Mitch McConnell

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 913.

Mr. McCONNELL

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

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. 914.

Mr. McCONNELL

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

Mr. McCONNELL

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that not withstanding the provisions of rule XXII, the Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Simington nomination at noon tomorrow. I further ask that postcloture time with respect to the Schwartz and Simington nominations expire at 4 p.m. tomorrow and the Senate vote on confirmation of the nominations in the order listed. Finally, if any of the nominations are confirmed, the motions 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, after more than seven decades, a Kentucky family in Hancock County will finally lay their hero to rest. Last year, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, DPAA, identified the remains of Navy Fireman 2nd Class Martin Daymond Young. Soon, he will be on his way home. Stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma, Daymond was killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. This Kentuckian, who would have turned 100 this year, will be buried beside his twin sister in Lewisport next May. Today, on the 79th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks, I would like to pay tribute to Daymond for his bravery and sacrifice in defense of our Nation. In June 1940, 3 months before President Franklin Roosevelt authorized the first peacetime draft, Daymond volunteered for the Navy. He joined millions of men and women of the ``greatest generation'' who signed up to protect our country in uniform. According to Daymond's niece, he was thrilled to be stationed in Hawaii. On the morning of December 7, 1941, Daymond was aboard the Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island. As the attack began, Japanese aerial torpedoes pummeled the ship. Its port side tore open, forcing the 27,500-ton battleship to capsize and sink. It took Daymond and 428 of his crewmates into the water below. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor killed more than 2,400 Americans and launched the United States into the Second World War. Over the next 4 years, heroes were forged on the battlefield and at home as our country defeated the forces of tyranny in defense of the American way of life. In the following years, the Navy attempted to identify the remains of those killed on the Oklahoma. Unfortunately, the vast majority couldn't be accounted for and were buried together in 46 plots at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, also known as the Punchbowl. Then 5 years ago, the Pentagon contacted Daymond's family as they exhumed the USS Oklahoma unknowns. The Navy used DNA samples to identify Daymond's remains and give his family the opportunity for proper burial in Kentucky. By order of our Governor, flags across the Bluegrass State will fly at half staff on that day in honor of a true American hero. Today, over 1,300 Kentucky servicemembers remain unaccounted for by the DPAA. We have never forgotten these patriots, and we will continue searching to bring them home. I am grateful for the ongoing efforts of the DPAA to bring closure to more families like Daymond's so their loved ones can receive the tribute they earned. On behalf of my Senate colleagues, I would like to send our sincere condolences to Daymond's family and express our thanks for his brave service to our Nation. We are proud this Kentucky hero is finally coming home. Mr. President, on Veterans Day, the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer published an article about Daymond Young's identification. I ask unanimous consent the article be printed in the Record.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 795, submitted earlier today.

Mr. McCONNELL. 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. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 502, H.R. 4761.

Mr. McCONNELL. 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, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 530, H.R. 5273.

Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the amendment to the title be agreed to; and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1503 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the Alexander substitute amendment at the desk be agreed to; the bill, as amended, 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 provisions of S. Res. 795 and do so as a further mark of respect for the late Roger William Jepsen, former Senator from Iowa.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m., Tuesday, December 8; 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 Simington nomination under the previous order. Finally, I ask that the Senate recess following the cloture vote on the Simington nomination until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly conference meetings.

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 send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. McCONNELL

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 911.

Mr. McCONNELL

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

Mr. McCONNELL

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