Mitch McConnell

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of Calendar Nos. 370 and 393; that the nominations be confirmed; that 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 statement related to the nominations be printed in the Record; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's actions.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar Nos. 376 through 380, and all nominations on the Secretary's desk in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy; that the nominations be confirmed; that 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; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's actions.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 300, submitted earlier today.

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

Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the preamble be agreed to and that 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 the Senate proceed to consideration of Calendar Nos. 408, 409, 410, and 412, and all nominations on the Secretary's desk in the Foreign Service; 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 resume then legislative session.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Con. Res. 24, submitted earlier today.

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

Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the preamble be agreed to and that 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 the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 127, H.R. 1079.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, 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 ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 776.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time.

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

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, 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 immediate consideration of S. Res. 302, submitted earlier today.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I further 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 when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m., Thursday, August 1; 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 the consideration of H.R. 3877 under the previous order.

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 consideration of S. Res. 301, submitted earlier today.

Mr. McCONNELL. 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. Madam President, the Senate has a lot of important business to attend to before we adjourn for the August State work period. As a reminder to all of our colleagues, here is our considerable to- do list for this week: Later this morning, we will vote to confirm two more of President Trump's impressive nominees for district courts: Michael Liburdi for the District of Arizona and Peter Welte for the District of North Dakota. They are just the first two in a significant group of judges--19 in all--that the Senate needs to process before we wrap up the week. We can't head home without making another big dent in the backlog of qualified district judge nominees whom partisan obstruction has already kept waiting entirely too long. In addition, the Senate is not going anywhere until we confirm two impressive nominees to executive branch positions that play a vital role in U.S. foreign policy and national security. Ambassador Kelly Craft is President Trump's excellent choice to serve as our Ambassador to the United Nations. David Norquist is his pick for Deputy Secretary of Defense. Needless to say, these are troubling times in a troubled world. We need to get both of these highly capable public servants on the job this week. Finally, we must also pass the bipartisan government funding agreement that President Trump's negotiating team worked out with Speaker Pelosi. Given the realities of divided government, it is a strong deal that achieves my Republican colleagues' and my No. 1 priority: continuing to invest seriously in rebuilding the readiness of our Armed Forces and modernizing them to meet the challenges of today. The Trump administration has negotiated their way to a major win on defense. The House has passed the compromise legislation. The President is ready and waiting to sign it. Once the Senate passes it later this week, he can sign it into law, taking funding crises and long-term continuing resolutions off the table, and pave Congress's path toward a regular appropriations process that will provide the resources our military commanders and our servicemembers need to keep us safe. I urge all of my colleagues to join President Trump in support of this legislation when we vote on it later this week.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, on one final matter, as Senate majority leader, it is my honor this morning to acknowledge a truly remarkable legacy of service to the Senate and really to the Nation. Next month, the Senate Page School will say goodbye to its beloved principal. After 26 years heading up this unique institution, our very own Mrs. Kathryn Weeden is starting a new chapter as a very deserving retiree. For more than a quarter century, Principal Weeden has been a constant anchor in a place where rotation and change are par for the course. The Page School, as we know, welcomes a new class of high-achieving young people from all across the country every semester. These students' experience is most famous for the fast-paced, hands-on exposure to the inner workings of American government it involves, but in the early mornings and late evenings, when they are not delivering bill text around the Capitol, assisting Members on the floor, or engaged in any number of tasks that help this place actually run, they are also dealing with the academic rigors of the 11th grade. There are 30 teenagers at a time living, studying, and working full time on Capitol Hill. Needless to say, keeping this unique arrangement running smoothly is less than an ordinary job--even a full-time one-- and more like a life's mission. By all accounts, it is a mission Principal Weeden has executed with constant competence, total professionalism, and the utmost grace. Now, if I had to guess, a large share of that grace was spent in 5 a.m. meetings most mornings. That is typically when she would first encounter what I am sure were the most chipper and alert 16- and 17- year-olds around. While the hundreds of pages who have worked, studied, and grown under Principal Weeden's watch may not miss their early morning math class, they sure will miss her. They are left with lasting memories of her attentive mentorship and compassion. Among recent graduates of the Page Program, some of whom I have been proud to sponsor through my own office, the conclusion is clear: Principal Weeden is simply the best. They remember the way she would make time for weekly one-on-one meetings to check up on their progress and talk about their future goals. They remember the way she radiated excitement leading the school in assembling care packages for servicemembers deployed overseas. They remember her knack for reassuring words and for helping them put the daily stresses of high school in perspective. Inevitably, after 26 years, Principal Weeden's legacy is counted in the flood of letters sharing stories like these following the news of her retirement, but it is also measured in her commitment to transform the Page School as a top-notch academic institution. It is thanks to her no-nonsense leadership that this unique program has earned and maintained accreditation, that its rigors have earned the attention and respect of prestigious universities, and that it continues to attract talented and passionate educators to carry on in her example. Unsurprisingly, the colleagues and faculty whom Ms. Weeden has mentored and supervised are no less enthusiastic in their praise than her former students. Talking to them about their departing boss, you hear words like disciplined, nurturing, and patriotic. You are painted a picture that looks something like a Mother Superior, a no-nonsense administrator, an exacting leader, and a true friend all in one. Being entrusted with the care, feeding, education, and maturation of so many young men and women over so many years would be an accomplishment no matter where Principal Weeden had worked, but to do all that at the Senate Page School means something even more. To a special degree, her legacy will have helped, formed, and shaped America's civic future for the better. Because she gave of herself so generously to a special class of young people--those who are so interested in our American Government that they just had to come see it firsthand--today, the Senate celebrates this outstanding legacy and warmly congratulates Principal Weeden on such a tremendous accomplishment. We thank her for all she has done, and we wish her nothing but happiness in the years that lie ahead. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that if cloture is invoked on the Hendrix nomination, all postcloture time expire at 2:45 p.m. today and the Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination; further, 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. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, following disposition of the Jordan nomination, the Senate vote on the motions to invoke cloture on the following nominations in the order listed: Executive Calendar Nos. 205, 231, 232, 233, 326, 327, 345, 350, 352, and 364, and then up to 10 minutes of debate under the control of Senator Menendez prior to the vote on cloture on Calendar No. 402. I further ask consent that if cloture is invoked, the confirmation votes on the nominations be at a time to be determined by the majority leader in consultation with the Democratic leader. Finally, I ask consent that the cloture motions on the following nominations be withdrawn: Executive Calendar Nos. 48, 55, 344, 346, 351, and 394, and the Senate vote on the nominations at a time to be determined by the majority leader in consultation with the Democratic leader.