Mitch McConnell

Mr. McCONNELL

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 with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 550 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Murkowski 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 motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of S. 1029 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Cornyn amendment at the desk be 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. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 144, S. 1309.

Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be withdrawn; that the Cardin substitute amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that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. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of the following resolutions introduced earlier today en bloc: S. Res. 459, S. Res. 460, and S. Res. 461.

Mr. McCONNELL. 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 understand is there a bill at the desk, and I ask for its first reading.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask for a second reading, and in order to place the bill on the calendar under provisions of rule XIV, I object to my own request.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 462, submitted earlier today.

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

Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that 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 executive session for the consideration of the following nomination: Executive Calendar No. 548.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. 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 motion be in order; and that any statements relating to the nomination be printed in the Record.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of the follow nominations: Executive Calendar Nos. 507, 508, and 509.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate vote on the nominations en bloc with no intervening action or debate; that if confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table en bloc; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; that no further motions be in order; and that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record.

Mr. McCONNELL

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. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn to then convene for pro forma sessions only, with no business being conducted, on the following dates and times, and that following each pro forma session, the Senate adjourn until the next pro forma session: Monday, December 23, at 10 a.m.; Thursday, December 26, at 3:15 p.m.; Monday, December 30, at 2 p.m.; and Thursday, January 2 at 6:30 p.m. For the information of all Senators, when the Senate adjourns on Thursday, January 2, 2020, it will next convene at 12 noon on Friday, January 3, pursuant to the Constitution; further, that 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. Finally, that following leader remarks, 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. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in recess subject to the call of the chair. Thereupon, the Senate, at 7:47 p.m., recessed subject to the call of the Chair and reassembled at 8:34 p.m. when called to order by the Presiding Officer (Mr. Hoeven).

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the majority leader be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills for the joint resolutions through Monday, December 23, 2019.

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, all eyes today are on the House of Representatives. The country is waiting to see whether these House Democrats will give in to the temptation that every other House in modern history has managed to resist and misuse the solemn process of impeachment to blow off partisan steam. I will have more to say on this subject if House Democrats do, in fact, proceed. Yesterday I came to the floor to discuss one initial aspect of this that concerns our Senate process. Over the weekend, my colleague the Democratic leader began asking the Senate to break from precedent, break with the unanimous template from 1999, and begin choreographing the middle of a potential trial before we have even heard opening arguments. Back in 1999, all 100 Senators agreed on a simple pretrial resolution that set up a briefing, opening arguments, Senators' questions, and a vote on a motion to dismiss. Senators reserved all other questions, such as witnesses, until the trial was underway. That was the unanimous bipartisan precedent from 1999. Put first things first, lay the bipartisan groundwork and leave midtrial questions to the middle of the trial. I have hoped, and still hope, that the Democratic leader and I can sit down and reproduce that unanimous bipartisan agreement this time. His decision to try to angrily negotiate through the press is unfortunate, but no amount of bluster will change the simple fact that we already have a unanimous bipartisan precedent. If 100 Senators thought this approach was good enough for President Clinton, it ought to be good enough for President Trump. I hope House Democrats see reason to pull back from the precipice, but if they proceed, I hope the Democratic leader and I can sit down soon and honor the template that was unanimously agreed to the last time. Mr. President, on another matter, in the meantime, the Senate is busy completing the legislation our country actually needs. Yesterday the Senate passed the NDAA conference report and put it on President Trump's desk. Thanks to the diligence of Chairman Inhofe and Ranking Member Reed, this critical legislation to support our armed services will become law for a 59th consecutive year.