Mitch McConnell

Mr. McCONNELL

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

Mr. McCONNELL

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the Senate has remained in session this afternoon following the first meeting of our impeachment trial. History will not only remember today for the first steps of the trial, but today was also a tremendous bipartisan legislative accomplishment for the American people. The Senate passed USMCA, President Trump's historic new trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, by a vote of 89 to 10. Now this landmark deal, which experts estimate will add tens of billions of dollars to the U.S. economy and create 176,000 new jobs, is on its way to the White House to be signed into law by the President. This was a major priority for farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, small businesses, and working families across the entire country, and, today, the Senate got it done. We also passed another important bill that will keep analogues of the dangerous drug fentanyl designated as schedule I narcotics. It will keep them appropriately listed among the most dangerous illegal drugs and keep this important tool in the hands of law enforcement. The legislation also preserves mandatory minimum sentences for the criminals who unleash these dangerous poisons on our streets. Law enforcement officials from Kentucky and across the Nation have been pleading with Congress for months to keep these tools in place. But our Democratic colleagues have resisted Republican efforts to make these temporary measures permanent. Finally, this week, thanks to Chairman Graham and the Judiciary Committee, we were at least able to get an agreement to prevent these measures from expiring for now. There is a lot of work to do. Fentanyl and these analogues are a plague--a plague. They kill more Kentuckians than any other illegal drug--nearly 800 overdose deaths in 2018 alone, just in my State. The problem, of course, is nationwide. We are going to stay in the fight and keep working, but today's victory was an important step. The Senate will next convene on Tuesday. As I discussed this morning, an impeachment trial is just about the most serious business in which the U.S. Senate can engage. The Founding Fathers gave us this task for a reason. They had confidence in the Senate for a reason. They knew this institution could do what was right for our Nation, so I am confident that we can prove our Framers right in the days that lie ahead.

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. Chief Justice, I ask unanimous consent that in recognition of the unique requirements raised by the impeachment trial of Donald John Trump, President of the United States, the Sergeant at Arms shall install appropriate equipment and furniture in the Senate Chamber during all times that the Senate is sitting for trial with the Chief Justice of the United States presiding, the appropriate equipment, furniture, and computer equipment in accordance with the allocations and provisions I now send to the desk, and I ask that they be printed in the Record.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of all nominations on the Secretary's desk; that the nominations be confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order; that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record; the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then resume legislative session.

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 476, S. Res. 477, and S. Res. 478.

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 on Tuesday, January 21, from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m., while the Senate is sitting as a court of impeachment and notwithstanding the Senate's adjournment, the Senate can receive House messages and executive matters, committees be authorized to report legislative and executive matters, and Senators be allowed to submit statements for the Record, bills and resolutions and cosponsor requests, and, where applicable, the Secretary of the Senate, on behalf of the Presiding Officer, be permitted to refer such matters.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 2 p.m. on Friday, January 17, for a pro forma session only, with no business being conducted; further, when the Senate adjourns on Friday, January 17, it next convene at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21; further, following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day and morning business be closed; finally, following leader remarks, the Senate recess subject to the call of the Chair.

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, today it appears that the House Democrat majority will finally stand behind its decision to impeach the President of the United States. Last year, the House of Representatives rushed through the least thorough and most unclear impeachment inquiry in American history. They took just 12 weeks--12 weeks. There was more than a year of hearings before the impeachment of President Nixon. There were multiple years of investigation for President Clinton. When people are serious about compiling evidence and proving a case, these things take time. That is not what happened this time. House Democrats performed a pale imitation of a real inquiry. They did not pursue their own subpoenas through the courts. They declined to litigate potential questions of privilege. They pulled the plug as soon as Speaker Pelosi realized she had enough Democrat votes to achieve a political outcome. This isn't really about Ukraine policy or military assistance money. It can't be because, for one thing, prominent Democrats were promising to impeach President Trump years--years--before those events even happened. The day this President was inaugurated, the Washington Post said: ``The campaign to impeach President Trump has begun.'' That was the day he was inaugurated, stated in the Washington Post. More than 2 years ago, Congressman Jerry Nadler was campaigning to be the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, specifically because he was an impeachment expert. Just a few weeks ago, when a reporter asked Speaker Pelosi why the Democrats were in such a hurry, here is her response: Speed? It's been going on for 22 months. Two and a half years, actually. That is really interesting--really, really interesting. The events over which the Democrats want to impeach happened just 6 months ago-- just 6 months ago--not 2\1/2\ years ago. So how has impeachment been underway for 2\1/2\ years? The Speaker tried to say she was referring to the Mueller investigation, except the House couldn't impeach on the Mueller investigation because the facts let them down; remember? The House impeached over events in Ukraine, events that happened only 6 months ago, but they still admit this was years in the making. It was not some earnest factfinding mission that brought us to where we are. This is not about the nuances of foreign assistance to Eastern Europe. This has been naked partisanship all along--naked partisanship all along. If that weren't already obvious, our colleague the Senate Democratic leader helpfully removed any shred of doubt just this past weekend. Here is what he said: He told reporters that as long as he can try to use the trial to hurt some Republican Senators' reelection chances, then whatever happens, ``it's a win-win.'' That is what the Democratic leader said. This is a stunning statement. Presidential impeachment may be the gravest process our Constitution contemplates. It undoes the people's decision in a national election. Going about it in this subjective, unfair, and rushed way is corrosive to our institutions. It hurts national unity, and it virtually guarantees--guarantees--that future Houses of either party will feel free--free--to impeach any future President because they don't like him. If you don't like him, impeach him. That is the message coming out of this. But as long as our colleague the Democratic leader can weaponize this process in the next election, he thinks ``it's a win-win.'' That really says it all; doesn't it? That really sums it up. This partisanship led House Democrats to cross a rubicon that every other House of Representatives had avoided for 230 years. They passed the first Presidential impeachment that does not even allege an actual crime under our laws. We had a 230-year tradition of rejecting purely political impeachments, and it died last month in this House of Representatives. So Speaker Pelosi and the House have taken our Nation down a dangerous road. If the Senate blesses this unprecedented and dangerous House process by agreeing that an incomplete case and a subjective basis are enough to impeach a President, we will almost guarantee the impeachment of every future President of either party when the House doesn't like that President. This grave process of last constitutional resort will be watered down into the kind of anti-democratic recall measure that the Founding Fathers explicitly--explicitly--did not want. The Senate was designed to stabilize our institutions, to break partisan fevers, and to stop short-term passions from destroying our long-term future. House Democrats may have descended into pure factionalism, but the U.S. Senate must not. This is the only body that can consider all factors presented by the House, decide what has or has not been proven, and choose what outcome best serves the Nation. This is what we must do.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, on an entirely different matter, before the Senate shifts into the trial, we hope to complete an enormous accomplishment for this administration and, most importantly, for American families. It has now been more than 1 year--1 year--since President Trump hammered out the USMCA with the Governments of Mexico and Canada. These two neighbors buy more than $5 billion of American goods and services every single year. They buy nearly 30 percent of all the food and agricultural products we export to the entire world, and for 90 percent of our manufacturing sectors, Mexico or Canada rank as the No. 1 or No. 2 export destination. Over the past quarter of a century, 12 million U.S. jobs have come to depend on U.S. trade with Mexico and Canada. That includes many livelihoods in my home State of Kentucky, from agriculture to manufacturing, to aerospace and motor vehicles, to our signature industries, like distilled spirits. That is why workers, families, and small businesses in Kentucky and around the Nation have been clamoring to get this deal done for a year now. In addition to all the American livelihoods that this commerce already supports, experts predict the USMCA will create 176,000 new jobs as well. On behalf of all of these Americans, we were troubled to see Speaker Pelosi slow walk this agreement for the better part of a year. But, finally, late last year, the overwhelming bipartisan pressure to move forward made an impact on the House. So we are finally on the threshold of approving this agreement and sending it to President Trump's desk to become law. Our colleagues on the Finance Committee have already approved it by an overwhelming margin. Other committees of jurisdiction are wrapping up their consideration as we speak. Very soon, we hope the Senate will be able to vote on the floor and put this landmark accomplishment right on the President's desk. It will be a major win for Kentucky and for all 50 States, a major win for our country, a major win for the Trump administration, and a major win for those of us who are already ready to move past this season of toxic political noise and get back to doing even more of the American people's business.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I understand that 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 proceedings.

Mr. McCONNELL

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, with the House signaling that they will move forward later today, Members can expect to receive further guidance about the logistics and practicalities of the next several session days in short order.

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 move to proceed to Calendar No. 406, H.R. 5430.

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that pursuant to rule I of the Rules of Procedure and Practice When Sitting on Impeachment Trials, the Secretary of the Senate inform the House of Representatives that the Senate is ready to receive the managers appointed by the House for the purpose of exhibiting Articles of Impeachment against Donald John Trump, President of the United States, agreeably to the notice communicated to the Senate; further, that at the hour of 12 noon on Thursday, January 16, 2020, the Senate will receive the managers on the part of the House of Representatives in order that they may present and exhibit the Articles of Impeachment against Donald John Trump, President of the United States.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that pursuant to rules III and IV of the Rules of Procedure and Practice When Sitting on Impeachment Trials, that at the hour of 2 p.m. on Thursday, January 16, 2020, the Senate proceed to the consideration of the Articles of Impeachment and that the Presiding Officer, through the Secretary of the Senate, notify the Chief Justice of the United States of the time and place fixed for consideration of the articles and request his attendance as Presiding Officer pursuant to article I, section 3, clause 6, of the U.S. Constitution.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that access to the Senate wing, the Senate floor, and the Senate Chamber Galleries during all of the proceedings involving the exhibition of consideration of the Articles of Impeachment against Donald John Trump, President of the United States, and at all times that the Senate is sitting for trial with the Chief Justice of the United States presiding, be in accordance with the allocations and provisions I now send to the desk, and I ask that it 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. 471, submitted earlier today.

Mr. McCONNELL. 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.