Mitch McConnell

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 417, S. 982.

Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to and the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time.

Mr. McCONNELL. I know of no further debate on the bill.

Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that 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 consideration of H. Con. Res. 91, which was received from the House.

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 when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m., Thursday, March 12; 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 for the consideration of Calendar No. 587; further, that notwithstanding rule XXII, the cloture vote on the Danly nomination occur at 11:45 a.m. and that all postcloture time expire at 1:45 p.m.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Chair lay before the Senate the message to accompany S. 1678. The Presiding Officer laid before the Senate the following message from the House of Representatives: Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. 1678) entitled ``An Act to express United States support for Taiwan's diplomatic alliances around the world.'', do pass with an amendment. Motion to Concur

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move to concur in the House amendment, and I ask unanimous consent that the motion be agreed to and that 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 order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, yesterday evening, the President, the Vice President, and their task force offered an extensive public briefing on ongoing efforts to combat this new virus, which has spread from China throughout the world. As the Director of the CDC explained, officials are now tracking more than 500 cases across our country. Nationwide, the risk to any individual American remains low, but as the Vice President and the experts reminded us, the time is now for all Americans to engage in basic commonsense measures and for Americans at heightened risk to take additional precautions. Detailed recommendations for individuals, families, and employers are available online at coronavirus.gov. President Trump also announced that in parallel with the public health response, his administration is considering ways to mitigate the impact of the virus on our economy. Senate Republicans look forward to discussing this with Secretary Mnuchin and the President's team so we can all consider the best ways to move forward for the American people. As our government continues to prepare and protect our Nation, I would urge all of my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle in both Chambers, to put reflexive partisanship aside and stay focused on our common work to promote the common good. This virus does not care--does not care-- about partisan divisions. This disease poses a challenge, no question, but our Nation is strong, we are well equipped, and we have overcome far, far greater challenges before. As the Vice President put it yesterday, ``We're all in this together.''

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, on another matter, this week, we have the opportunity to pass major legislation to strengthen our domestic energy. Chairman Murkowski, Senator Manchin, and the Energy and Natural Resources Committee have assembled a strong, bipartisan bill. I look forward to passing it. I was disappointed yesterday when the Senate failed to advance the legislation and clear a path toward completing the bill. The committee's product includes about 50 different bills and contributions from nearly three-fourths of the Members of this body, and contrary to the Democratic leader's assertions on the floor, I am certainly not blocking any bipartisan amendment. I have stated right here on the floor that I hope and anticipate that we will vote on amendments this week. Don't be fooled by the finger-pointing. I am not standing in the way of bipartisan amendments. What is really happening is that the Democratic leader is moving the goalposts. There had been a bipartisan understanding about how to finish this bill, but yesterday the Democratic leader decided to change his tune and demand a vote on something outside the scope of the current debate. I hope we can get past this showmanship, finish this bipartisan legislation, and send it to the House so we can get it on the President's desk. Let's don't squander this real opportunity. Chairman Murkowski's and Senator Manchin's compromise product will help our Nation move toward greater energy security, energy efficiency, and energy affordability for years to come--new support for energy efficiency efforts, new incentives for innovation, new tools to secure our electrical grid, and new ways to strengthen our domestic supply chain for important minerals, and on and on and on. This Chamber got it right last week when it proceeded to the bill by a vote of 90 to 4. It hasn't suddenly become controversial overnight. Everyone knows there are plenty of outside issues that Senators do not agree on. We should let ourselves agree on what we do agree on. Let me say that again: We should let ourselves agree on what we do agree on and complete this legislation this week. Let's keep legislating. Let's get this done. The American people deserve it.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I understand there is a bill at the desk that is due for a second reading.

Mr. McCONNELL. In order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to further proceeding.

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, now, on a final matter, this afternoon all Senators will have the opportunity to attend a briefing on election security from administration experts who tackle the issue every day. The FBI Director; the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security; General Nakasone of the NSA and Cyber Command; the Director of Counterintelligence at the DNI; and a number of other senior leaders will come here to the Capitol to discuss this critical subject. I look forward to hearing more about the significant and strong steps the Trump administration has taken over the past 3 years to secure our democracy and punch back against the real and varied foreign efforts to interfere. I look forward to hearing more about the unprecedented level of coordination that has connected nonpartisan Federal experts in all 50 States, U.S. territories, thousands of local jurisdictions, and private sector leaders to make sure the unpreparedness and inaction that defined the Obama administration's failures in 2016 was not repeated in 2018 and will not be repeated in 2020 or beyond. I look forward to hearing about how the record sums of money, hundreds of millions of dollars that Congress has put aside for direct grants so States and local election officials can shore up their systems, are making our democracy safer. I expect I will have more to say following the briefing. I expect many of our colleagues will, but, beforehand, I would like to say this: The American people have confidence in our democracy, as they should. Just last month, a survey found that more than 70 percent of Americans are confident their State or local government will conduct a fair and accurate election this November. Let me say this again. Just last month, a survey found that more than 70 percent of Americans are confident their State or local government will conduct a fair and accurate election this November, and they should be confident about the resilience of our institutions. Our Nation is strong. The Trump administration has made huge strides. After 8 years of weakness, this administration's foreign policy has made it clear to our adversaries that the United States of America is not going to be pushed around, but the American people also know we must remain vigilant. As long as Russia and other nations seek to meddle, we need to be ready. Election security is critically important to our Nation, and it can only be handled right if it is handled with good faith and bipartisanship. When Washington Democrats use this particular topic as a platform for demonizing the other side or for pushing tangential policy proposals, which the left had sought many years--many years--before 2016, everyone can see right through it. It only signals unseriousness. So I encourage all my colleagues to attend the bipartisan briefing today, and then let's preserve that bipartisan spirit and that unity. Let's focus on fighting against foreign interference, not fighting each other. We should not just snap right back into tired, old partisanship. We should not let Putin or anyone else bait Americans into talking down our own democracy or sowing more fear and discord among ourselves than other adversaries could ever hope to do themselves.

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 send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum call be waived.

Mr. McCONNELL

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate stand in recess until 5 p.m. Thereupon, the Senate, at 4:02 p.m., recessed until 5 p.m. and reassembled when called to order by the Presiding Officer (Mr. Cassidy).

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 587.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam 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 order for the quorum call be rescinded.