Mitch McConnell

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that with respect to the Bradbury nomination, 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 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. Madam President, the Senate will continue its progress in confirming the President's nominees. Last week we confirmed multiple nominees to a number of Federal agencies. Soon they will get on the job for our country. This week we will start by considering two nominees for the Department of Transportation. Later today, the Senate will vote to confirm Derek Kan to serve as the Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy. Mr. Kan has experience in a wide range of transportation matters, from Amtrak to ride-sharing platforms. His career in both the private and public sectors will serve him well as he works to develop important policies related to our Nation's infrastructure. I will be supporting Mr. Kan's nomination, and I would urge all Senators to join me. Next, we will consider the nomination of Steven Bradbury to be general counsel of the Department of Transportation. During Mr. Bradbury's service at the Justice Department in the Bush administration, he advised the executive branch on various legal and constitutional questions. I am grateful that he has chosen to serve our Nation once again. Next up will be David Zatezalo to serve as the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health and, then, Joseph Otting to be the Comptroller of the Currency. Finally, we have two more talented and qualified nominees to serve as Federal district court judges, Donald Coggins and Dabney Friedrich. Thoughtful consideration of President Trump's nominees is an important responsibility of the Senate, and we will continue to move swiftly so they can get to work for the American people. I look forward to considering each of them this week, and I would urge all of our colleagues to join me.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, for too long many in America's middle-class families felt left behind by the Obama economy. Paychecks seemed to stagnate, good-paying jobs seemed harder to find, and opportunities seemed difficult to come by. Our country can do better for hard-working families, and that is exactly what we are working to deliver as we continue our efforts to pass tax reform. It is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and it is the most important thing we can do today to get our economy really growing again and going again. Last week, the House Ways and Means Committee passed its proposal to lower taxes and to boost economic growth. I would like to commend Chairman Brady for his efforts to get the bill approved by the Committee and to the floor of the House. Here in the Senate, we also remain focused on tax reform this week. Today, the Finance Committee began its mark-up of the tax reform proposal released last week. Under the leadership of Chairman Hatch, the committee will consider this plan that really has been many years and dozens of hearings in the making. The Finance Committee's tax plan will help hard-working Americans keep more of their own money. It will help create more jobs here at home, and it will help increase opportunities for the middle class. Consider this from a recent news report titled: ``Middle class biggest winners in Senate tax plan, study says.'' ``Moderate-income people would consistently see the largest percentage declines in their tax bills,'' the article says, ``according to an analysis released late Saturday by the official, nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation.'' ``In 2019,'' the article continues, ``people in the middle of the income spectrum earning, between $50,000 and [$75,000], would see their taxes fall by 7.1 percent. Those earning between $20,000 and $30,000 would see a 10.4 percent decline.'' Here is another recent article, titled: ``Senate bill would cut taxes by $1.78 trillion, create [925,000] new jobs, study finds.'' The article noted that the Finance Committee's bill ``would boost the economy, creating 925,000 new jobs and raising wages by 2.9 percent over 10 years, according to a new analysis released Thursday by the Tax Foundation.'' According to that study, families in my home State of Kentucky can see a boost to after-tax incomes for middle-income families,'' of nearly $2,000. Earlier today, I had an opportunity to meet with a number of Kentucky small business owners and workers to hear from them about the importance of tax reform. We discussed how this effort can help provide relief to small businesses and middle-class families by making taxes lower, simpler, and fairer. Tax reform can help provide real relief to families and small businesses that felt left behind by our economy. The proposal that the committee will take up today is the product of years of listening to people across the country who are calling out for relief. It is from careful study of our current Tax Code, understanding what it gets right and what it too often gets wrong. The Senate's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act represents the consensus views of the Finance Committee members and it reflects the values shared by the House, the Senate, and the Trump administration, put forward in our unified framework earlier this year. Chairman Hatch has shown impressive leadership to craft this proposal, and I look forward to his continued guidance of the committee under regular order. Today, members will have the opportunity to give opening statements and provide their insights on the proposal. During this process, the committee will consider amendments from both sides. As of this morning, more than 300 amendments have been filed by both Republican and Democrat members. Additionally, all Senators will have the chance to share their opinions here on the Senate floor. This is an open process. It is time to reform our Tax Code and provide much needed relief to the hard-working men and women of this country. The Finance Committee's proposal would do just that. In a related action this week, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, under the leadership of Chairman Murkowski, will begin to mark up legislation supporting our Nation's energy security. Further developing Alaska's oil and gas potential in an environmentally responsible way is an important effort to help create new jobs, generate new wealth, and provide for our energy future and energy security. These committee markups are positive steps toward growing our economy and helping the middle class.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate resume executive session and the Bradbury nomination.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, November 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 Bradbury nomination; further, that the Senate recess from 12:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus meetings; finally, that all time during recess, adjournment, morning business, and leader remarks count postcloture on the Bradbury nomination.

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. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 223, H.R. 1679.

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. Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 234, S. 906.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I further ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported amendment be withdrawn, the McCaskill substitute amendment, which is at the desk, be considered and 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 with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, 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 proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 330, submitted earlier today.

Mr. McCONNELL

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. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 329, submitted earlier today.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 328, 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 further 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 with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S. 1153 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

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. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S. 1266 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Daines substitute amendment at the desk be considered and 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. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 240, S. 886.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 4 p.m. on Monday, November 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 Kan nomination; finally, that notwithstanding the provisions of rule XXII, the cloture motions filed during today's session ripen following the disposition of the Kan nomination.