Mitch McConnell

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 415 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

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 Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 393 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

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 now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following Senate resolutions, which were submitted earlier today: S. Res. 422, S. Res. 423, S. Res. 424, and S. Res. 425.

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 ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 3 p.m., Monday, November 18; 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 Luck nomination; finally, that the cloture motions filed during today's session ripen at 5:30 p.m. on Monday.

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 Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3889 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

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 have 5 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, November 13, 2019, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on the following nominations; Ian Paul Steff, of Indiana, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service, Michael Graham, of Kansas, to be a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board for a term expiring December 31, 2020, and to be a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board for a term expiring December 31, 2025, Carl Whitney Bentzel, of Maryland, to be a Federal Maritime Commissioner, Theodore Rokita, of Indiana, to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors, and routine lists in the Coast Guard. Committee on Environment and Public Works The Committee on Environment and Public Works is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, November 13, 2019, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, November 13, 2019, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, November 13, 2019, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on the Judiciary The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, November 13, 2019, at 2 p.m., to conduct a hearing on the following nominations: Stanley Blumenfeld, and Mark C. Scarsi, both to be a United States District Judge for the Central District of California, Grace Karaffa Obermann, of Virginia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims for a term of fifteen years, and Stephen A. Vaden, of Tennessee, to be a Judge of the United States Court of International Trade.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m., Thursday, 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, morning business be closed, and the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Menashi nomination, with the postcloture time expiring at 1:45 p.m.; finally, that if confirmed, 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 the immediate consideration of S. 2851, introduced earlier today.

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, after we confirm Chad Wolf to serve in a senior position at the Department of Homeland Security, the Senate will turn to President Trump's nominee to serve on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Steven Menashi's nomination continues an already distinguished career studying, teaching, and practicing law. After earning degrees from Dartmouth and Stanford, he clerked for Judge Douglas Ginsburg on the DC Court of Appeals and Justice Alito on the Supreme Court. Mr. Menashi has held a research fellowship at the New York University School of Law and taught at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School. Even the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, which has lately--lately made headlines for treating President Trump's nominees in a less-than-evenhanded way, has rated this nominee ``well-qualified.'' Obviously, a majority of our colleagues on the Judiciary Committee concurred, and now the entire Senate will have the opportunity to confirm yet another outstanding jurist to the Federal bench. I urge each of my colleagues to join me in supporting Steven Menashi's nomination this week.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, now on another matter, today President Trump will host the leader of Turkey at the White House. Although I have expressed concerns about granting President Erdogan such an honor in light of his recent actions, I hope the meeting produces better behavior from this important NATO ally. We recognize Turkey's legitimate national security concerns about the destabilizing conflict in Syria. Indeed, no NATO ally has suffered more terrorist attacks or hosts more refugees than Turkey. Nevertheless, we have legitimate national security concerns of our own, and I know the vast majority of my colleagues share my concerns about Turkey's recent behavior. It is important for the region and the fight against ISIS that Turkey's incursion into Syria not further jeopardize the anti-terrorism campaign of the Syrian Democratic Forces. It is important for Turkey's 80 million people that Turkey's Government moves to restore its democratic traditions--freedom of the press, religious freedom, respect for secularism and ethnic minorities, and a robust space for civil society. Despite the optimism from the Obama administration and others that Turkey, under President Erdogan, would be a model democracy, in practice, these important values have suffered under his tenure. As the Turkish people's concern continues growing, it is troubling that the political space for them to express those concerns has seemed to shrink further. At the same time, the United States must recognize that the path to addressing our concerns involves working with this important NATO ally and aligning its interests with ours. Turning a cold shoulder altogether would be a major strategic misstep and would jeopardize our national security and our interests. We do not need Turkey to fall further into Moscow's orbit. I know my colleagues are looking to see whether a deal can be reached on the S-400 air defense system. I share my colleagues' uneasiness at seeing President Erdogan honored down at the White House, but I urge this body to remain clear-eyed about our Nation's vital interests in the Middle East and the fact that advancing them will mean strengthening our relationship with this NATO ally, not weakening it further.

Mr. McCONNELL

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

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to further proceedings.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, on one final matter, today, almost 3 years in the House Democrats' quest to impeach the President and 7 weeks into the inquiry that Speaker Pelosi proclaimed in a press conference, House Democrats will hold their first public hearing on impeachment. This hearing was mandated by the strange resolution House Democrats passed a couple of weeks ago. That resolution did not provide President Trump with important rights, which the House afforded to Presidents of both parties during past impeachment inquiries. It didn't even afford their own House Republican colleagues the same rights that House Republicans gave Democrats during the Clinton inquiry. No; House Democrats' resolution just codified their unfair approach: no due process now, maybe some later, but only if we feel like it. That is what it establishes. The American people know that many Washington Democrats have had their minds made up on impeachment for years. It was clear on election day 2016, and it became undeniable by Inauguration Day. That is when the Washington Post, before he was sworn in, ran this headline: ``The Campaign to Impeach President Trump has Begun.'' The whole country saw a prominent House Democrat state publicly in April of 2017: ``I'm going to fight every day until he's impeached.'' That is the chairwoman of one of the committees the Speaker has given responsibility for this inquiry, promising impeachment 3 months into his Presidency. It is hardly surprising that this partisan journey is not yielding a neutral process. Unfortunately, it is also crowding out important legislation for the American people. In the House, Speaker Pelosi is more interested in taking away President Trump's job than in creating 176,000 new jobs for American workers by passing the USMCA. She is blocking this landmark trade agreement. In the Senate, our Democratic colleagues have filibustered the funding of our Armed Forces. Despite promising to forgo the poison pills a few months back, Democratic leadership has run the appropriations process aground so they can fight over immigration policy with the White House. Speaking of our Armed Forces, House Democrats are also slow-walking the National Defense Authorization Act. That is an essential bill that Congress has passed every year--every year since 1961 like clockwork-- every year, on a bipartisan basis, for almost six decades, but this year House Democrats broke with precedent and passed their own partisan version and are now stalling the conference committee. These are the priorities that are languishing as impeachment marches on.

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 for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I was privileged to spend a good chunk of the day yesterday with the hardworking men and women of North American Stainless in Carroll County, KY. They are a high-quality stainless steel manufacturing firm that is actually the largest fully integrated stainless steel producer in the entire United States. They produce about one-third of all U.S. stainless. The company brings 1,500 jobs to its rural community that is Kentucky's 8th largest manufacturer by total employment. I joined them yesterday to celebrate an important legislative accomplishment that I was able to spearhead back in July: the long overdue Senate ratification of a bipartisan tax treaty protocol with Spain. By passing this new protocol, we cleared away a mess of confusing and unfair double taxation, the threat of which had stunted growth and investment right here at home. I got to hear again, firsthand, what a significant difference the approval of this simple bipartisan tax treaty will make for this American manufacturer. I was happy to hear the CEO announce that the company can now move forward with a major $30 million capital investment in developing its facility and its workforce as a direct result of the ratification of that treaty. It was just another reminder that the economic policies we vote on here, often on a bipartisan basis, make an enormous difference for workers and job creators in each of our States. While we applauded the Spain tax treaty and the new prosperity it will unlock, it was impossible to overlook the fact that USMCA is still being blocked over in the House of Representatives. By one analysis, 12 million American jobs are dependent upon trade with Mexico and Canada. Together they make up a $500 billion market for U.S. exports. It is no surprise that updating our trading relationships with both of our North American neighbors would stand to have a major positive effect on our economy. To be more specific, according to data from the International Trade Commission, the USMCA would generate about 176,000 new American jobs. It would pump nearly $70 billion into the U.S. economy, and the already massive markets for U.S. products would be expected to grow by tens of billions more. For months, Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats have been claiming they notionally support this agreement and want to get to yes, but month after month, this happy talk has seemingly led to no tangible progress, just more heel-dragging. Hard-working Kentuckians, people like our farmers and our cattlemen, keep writing to me and asking Congress to pass the USMCA, but Speaker Pelosi will not make time for it. House Democrats have enough time to continue their 3-year-old obsession with impeaching the President, but they cannot find the time to pass a landmark trade deal that will create 176,000 new American jobs. Just saying their priorities out loud indicates how backward they are.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, on one final matter, while our Democratic colleagues continue to block the Senate from moving forward with defense funding here on the floor, we will use this time to confirm more of the President's well-qualified nominees to the executive branch and to the Federal bench. Later this week we will consider the nomination of Steven J. Menashi to be U.S. circuit judge for the Second Circuit. Mr. Menashi is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Stanford University Law School. He has accrued an impressive record in private practice and earned clerkships on the D.C. Circuit and the Supreme Court with Justice Alito. First, we will consider the nomination of Chad Wolf to serve in a senior leadership position post at the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Wolf's experience at the Department dates back to the immediate aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks. He has had a hand in arranging our Nation's critical homeland security infrastructure. The current Acting Secretary of DHS has called him a ``proven, thoughtful, and principled executive,'' and a former Assistant Secretary at the Department said, ``Chad knows the issues cold.'' I hope my colleagues will join me in advancing each of these nominations later this week.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, now, on a totally different matter, Hong Kong has been rocked by more violence as citizens continue resisting the Chinese Communist Party's encroachment on their autonomy and freedoms. On Monday, it appears the local police shot a 21-year-old protester at nearly point-blank range. The police have arrested hundreds of demonstrators, reportedly as young as 12 and as old as 82. Tear gas, rubber bullets, and other violent measures have now become standard fare. A few days earlier, a number of democracy-supporting Hong Kong legislators were swept up in a government crackdown. These elected officials were either arrested or given summons just a few weeks before local elections. These continuing government escalations are inconsistent with the Hong Kong Basic Law, with international agreements, and with the will of Hongkongers. Brutalizing their own people will not circumvent the core issue here: Beijing's insatiable thirst for control. I have advocated for Hong Kong since I wrote our Nation's Hong Kong Policy Act back in 1992. I know many of us in this body now want to extend and expand that law in a targeted manner that focuses pressure on the Chinese Communist Party and its agents who are responsible for undermining Hong Kong's autonomy while minimizing the collateral economic damage to the very Hongkongers we want to help. I am eager to continue working with colleagues, such as Senator Risch, Senator Graham, Senator Rubio, and others, toward a strong and procedurally workable solution. Meanwhile, I appreciate statements by administration leaders such as Vice President Pence and Secretary Pompeo that show a clear-eyed perspective on China's Orwellian tactics and bad intentions. I urge the administration to use the significant leverage and authorities it already has, particularly under the Global Magnitsky Act, to hold individuals accountable. Hong Kong is not the only recent reminder that we live in a dangerous world in which America's interests, allies, and ideals are constantly threatened. Press reports this morning indicated that Israel is suffering yet another round of terror, including more than 160 rocket launches fired against civilian targets in Israel. This comes after Israeli forces appear to have eliminated one high-ranking leader in the terrorist group Palestinian Islamic Jihad, in Gaza, and targeted another PIJ terrorist in Damascus, Syria. The United States stands with our ally Israel against PIJ, Hamas, and Hezbollah terrorists who have long sought to erase the Jewish State. If these reports are accurate, it will be no surprise that one of these terrorist leaders was holed up in Damascus. Syria, under Assad, stands alongside Iran as the chief patron of anti-Israel terrorism. This is just another reminder that the United States and some of our closest allies have a strong say in the future of Syria and that a victory for Assad will be a victory for Iran and for terrorism. So every hour seemingly brings more evidence of our troubled world, but, just as with the trade agreements, critical legislation in this area is currently frozen in place. It is another casualty of Democrats' apparent inability to make headway on anything besides fighting with the White House. For the second time in 2 months, Senate Democrats recently voted once again to filibuster the annual funding for our Armed Forces--for our men and women in uniform--and while Senate Democrats block appropriations for defense, House Democrats are now slow-walking the authorizing legislation--the NDAA. Since the first NDAA was passed way back in 1961, Congress has never failed to pass a bipartisan NDAA by the end of the year--not once. Yet with House Democrats fixated on impeachment, I understand that Chairman Adam Smith and his fellow Democrats are now dragging their heels on the conference committee that is needed to complete this bill. These House Democrats passed a uniquely partisan NDAA earlier this year, unlike the Senate's bipartisan version, and now they are slow-walking the conference committee. These are among our most basic governing responsibilities: passing an NDAA and funding our Armed Forces. The United States of America cannot operate at less than full strength on the world stage because Democrats are too busy--too busy--impeaching the Commander in Chief.

Mr. McCONNELL

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, this week, the Senate will continue to confirm President Trump's well-qualified judicial nominees. This President and this Senate have prioritized confirming impressive men and women to these lifetime appointments--talented individuals who believe in the quaint notion that the job of a judge is to apply our Nation's laws and Constitution as they were actually written, not as they might wish they were written. At the close of business today, it so happens, one in every four judges on the Federal courts of appeals will have been nominated by President Trump and confirmed by us here in the Senate. There is nothing about this that ought to be viewed as a partisan accomplishment or an accomplishment only for this President or only for one side. That is the wrong way to look at it. Every American should be proud of this. Citizens deserve a judiciary of fairminded men and women who don't confuse their jobs with the job of a legislator. Every Member of this body should be proud to confirm Federal judges who understand that our job is to make the laws, and their job is to apply them fairly. If the concept of faithful judges fulfilling their proper role strikes anyone as a partisan development or a threat to their political agenda, I would suggest it is their agenda that needs modifying and not the judicial branch that our Founders intended.