Mitch McConnell

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 344.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 346. THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the motion.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, earlier this week the Trump administration and Speaker Pelosi reached an agreement to avoid a government funding crisis and provide for our Armed Forces. In the tough circumstances of divided government, they achieved the kind of deal that our national defense actually needs. The 2-year funding agreement will secure the resources we need to continue restoring the readiness of our Armed Forces and modernizing them to meet the 21st- century challenges that face our country. As I mentioned yesterday, I always find it curious when our Democratic colleagues take the negotiating position that funding critical Pentagon missions and providing for the common defense are partisan Republican priorities. They act like only Republicans want a modern, ready military, such that our spending on national defense needs to be matched up with other spending in order to make it palatable to Democrats. In one sense, my Republican colleagues and I will probably say, ``guilty as charged.'' Yes, we absolutely prioritize the national defense and the U.S. military. Yes, we prioritize keeping Americans safe. This is the fundamental obligation of the U.S. government. Over the past 2\1/2\ years, it has been a Republican President who has sought to reverse the previous 8 years of decline in defense. It has been Republicans in Congress who prioritized rebuilding our national defense after the Obama administration's neglect and atrophy. Thanks to the Trump administration's tough negotiating, this deal will secure a larger increase in defense funding than in nondefense programs relative to current law. Better than parity for defense. I doubt Members need any reminding about why these investments are so critical, but if they do, every day's newspapers make the case loud and clear. For years, our adversaries have methodically stepped up their incursions and their aggressions. They want to chip away at the peaceful, rules-based international order that American leadership has helped to establish and preserve. Between 2009 and 2018, the Chinese Communist Party increased its military spending--listen to this--by 83 percent--83 percent. Talk about a buildup. The Chinese nearly doubled their military spending in less than a decade. This is just the PRC's publicly acknowledged funding. These numbers have very real implications. When China gets a leg up in terms of readiness or technology, they are able to hold a greater number of U.S. and allied forces at risk. They are able to push their air and maritime control further into the Indo-Pacific region, increasing hegemonic control and effectively pushing the United States and our allies back. So the importance of this funding agreement is not simply our ability to provide for the upkeep and regular maintenance on our military as it currently exists. We are also talking about building the U.S. military of the future--research, development, and modernization--so that our Nation and our servicemembers are equipped to keep Americans safe and project power as necessary for years and decades to come. In my view, this grave responsibility should be a top, top priority on both sides of the aisle, and this funding agreement will allow us to get it done. I am proud that it will meet the pressing needs of servicemembers stationed at installations around the country, like Ft. Campbell, Ft. Knox, and the Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky. The deal will secure sorely needed investment in the national defense, and it contains none of the far-left poison pills that House Democrats had sought, like going backward on the issue of life or stripping away rightful Presidential authorities. In divided government, that is what we call a good deal. The Senate will vote on it before the end of next week.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, on another matter, the epidemic of opioid and substance abuse has wreaked havoc throughout our country. More than 2 million Americans suffer from opioid addiction. For years, the situation only seemed to get worse and worse. Unfortunately, my home State of Kentucky saw the pain firsthand. We are among the hardest hit States by this crisis. Last week, both Kentucky and the entire Nation received a glimmer of long-awaited good news. Preliminary figures from the National Center for Health Statistics show that last year, 2018, saw the first--the first--nationwide decline in drug overdose deaths since 1990. For 28 straight years, overdose deaths climbed. But in 2018, that tragic number finally dropped. It was approximately a 5-percent decline nationwide. In Kentucky, the Bluegrass State saw overdose deaths fall by nearly 15 percent last year, the largest drop in our State in more than a decade. After years of working and waiting, we are finally seeing progress in the fight to save lives. These numbers didn't happen on their own. Our comprehensive response involves countless law enforcement officers, medical professionals, educators, community leaders, and family members and friends of those affected. I am proud of that. Several times in recent years, this Senate has done our part to bolster this fight with sweeping--sweeping--bipartisan action. We passed wide-ranging legislation to backstop the work on the frontlines with new programs, new funding for research, and new Federal resources for the communities most in need. Just last year, we passed another landmark bill to attack the crisis of abuse from every single angle. Among its many features, the legislation makes it harder to traffic illegal drugs across the border; it supports mothers and babies struggling with opioid withdrawal; and it even includes one of my provisions to help those in recovery find a good job and stable housing as they work toward long-term recovery. I am particularly proud of Kentucky's own role in leading in this recovery. Researchers at the University of Kentucky received the largest Federal grant in the school's history to fight opioid abuse all across our State. I was pleased to help them secure these resources as they aim to achieve a 40-percent reduction of opioid overdose deaths in 3 years. In my hometown of Louisville, a private sector research facility received FDA approval for a medicine to ease withdrawal symptoms. I have worked to secure the inclusion of more Kentucky counties under the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program and increase coordination among local, State, and Federal law enforcement on drug interdiction. This tireless work by Kentuckians has helped write the headlines we are celebrating today, but, of course, there is still much more to do. We know this is not the end of the battle against addiction--not even close--but it is encouraging to see the reduction in overdose deaths across the country. As majority leader, I will continue to fight to ensure Kentucky and the Nation have the resources to build on this progress, prevent and treat addiction, and ultimately save lives.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, on one final matter, yesterday, the Democratic House of Representatives took a small step--small--to denounce the scourge of anti-Semitism. They passed a symbolic resolution opposing efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel and condemn the BDS movement. It is too bad all of this, of all things, couldn't have been a unanimous vote. It is too bad that 16 Democrats voted against condemning BDS. Sixteen Democrats voted against condemning BDS over in the House yesterday. It is regrettable that some of the Democrats who claim to represent the future of their party lobbied against the measure that should be completely without controversy. Even more broadly, I am sorry the bipartisan Senate-passed bill that would actually do something about BDS--in other words, action, not mere rhetoric--is still languishing over in the House without a vote, bipartisan legislation that passed with the support of 77 Senators, including my friend the Democratic leader--77 votes in the Senate, thoroughly bipartisan, but the Democratic House has found a way to fumble the ball. Several months back, it took days of throat-clearing and a whole lot of watering down before they could even halfway condemn anti-Semitic remarks by one of their own Members. Now this symbolic BDS resolution is held up as a major victory, while Senate-passed legislation that would actually take action--actually do something against BDS--doesn't even get a vote. They will not even give it a vote over there in the House. House Republicans have called for a vote on S. 1 over and over and over again, but the Speaker of the House doesn't seem interested. I understand that picking fights with the President seems to be a higher priority across the Capitol than joining with the Senate to get bipartisan legislation actually made into law, but surely taking action to combat anti-Semitic efforts to delegitimize Israel shouldn't be too much to ask. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, on another matter, first, the Senate will confirm several more impressive nominations. We are currently considering Stephen Dickson, of Georgia, to lead the Federal Aviation Administration. After him, we will turn our attention to two district court nominees. Wendy Williams Berger is the President's choice for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. She is a two- time graduate of Florida State University, with nearly three decades of courtroom experience, half of which has come on the bench. Brian Buescher has been tapped for a vacancy in the District of Nebraska, where he has spent nearly two decades practicing law. Throughout his career, he has gained expertise in a wide array of legal areas and has earned admiration within the Nebraska legal community and beyond. Those who know Mr. Buescher praise his ``intelligence, integrity, professionalism, attentiveness, [and] character.'' The mayor of Omaha, where he has spent his entire legal career said: ``Mr. Buescher would be an impartial judge capable of setting aside personal opinion.'' Despite his objective qualifications and all this praise, our Senate Democratic colleagues were not satisfied. Here was the bombshell that offended some of our colleagues with respect to this nominee. Listen to this. The nominee is a practicing Catholic. My goodness, imagine that--in the United States of America, a person of faith, serving in government. Really? In particular, some of our Democratic colleagues raked him over the coals in committee for his membership in the Knights of Columbus. It is shocking that a nominee for Federal district court would be a member of the Knights of Columbus. Of course, we all know the Knights--a noted worldwide ``extremist sect'' of Catholics, which is about 2 million men strong, known among other things for their love of their Catholic faith, their unparalleled commitment to charitable work, and for hosting barbecues and pancake breakfasts. Outrageous. I can't believe I need to repeat it in the U.S. Capitol, but there is nothing about living out one's faith that is disqualifying for public service--nothing. To the contrary, what the Constitution does forbid is imposing any kind of religious test for public office. It is the Democrats' opposition to this nominee's faith, not his faith itself, that rubs against the grain of our Constitution. Fortunately, this tactic didn't fly. Our colleagues on the Judiciary Committee saw this tactic for what it is and voted to report Mr. Buescher favorably to the floor. I will be proud to vote to confirm him later today.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr President, I ask unanimous consent that the veto messages on S. J. Res. 36, 37, and 38 be considered as having been read en bloc, that they be printed in the Record and spread in full upon the Journal en bloc.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the veto message with respect to S. J. Res. 36, S. J. Res. 37, and S. J. Res. 38 be considered at a time to be determined by the majority leader in consultation with the Democratic leader prior to August 2; that they be debated concurrently for up to 2 hours, with 15 minutes reserved for the chairman and ranking member, respectively; that the Senate vote on passage of the joint resolutions, the objections of the President to the contrary notwithstanding, in the order listed; and, finally, that the unanimous consent order of June 19 for the remaining joint resolutions of disapproval of arms sales remain in effect.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I am sorry to note today the recent passing of a dear friend to many and the ending of her quintessentially American story. On July 13, Mrs. Eva Yeh Chang of San Francisco died peacefully at the age of 100. Eva was born in 1919 in Shanghai during a different era for China. Though she was born into a well-to-do banking family, her first three decades involved significant hardship: the Chinese Civil War, the Japanese occupation in the late 1930s, the Second World War, and the beginning of the Communist Revolution. That final event led Eva and her husband, Fu-Yun Chang, a Harvard-educated diplomat, statesman, and scholar, to leave their lives behind and depart for American shores. They essentially started over in a new country with three young children under the age of 10. What followed was the kind of entrepreneurial ``start-up life'' that would sound impossible in many other lands but has been the building block of our Nation from the beginning. Eva worked multiple jobs, from retail to waiting tables. Eventually, she saved enough to strike out on her own. First she opened a diner. Then she started one of San Francisco's early Northern Chinese restaurants--a big success--and then came more investments in enterprise and real estate in the city. Eva didn't just keep what she had built for herself. She put it into service for others. Eva built a new life for her children. She became a pillar of her community, and she used her resources to help a number of her relatives back in China complete the same journey she had made and follow in her footsteps to America. This remarkable woman may have left us, but the positive effects of her life continue to ripple out. For example, she lived to see her daughter, Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch, become the first-ever Asian- American to serve as a U.S. Ambassador and continue the family legacy of giving back to this Nation. The Senate stands with the entire Chang family and all who mourn Eva in this time of grief, and we stand with them in celebrating 100 years so well lived. (At the request of Mr. Schumer, the following statement was ordered to be printed in the Record.)

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

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 administration informed congressional leaders that Secretary Mnuchin, White House Chief of Staff Mulvaney, and Acting OMB Director Vought reached a deal with Speaker Pelosi to prevent a government-funding crisis and deliver on President Trump's top priorities. The agreement secures the most important priority of the Republican conference. In fact, in my view, it is the most important obligation of the entire Congress; that is, securing the resources we need to provide for the common defense. This deal does it. Over the past 2\1/2\ years, Republicans in Congress have worked with the President to stop and reverse the decline in the strength and readiness of our Armed Forces. After years of insufficient funding that hurt readiness and tied commanders' hands, Congress and President Trump have secured badly needed funding increases to rebuild and modernize the U.S. military. There is still more work ahead. The progress we have made remains tenuous. America's adversaries are not taking their foot off the gas anytime soon, so we can't either. We have to keep up the momentum. This agreement provides the stability of funding our military deserves and requires. Thanks to tough negotiating by the Trump administration, this deal delivers for the security of our Nation. It delivers for our men and women in uniform. It protects the progress of the last 2 years and provides the fuel for further progress. That is the bottom line. The nature of divided government means this certainly isn't the agreement Republicans would have written all by ourselves; for example, I will never understand why our Democratic colleagues treat funding the U.S. Armed Forces like a Republican priority that somehow needs to be matched up with additional spending that Democrats like in order to make it palatable for them. It seems to me every one of us, both sides, should jump at the chance to fund defense adequately. Alas, that is not a mystery that is going to be solved for me in the immediate future. The fact is, the Federal Government is coming up with urgent deadlines with respect to the debt limit and beginning the appropriations process. The full faith and credit of the United States cannot be in question. The last thing Americans need is for Washington to throw a big wrench in this red-hot economy that is creating historic levels of job opportunities and growing their take-home pay, and so faced with our Democratic colleagues' reluctance, the Trump administration took the high road. They did what needed to be done for our Armed Forces and veterans and negotiated a successful deal. In fact, compared to current law, the administration has secured a larger increase for defense spending than for nondefense. Let me say that again: a larger increase for defense than for nondefense compared to current law. What is more, the administration successfully kept leftwing poison pills and policy riders far away from this agreement. We know some of the far left have been hankering to claw back the Hyde amendment protections or cut away at reprogramming authorities and flexibility that Presidents rightly possess. I applaud the fact that no leftwing riders like that were allowed into the deal. This is the deal that was necessary to continue rebuilding our national defense after years of neglect, and it is the deal that was possible in divided government. I am proud to join President Trump in support of it, and I will be proud to support it when the Senate votes on the agreement before we adjourn at the end of this month.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, that isn't the only important task we will tackle on a bipartisan basis today. In just a few hours, the Senate will attend to an important subject we have never failed to address; that is, the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. I know my colleagues don't need any extended lecture from me about the solemn commitments this program represents: commitments to the firefighters, police officers, and all the first responders who rushed selflessly toward the World Trade Center just moments after the attacks began, to the first responders and workers who reported for duty days or even weeks later, putting their health at serious risk to help others, commitments to those who responded to the Pentagon and in Shanksville, PA, as well, and in the cases where injury or illness has already claimed the lives of those heroes, commitments to the surviving families. Congress can never repay these men, women, and families for their sacrifices, but we can do a small part to make our heroes whole. That is why the Senate has never failed to attend to the fund before. We are not about to do so now. I had the honor of meeting with a group of first responders and advocates several weeks back. They gave me the badge of Luis Alvarez, a New York Police Department bomb squad detective who was terminally ill and has since tragically passed away. It was my honor to receive it. It was my honor to reiterate that the Senate's ironclad commitment to getting this done was never in doubt. I told the first responders I wanted the Senate to address this prior to the August recess, and today we will do so. It will be my honor later today to vote for the funding and ensure this fund is secure. I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, on one final matter, in recent weeks, I have spoken about our Nation's renewed competition with other great powers, like Russia and China. Despite decades of efforts to welcome these nations into a peaceful, prosperous, and fair international system, we are constantly reminded that these nations have their own design on the future. In their visions, foundational principles of sovereignty, freedom, human rights, and a rules-based international order tend to take a backseat to power politics and the pursuit of hegemony. The Chinese Communist Party, for example, is working to extend its control and influence everywhere from Taiwan to Cambodia, to Laos, to Burma, to Hong Kong, as we have seen recently. The tools and tactics may differ but the goal is the same: Beijing wants to bend its neighbors to its will. Earlier this month, after historic protests, Hong Kong's Government hit pause on legislation that would have further eroded its autonomy and invited more meddling from the mainland, but victory for freedom and autonomy is not yet assured. The bill in question has been suspended, but it hasn't been totally withdrawn. Hong Kong's people, emboldened by this rare victory over Beijing's creeping influence, have continued to exercise their freedom of assembly to reclaim the rights, privileges, and autonomy slowly sliced away in recent years by the PRC. Protests continue and with them countervailing pressures from authorities beholden to Beijing. Increasingly brutal police tactics and pro-mainland vigilantes are drawing blood in an effort to intimidate Hongkongers back into submission. Hong Kong's autonomous governance, political freedoms, and stable rule of law has been a crucial precondition of its tremendous growth and prosperity. U.S. firms have invested tens of billions in Hong Kong's economy because they trust the autonomous region's political climate, independent judicial system, and degree of independence from Beijing. By contrast, international firms are currently pulling back from China due to concerns about corruption, autocracy, intellectual property rights violations, and state-sponsored corporate espionage. At a time when China faces slowing growth, Beijing should seek to emulate Hong Kong, not engulf Hong Kong and remake it in the image of the Chinese Communist Party. The PRC has long been working hard under the surface to increase its influence and power. In Hong Kong, like in so many other areas, China has used this approach that experts have called ``hide and bide''-- hiding their intentions and biding their time, slowly slicing away resistance, building leverage, and encroaching, one step at a time. In the case of Hong Kong, Beijing and its agents have overreached, but they are recalculating--postponing action on this legislation while biding time to resume the encroachment. This is not just a matter of the people of Hong Kong. The PRC's treatment of Hong Kong--just like its treatment of the Uighurs or Tibetans that Beijing claims as citizens--is an indicator of how Chinese rulers will behave abroad. All nations who trade with the PRC should be watching the drama unfolding on the streets of Hong Kong. The world is watching and wondering: If a government cannot respect the basic rights of people it claims as its own citizens, why on Earth would it be trusted to respect the rights and interests of its neighbors, its trading partners, or the companies that invest in its economy? As we all know, the people of Hong Kong have been carrying the banner for decades. I am proud to say that here in the United States, we have been marching alongside them the entire way. Back in 1992, I was proud to author the U.S.-Hong Kong Policy Act and helped codify America's stance on the special status of Hong Kong. So on the 70th anniversary of the PRC and the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, I am grateful the administration and Congress, on a bipartisan basis, are reexamining America's relationship with the PRC. I am grateful for the bipartisan work my colleagues have done on this important issue, and I am confident Congress will continue to hold hearings and stay vigilant on the subject of autonomy and democracy in Hong Kong, as well as China's overall strategy and its implications for the United States, our allies, and the entire world. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, in the meantime, this body has other significant business to complete for the American people. Most immediately, in just a few hours, we will be confirming a new Secretary of Defense. The vote to advance Dr. Mark Esper's nomination yesterday afternoon came in at 85 to 6. That is precisely the kind of overwhelming bipartisan vote that is called for in this circumstance. The nominee is beyond qualified. His record of public service is beyond impressive. His commitment to serving our servicemembers is beyond obvious. The need for a Senate-confirmed Secretary of Defense is beyond urgent. I urge every one of my colleagues to vote to confirm our next Secretary of Defense later today.

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, the Senate's first order of business this week will be confirming a thoroughly well-prepared nominee to a post of vital national importance. Later today, we will vote to advance the nomination of Dr. Mark Esper to serve as Secretary of Defense, and we will vote on his confirmation tomorrow. When Dr. Esper was nominated in July of 2017 to serve as Secretary of the Army, he already possessed an impressive record that spanned public service, the private sector, and, of course, his distinguished service in uniform. As a student, he excelled at West Point. He served honorably in combat during the Gulf war as an infantry officer with Kentucky's own 101st Airborne, the Screaming Eagles. He then later obtained a master's degree from the Kennedy School at Harvard and a Ph.D. from George Washington University. In the years since, Dr. Esper has continued to serve his country, compiling an outstanding record in public service. He has served as Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Pentagon; as a Senate-appointed member of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission; and, of course, as a trusted staff expert right here in the Capitol. As a result, many of our colleagues have been familiar with this nominee for more than a decade. Members on both sides remember Mark Esper from his time on staff with our former colleague Chuck Hagel. Some knew him during his tenure with the Foreign Relations Committee or with what was then the Governmental Affairs Committee, and many of us inevitably crossed paths with the smart and level-headed national security adviser for Majority Leader Bill Frist. So, when President Trump first nominated Dr. Esper to be Secretary of the Army 2 years ago, my colleagues and I were well acquainted with his expertise, his professionalism, and his patriotic dedication to the men and women who serve to keep us safe. It is no wonder that this body confirmed him to that post by an overwhelming bipartisan margin. Since then, Secretary Esper has continued to impress. He has continued to earn the praise of experts and colleagues from every corner of the national security landscape. ``He's highly regarded inside the Army. Soldiers like him.'' He is ``someone who can work across the aisle . . . somebody who can work with Congress.'' Additionally, he is ``superbly well qualified by experience and temperament for the position.'' Another quote: ``The nation would be lucky to have Mark serve in any capacity . . . He is particularly well-suited to step into one of the most important jobs in the world.'' This is high praise from former Pentagon officials of the Obama years and from widely recognized national security professionals. Just last week, our colleagues on the Armed Services Committee offered a ringing endorsement of their own by voting by voice to favorably report his nomination to the floor. It would be hard to draw up a more compelling case than the one in front of us for confirming Dr. Mark Esper, and it is hard to imagine a more persuasive argument for doing it right away--with no further delay--than the front pages of newspapers all around the world every day. The world is full of serious threats to America, to our allies, and to our interests. Not the least among them, obviously, is Iran's insistence on continuing to ratchet up tensions in the Middle East. Having a Senate-confirmed Secretary of Defense, especially one of this quality, could not have come a moment too soon. In closing, when Secretary Esper took his last job, he wrote Army personnel a letter that laid out three priorities: readiness, modernization, and reform. Since then, he has played an active role in this administration's efforts to restore the primacy and lethality of America's fighting forces, and the success of defense authorizations and ongoing operations abroad bear his fingerprints. We are reminded every day that this work continues, and we are reminded why. My colleagues should be proud to join me today in voting to advance the Esper nomination and in putting the right man on the job.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, on this recent Father's Day, Dr. John Logan's granddaughter wanted to publicly honor his lifetime of service and success in western Kentucky. I have had the privilege to call John a friend for more than three decades, and I enjoyed reading the stories of his youth, his early medical career, and his many contributions to his community and our Commonwealth. Growing up, John's baseball talent was apparent at an early age. In fact, he was still in middle school when he caught the local high school coach's attention. As the varsity team's catcher, John quickly stood out. One sports reporter even called him the best catcher in all western Kentucky. His skill was matched only by his passion for the game, even a broken elbow didn't stop him from playing in the 1955 State tournament. During his senior year of high school, however, John began to hear a calling to help other people. It was a drive that took him away from the diamond and into medical school. After graduating from Western Kentucky University, John earned a rural medical scholarship to study at Vanderbilt University. His career in medicine began with a commitment to serve rural Kentucky communities most in need. As a doctor, John and his new wife Jackie made a home in Sebree, KY, where his gifts were in high demand. Caring for Kentuckians across three counties, John quickly honed his skills and provided quality care to those in need. During his time in this small community, John learned that a physician must treat more than a patient's body. He began getting involved in a number of community organizations, and has dedicated his efforts to projects through the years to make Kentucky a better place. Moving to Henderson and opening a private family practice, John also began working with the Henderson Fine Arts Center, the Depot on the Riverfront, and the YMCA. He worked to help provide scholarships for young people to attend college, paying forward the aid he received to fund his studies years before. Many of Henderson's landmarks simply wouldn't exist without John's leadership. One of them, the Henderson Riverwalk, gave me a chance to join John's team to get the project done. It now bears a plaque recognizing his lasting imprint on this community. When this honor was unveiled, I was proud to recognize his life spent working for others. As he enjoys his well-deserved retirement, John continues to inspire others to contribute to their communities and improve our beloved Commonwealth. I would like to thank Ashton Brooks Logan, John's granddaughter, for sharing these stories about his many achievements. It is my pleasure to recognize my dear friend today. I ask my Senate colleagues to join me in thanking Dr. John Logan for his years of dedication to western Kentucky, which is better because of him. The Gleaner in Henderson, KY, recently published a profile of John's remarkable life. I ask unanimous consent that the article be printed in the Record.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session for 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 until 10 a.m., Tuesday, July 23; 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 H.R. 1327 under the previous order.