Mitch McConnell

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following Senate resolutions which were submitted earlier today: S. Res. 312, S. Res. 313, and S. Res. 314.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported amendment to the resolution be agreed to.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported amendment to the preamble be agreed to, 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.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I have 2 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 Foreign Relations The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Monday, October 30, 2017, at 5 p.m., to conduct a hearing on the Authorization for the Use of Military Force. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Monday, October 30, 2017, at 5:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing on the nomination of: Emily Webster Murphy, of Missouri, to be Administrator of the General Services Administration.

Mr. McCONNELL

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

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.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 the Agriculture Committee be discharged from further consideration of and the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 75.

Mr. McCONNELL

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

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

Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, the pending cloture motions ripen following the disposition of the McFadden nomination.

Mr. McCONNELL

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 368, Amy Barrett.

Mr. McCONNELL

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

Mr. McCONNELL

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

Mr. McCONNELL

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I move to concur in the House amendment, and I ask unanimous consent that the motion be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the Senate is continuing to move forward on President Trump's outstanding judicial nominations. Many of the well-qualified men and women the President has nominated enjoy substantial bipartisan support. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats have decided to continue wasting the Senate's time with the pointless obstruction of these nominees. Time and again, they have erected partisan procedural hurdles that are designed not to change the outcome--they don't change the outcome--but simply to waste the Senate's time. Often, Democrats do not even oppose the nominee in question. Let's compare the number of times this days-long delay has been invoked for nominees of the last two Presidents during the first years of their Presidencies--during the first year of the Obama Presidency and the first year of the Trump Presidency. Republicans required cloture on one of President Obama's judicial nominees during his first year--cloture one time on a judicial nominee for President Obama in his first year. Democrats have invoked this delay for every single one of President Trump's judicial nominees, so far, except one. This week, they are at it again. Today, we will have a cloture vote on the nomination of Trevor McFadden to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Not a single Democrat on the Judiciary Committee registered an objection to the nomination; yet we still have to waste time in overcoming a procedural hurdle from our Democratic colleagues before the Senate can take up the nomination and consider it. It came out of committee with no opposition. We are not going to let these mindless attempts to slow progress stop us from confirming the President's nominees to the judiciary. If that means more cloture votes and more time focused on this task, that is what we will do, but we will confirm these nominees. You can count on it.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, on another matter, for families in Kentucky and across the Nation, the devastation of opioid abuse can be a constant and painful reality. Communities are forced to endure grief, worry, and loss. A recent report showed that my home State suffered more than 1,400 fatalities as a result of drug overdoses last year alone. Despite the troubling statistics, however, there are glimmers of hope. The Republican-led Senate has worked hard to pass important legislation like Jessie's Law, the 21st Century Cures Act, and the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. These measures are important steps that should lead to real progress. There are many other important efforts across the country as well. From coast to coast, we hear stories of men and women in recovery who are managing their addictions. We are heartened by these testimonies that proper treatment offers real hope. They help remind everyone as to why we must continue to press forward. The task that remains is staggering, but we are committed. Later today, President Trump will help our country take another step forward. We expect that he will formally recognize the opioid epidemic for the public health emergency that it is. This announcement builds upon years of progress that Congress has made in responding to addiction with comprehensive action, including prevention, enforcement, and treatment. I commend the President for his continued commitment to this cause. When he visited us in the Senate earlier this week, he discussed the national epidemic and his administration's efforts to fight back. Along with my colleagues, I stand ready to work with him on future proposals to provide the necessary tools to protect our communities from this scourge. A single bill or program is never going to solve this crisis on its own. Only a sustained, committed effort can do that. I am proud of our efforts to combat opioid addiction already. I also know that we will continue to push forward with continued collaboration with many groups both in Washington and in States and communities all across our country so that, one day, we can finally say that our country has beaten this crisis once and for all. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. McCONNELL

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 369, Joan Larsen.

Mr. McCONNELL

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, that at 5:30 p.m., Monday, October 30, all postcloture time on the McFadden nomination be considered expired and the Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination with no intervening action or debate; 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; further, that it be in order to proceed to the following nominations during today's session of the Senate: Calendar Nos. 368, 369, 432, and 433.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 3 p.m., Monday, October 30; 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 McFadden nomination under the previous order.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam 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.