Mitch McConnell

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 consider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported amendments 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. 54, S. 862.

Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the Kennedy amendment at the desk 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, as amended.

Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the Kennedy title amendment be agreed to, 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 at a time to be determined by the majority leader in consultation with the Democratic leader, no later than Thursday, September 26, the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 102, S. 1340; I further ask that the Lee amendment No. 935 be the only amendment in order; that there be 2 hours of debate equally divided between the two leaders or their designees followed by a vote on adoption of the Lee amendment with a 60-vote affirmative threshold for adoption; finally, following disposition of the Lee amendment, the committee substitute as amended, if amended, be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be read a third time; and the Senate vote on passage of the bill, as amended, 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, 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: Friday, August 2, at 1 p.m.; Tuesday, August 6, at 9 a.m.; Friday, August 9, at 9 a.m.; Tuesday, August 13, at 12:30 p.m.; Friday, August 16, at 3 p.m.; Tuesday, August 20, at 9 a.m.; Friday, August 23, at 9:15 a.m.; Tuesday, August 27, at 10 a.m.; Friday, August 30, at 5 p.m.; Tuesday, September 3, at 1 p.m.; and Friday, September 6, at 8:30 a.m. I further ask unanimous consent that when the Senate adjourns on Friday, September 6, it next convene on Monday, September 9; and 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 Craft nomination; finally, notwithstanding the provisions of rule XXII, the cloture motions filed during today's session ripen at 5:30 p.m., Monday, September 9.

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 Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the following bills, en bloc: H.R. 2336, H.R. 2938, H.R. 3304, and H.R. 3311.

Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the bills, en bloc, be considered read a third time.

Mr. McCONNELL. I know of no further debate on the bills, en bloc.

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

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

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

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, yesterday the Senate took a number of steps forward on our considerable to-do list for the week. We confirmed four well-qualified jurists who are now our country's newest district court judges and voted to advance the nominations of 10 more--10. That is what you call big progress for the Federal Judiciary. Today, we are going to continue moving these nominations forward. For too long, thoroughly uncontroversial judicial nominees just like these have been held up and delayed by our Democratic colleagues, even when the vacancy qualifies as a judicial emergency. Uncontroversial district judges used to be confirmed promptly in big groups by voice vote. These days, in a kind of protest theater, our colleagues across the aisle usually insist that we hold a cloture vote and then a rollcall confirmation vote on each one. But we are getting the President's impressive nominees on the job one way or another, and we will continue doing just that. Our work doesn't stop there. The administration remains in need of a full complement of leaders at the Pentagon and in the diplomatic corps. Last night, we voted to confirm David Norquist, the President's pick to serve as No. 2 at the Pentagon under our new Secretary of Defense, Mark Esper. We also voted to advance the nomination of Ambassador Kelly Craft, a very impressive individual, to serve in the critical role of U.N. Ambassador. Ms. Craft is a fellow product of the Bluegrass State. She has already made Kentucky and the Nation proud through significant public service, including as an alternate delegate to the United Nations and, most recently, as Ambassador to Canada. In each of these cases, this impressive nominee earned an unopposed confirmation, and, in each case, she repaid the Senate's confidence by skillfully and effectively advocating for the interests of the United States on the international stage. During her tenure as Ambassador to Canada, America's relationship with our northern neighbor was tested. A number of challenging policy hurdles threatened to trip up progress on several important issues, including trade negotiations, but, by all accounts, Ambassador Craft's involvement led to greater cooperation. She worked on finalizing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, encouraged cross-border participation in joint sanctions efforts, and helped more Americans do business in Canada. As she stands in this new role, she brings the ringing endorsements of peers and counterparts she engaged all along the way. The Premier of Ontario and a former Canadian Ambassador to the United States has said: ``She's done the job very well.'' And another quote: ``Every Premier I know thinks the world of her. . . . She really proved herself over some tough times.'' Our partners to the north have a healthy respect for the hard work and qualifications of Ambassador Kelly Craft, and so does the Senate. Last week, even in this contentious moment, a wide bipartisan majority of our colleagues on the Foreign Relations Committee voted to recommend her nomination to be U.N. Ambassador favorably here to the floor, and before we adjourn this week, we will confirm her.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, the Senate needs to pass the bipartisan budget agreement secured by the administration with Speaker Pelosi. The deal we have in front of us is a product of extensive negotiations between President Trump's team and the Democratic House. I am confident it is not exactly the legislation that either side of the aisle would have written if one party held the White House, the House, and had 60 votes in the Senate. That is what we call divided government, but I am equally confident that this is a deal that every one of my colleagues should support when we vote on it in the near future. This government funding agreement is the right deal for our national defense. It is the right deal because it ensures the United States maintains its full faith and credit. It is the right deal because it brings predictability and stability through 2020 and moves toward restoring regular appropriations. It is the right deal because it secures these priorities without partisan poison pill riders that would take us backward on the issue of protecting human life and curtail central Presidential authorities. The Republicans' No. 1 priority was investing in our national defense. After 8 years of neglect and atrophy under the Obama administration, Congress has worked hand-in-hand with the Trump administration to begin writing a new chapter. More of the resources our Armed Forces need, more flexibility for commanders, more cutting- edge tools for U.S. servicemembers, and more investments in modernization will not only rebuild the military that we need today but set us on the trajectory we need to be on to secure our future. All in all, I don't think any Senators are actually rooting for a destabilizing continuing resolution. I certainly don't think any Senators are rooting for a debt limit crisis that could put our full faith and credit at risk. I believe that every one of our colleagues wants this agreement to pass. That means every one of our colleagues should actually vote for it. The House has passed this deal. The President is ready and eager to sign it. It is our turn to do our job. 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. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motions 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, at 3 p.m. today, the Senate will vote on confirmations of the following nominations: Executive Calendar Nos. 205, 231, 232, 345, 350, 364, and 402. I ask unanimous consent that if the nominations are confirmed, the motions 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 for the yeas and nays.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, pursuant to yesterday's authority, the Senate will now vote on the following nominations: Executive Calendar Nos. 48, 55, and 351.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the remaining votes be 10 minutes in length.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I have one request for a committee to meet during today's session of the Senate. It has the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committee is authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: Committee on Armed Services The Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, July 31, 2019, at a time to be determined, to conduct a hearing on pending nominations.