and tenacity grew this program from an idea into a national resource for students, judges, and scholars. I know that the Heyburn Initiative will continue to be a fitting legacy for John because Martha is leading it. After so many accomplishments in 1 year, Martha has her sights set on further growth and success. She sees the Heyburn Initiative as an example for other States--to develop a home for the judiciary's rich history and an inspiration for its future. I would like to congratulate my dear friend and her family on her many achievements, and I look forward to seeing the great things that Martha will continue to do.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate vote on the nomination with no intervening action or debate; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; 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 nomination be printed in the Record.