Mitch McConnell

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, on a completely different matter, it is my bittersweet job this morning to pay tribute to a historic Senate career that will conclude at the end of this Congress. Senator Orrin Hatch has faithfully represented the people of Utah in this body for the last 42 years. That makes him the dean of our Republican conference and, of course, President pro tempore of the Senate. It also makes him the longest serving Republican Senator in our Nation's history. So Orrin's longevity alone would have guaranteed him a place among the giants of the Senate. As he joked a couple of weeks ago, one of the most memorable experiences from his early Senate tenure was the confirmation process for Justice Joseph Story back in 1811. Apparently it was quite the scene, Orrin tells us. Seriously, though, the most impressive thing about Orrin Hatch is not the historic length of his tenure here but how completely filled with accomplishments that time has been. But let's back up for a moment. It wasn't always obvious that our friend would become a star U.S. Senator. At one point, it looked like another kind of stardom might be more probable. And I am not just talking about the successful law practice he set aside to run for office. We all know about Orrin's musical talents and his contributions to the recording industry. I am told that just a few years before Orrin's first campaign in 1976, the lawyer and family man was moonlighting as band manager for a groundbreaking Mormon folk group called The Free Agency. Well, it is fortunate for all of us that this free agent felt called to bring his talents here to Washington. There is a famous story from that first campaign back in 1976. Think about this. Orrin had no political experience--a stranger to running for office. But he had this sense that public service was his mission. Perhaps he was thinking of his beloved big brother Jesse, who gave his life in World War II when Orrin was just 10. He started asking around: Did his friends and family think he had a shot at a Senate seat? Few liked his chances in the primary and even fewer against the three-term incumbent. But the worst reaction of all came from his beloved wife Elaine. The story goes that when Orrin filed his papers to run, she cried for 3 straight days. I am not sure whether that was unhappiness at the prospect of an east coast life they hadn't planned for or a fairly accurate assessment of his chances at that point. But Orrin beat the odds. With the help of a big endorsement from a former California Governor named Ronald Reagan, this young, conservative upstart pulled off the upset. Actually, there is a little secret surrounding this endorsement. Few people know this, but I am sorry to say that Orrin was actually the Gipper's second choice. You see, our friend was so unknown back then that Reagan's first telegram offered a ringing endorsement of someone called ``Warren Hatch.'' Happily, the error was quickly corrected. Orrin earned Utah's trust and found his way right here to this Chamber. Some of his new Senate peers thought their new colleague should lay low and keep quiet about his principles. They had no idea what they were in for. This Pittsburgh-born son of a metal lather was actually ready for action. Remember, Orrin was once an amateur boxer. So he came to the Senate ready to brawl. In his very first term, he decided he had to take down this far-left labor reform law that would have hurt free enterprise and future prosperity. So he took on a couple of heavyweights--Robert Byrd, George Meany, and the whole machinery of Big Labor. So this freshman became the public face and private backbone of the opposition. It was an epic showdown. Orrin worked 18-hour days. He taught his whole staff how to draft amendments. He gave pep talks to his ragtag, bipartisan band of brothers--Dick Lugar, Howard Baker, and Fritz Hollings, from across the aisle--trying to keep everyone in the boat. And it worked. It withstood six cloture votes, breaking the record for a single bill, and they won. American prosperity was kept safe from a big power grab by union bosses. It only seems fitting, decades later, that the other end of Orrin's Senate tenure would also be marked by a major, hard-won, right-of- center accomplishment to help advance prosperity for all Americans. Orrin has chaired three of the Senate's most distinguished and critical committees--the HELP Committee, Judiciary, and, most recently, Finance. In this Congress, as Finance chairman, he led the charge to deliver once-in-a-generation tax relief to middle-class American families and tax reform to American job creators. This meant more late night and more painstaking negotiations. Chairman Hatch had to thread the needle, attending carefully to his colleagues' needs and keeping their eyes on the prize. Once again, he got it done. So what about the decades in between these two bookmarks? First and foremost may be Senator Hatch's special devotion to the Federal judiciary--to its essential role in our constitutional order, to its need for the highest quality personnel. Well, over his Senate tenure, Orrin has participated in the confirmation of more than half of all of the article III judges who have served in the United States of America in our Nation's history. Let me say that again. Orrin has met with, studied up on, questioned, or at least voted on more than half of all of the Federal judges in American history. That includes all nine Members of the current Supreme Court. When he supported a particular nominee, such as Justices Thomas, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh, Orrin has been a leading champion of their cause, even in the face of unfair slights and smears. Even in cases when he has felt compelled to vote against nominees, he has treated them and the process itself with the respect and dignity that it is due. The pile of Orrin's legislative victories is almost as high as that tower of distinguished judges, and many of them are defined by one signature thread that connects much of his proudest work, his care for and commitment to serve the most vulnerable members of our society--the State Children's Health Insurance Program, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Hatch-Waxman for generic drugs, some of the earliest work on AIDS research, and even his very recent work to designate 6-1-1 as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. So Orrin has led a bit of a double life here in the Senate, and I mean that in the best possible way. He has been every bit the principled fighter, as advertised. He has led the charge often and hasn't flinched from the big battles, but at the very same time, there was Orrin, constantly working quietly behind the scenes and across the aisle to tick off victories for vulnerable Americans who could have easily been left behind. One perfect illustration of this was Orrin's friendship with the late Ted Kennedy. For many of the years they spent here in the Senate, it seemed like they managed to rank among each other's closest friends, top collaborators, and most consistent sparring partners--all at the same time. But that is Orrin. He loves to give and take. He loves to discuss and debate. His colleagues and staff can rely on him equally to sit down and talk at length if they see an issue differently than he does. He does not dismiss or overrule. He wants to learn, persuade, and to be persuaded. It is no wonder that Orrin's peers are so fond of him and his team is so loyal to him. I am speaking especially of Ruthie Montoya, Orrin's scheduler for more than three decades--a member of the Senate family in her own right. But you can't help but respect Orrin because his own respect for this institution and the dignity of every individual he meets is so evident. Utahns know this better than anyone. They know they can run into their senior Senator on the sidewalk or out shopping, and he will stop and listen carefully to their thoughts and concerns and life stories-- maybe over a Costco hot dog--and he will take it all to heart. How could this be surprising? This distinguished Statesman grew up modestly. His mother had her hands full raising seven children, and his father supported the family with his work as a metal lather. The hours were long and the work was hard, but the life lessons were invaluable. Orrin worked his way through college and law school. When his scholarship didn't prove quite enough to support a young family, he worked as a janitor and attendant and still graduated with honors. That education has carried Orrin far, but not as far as something else he gained in college. It was in one BYU classroom that providence did Orrin a great favor, with an assist from alphabetical order. Because ``Hatch, Orrin'' came after ``Hansen, Elaine,'' he found himself seated next to this pretty young lady and struck up a conversation. That seating chart kicked off a blessed marriage of 60-plus years and counting. Not every young husband would have left a successful law practice on the east coast and started over in Utah to be closer to his wife's family. Not every wife and mother would tolerate--let alone encourage and support--half a lifetime of public service 2,000 miles from where they planned to call home. That loving partnership has brought six children, 23 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren. Orrin has been known to refer to his brood as ``the Hatchlings.'' So it is our hope that the Senate's great loss upon Orrin's retirement will at least be this great family's loving gain. We are sad to bid farewell to our artist-in-residence and his platinum records, to this former all-star missionary and LDS bishop who still practices what he preached, to this living example of the American dream at its most extraordinary--the Pittsburgh fighter who climbed up from working poverty and became ``The Gentleman of the Senate,'' where he dedicated his work to strengthening that ladder for the generations that would follow. Orrin has been so generous to his colleagues, to this institution, and to the State and the Nation he has served. He has given us so much. He retires with great congratulations on a most distinguished career and our very warmest wishes for a peaceful and happy retirement.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, on an entirely different matter, later today the Senate will vote on an attempt by some of our Democratic colleagues to undue a pro-privacy reform that Secretary Mnuchin and the Treasury Department implemented just a few months ago. As I discussed yesterday, there is neither any valid accounting reason nor a disclosure reason why the IRS needs access to the donor lists of the kinds of tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations in question. The Treasury Department has said that ``the IRS simply does not need tax returns with donor names and addresses to do its job in this area.'' In a climate that is increasingly hostile to certain kinds of political expression and open debate, the last thing Washington needs to do is to chill the exercise of free speech and add to the sense of intimidation. The Senate should take a stand for America's privacy and the First Amendment and reject this misguided resolution.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I believe there are problems with the law governing the consideration of these types of resolutions. One of biggest is the consideration of amendments. I have a series of parliamentary inquiries that I think will help clarify the problems with the statute. Parliamentary inquiry: Does this statute provide any guidelines for the consideration of amendments on this resolution?

Mr. McCONNELL. I believe that most times the Senate uses expedited procedures, we have either a germaneness requirement for amendments or they cannot be amended. Can the Chair expound on what some of those are and what that concept means in the Senate?

Mr. McCONNELL. In the opinion of the Chair, is a statute with no end point for consideration and no restrictions on text or amendments consistent with the other expedited procedures which the Senate often uses?

Mr. McCONNELL. I agree with the Chair, and I think the Senate should speak to this issue.

Mr. McCONNELL. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I think it is time the Senate subject itself to a bit of a reality check. Today is December 11. Here are just some of the things the Senate needs to accomplish before this Congress adjourns: We need to confirm more of the President's nominees for the judiciary and for the executive branch, such as the well-qualified nominee to be Deputy Secretary at the Department of Treasury, whom we are currently considering. We need to reach an agreement to fund the remaining one-fourth of the Federal Government that was not covered by regular appropriations. We need to make a substantial new investment in the integrity of our borders and the security of American families. We need to take up and pass the conference report for the farm bill to honor our commitments to our Nation's growers and producers. This week alone, we need to dispense with the debate pertaining to the situation in Yemen and an attempt by some of our Democratic colleagues to undo reforms that protect Americans' private, personal information as they exercise their First Amendment rights. In addition, at the request of the President and following improvements to the legislation that have been secured by several Members, the Senate will take up the recently revised criminal justice bill this month. I intend to turn to the new text as early as the end of this week. As a result of this additional legislative business, Members should now be prepared to work between Christmas and New Year's if necessary in order to complete our work. Let me say that again. Unless we approach all this work in a highly collaborative, productive way and take real advantage of unanimous consent to expedite proceedings, it is virtually certain that the Senate will need to be in session between Christmas and New Year's in order to complete this work. The Senate is a consent-based institution. Expediting this work would require an extraordinary degree of collaboration from everyone. So Members should either prepare to cooperate and work together or prepare for a very, very long month. In just a few hours from now, we will receive an indication of whether that cooperation will begin to take shape. My friend the Democratic leader and his counterpart in the House are scheduled to meet with President Trump at the White House later today. For the Nation's sake, I hope my Democratic friends are prepared to have a serious discussion and reach an accommodation with the President on funding for border security. Otherwise, circumstances are beginning to resemble a movie we have seen before. It was only this past January when Democrats chose to manufacture a government funding lapse over the issue of illegal immigration. It didn't work out very well. The reality is that the President's request is entirely reasonable. And before today's partisan considerations set in, I bet it might have looked reasonable to many of the majority of the Senate Democrats who joined in support of physical border security legislation back in 2006--some 12 years ago. Senate Republicans are working with the President and his homeland security team on $5.02 billion of targeted funding to bolster security measures in specific places where the Department of Homeland Security determines it is most needed. And make no mistake--the need is great. In fiscal year 2018, Customs and Border Patrol reported a 30-percent increase in apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border. Looking further back, the monthly apprehension total this past October reached its highest level in 4 years--4 years. CBP has observed over the past year a 50-percent increase in apprehensions of known gang members and a 115- percent increase in seizures of fentanyl narcotics. Clearly, delivering border security funding must be a priority. That is because the men and women of the Border Patrol deserve to be a priority. American communities deserve to be a priority as they face down the threat of gang violence. American families deserve to be a priority as the flow of lethal drugs fuels an epidemic of addiction. This is the right investment in the right place at the right time. There is no reason why the Democratic leader and the House Democratic leader should put the demands of far-left special interests ahead of the safety of American families. There is no reason for my Democratic friends to end this year the way they began it--with a government shutdown. It would be truly bizarre for them to decide they would prefer a partial government shutdown to reasonable funding for national security. It would signal that their party is more committed to political spite for the President than to the public interest. I will be watching eagerly this morning to see if the Democratic leaders approach these negotiations with the productive and good-faith spirit they deserve.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the vote scheduled for 11:30 a.m. this morning occur at 11 a.m. this morning.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, on another matter, as I mentioned a moment ago, one key piece of our unfinished business is the farm bill. Last night, I used my very own hemp pen to sign the conference report, clearing the way for the House and Senate to pass legislation and send it to the President's desk. I am proud that the bill includes my provision to legalize the production of industrial hemp. It is a victory for farmers and consumers throughout our country. Fighting for Kentucky hemp has been a long struggle. My State was once the national leader in the growing and production of industrial hemp, but then, for decades, a Federal ban halted that progress and shut American farmers out of the hemp field. Don't get me wrong--Hemp could still be found all over our country in all kinds of products. The problem is that it is all being grown somewhere else and imported into America. It is time to let American growers get back in business with this versatile crop once again. The farmers, processors, and manufacturers in my State and across the country are ready for the hemp comeback. It began in 2014 when I secured the establishment of a hemp pilot program with the help of then-agricultural commissioner Jamie Comer. States like Kentucky got the chance to explore the plant's potential and show us just what hemp could do, and the results have been nothing short of extraordinary. Now, American-grown hemp can be found in your food, your clothes, and even in your car dashboard. The results mean jobs, economic growth, and new opportunity. Last year alone, hemp products contributed more than $16 million to Kentucky's economy, and that was just from the pilot program--just from the pilot program. At a time when farm income is down and our growers are struggling, industrial hemp is a bright spot of agriculture's future. My provision in the farm bill will not only legalize domestic hemp, but it will also allow State departments of agriculture to be responsible for its oversight. In Kentucky, that means that Commissioner Ryan Quarles--another champion of hemp--will be able to help farmers thrive. And I know the occupant of the Chair is familiar with Commissioner Quarles. When the Senate votes on this legislation in the coming days, we will also be voting to give farmers throughout the country the chance to tap into hemp's potential and take part in its future. I have been proud to work with my colleagues in Congress, such as Senator Ron Wyden, and with hemp advocates in Kentucky to get to this point. Obviously, I will be proudly voting for this bill.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, 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. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 3:45 p.m. today, the Senate vote on adoption of the conference report to accompany H.R. 2.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, this will be a busy week here in the Senate. We begin by making more progress on the President's nominees. Later today, we will vote to advance the nomination of President Trump's choice to serve as Deputy Secretary at the Department of the Treasury, Justin Muzinich. This nomination was reported favorably by our colleagues on the Finance Committee earlier this year. Chairman Hatch has characterized the nominee as ``qualified, competent, and ready to get to work.'' As we speak, of course, Mr. Muzinich is already serving as senior counselor to Secretary Mnuchin. He is drawing on years of experience in financial management and putting that experience to work through public service. The nominee holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a JD from Yale. He has a distinguished record in the private sector and as an instructor at Columbia Business School. As the Treasury Department continues its work implementing the new Tax Code, developing foreign sanctions, and in a variety of other important areas, it is more important than ever that the Deputy Secretary position be filled; therefore, I would urge each of my colleagues to join me in voting to fill that vacancy with this well- qualified nominee as we advance his nomination later today. Madam President, 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 Senate proceed to legislative session for a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak 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, December 11; 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 Muzinich nomination, with all postcloture time on the nomination expiring at 11:30 a.m.; finally, that the Senate recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

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 have a request for one 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 Monday, December 10, 2018, at 10:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing on pending nominations.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I have a number of important topics to discuss this morning, but first and foremost, I want to personally thank everyone in this building who gave so much of their own time and energy to facilitate the rituals that filled this Capitol for the last several days. From the moment that news of President Bush's passing was made public, intricate plans were set in motion in both the House and Senate to arrange a public tribute worthy of a national treasure and a rare patriot like George Bush. Needless to say, the entire congressional family should be proud of the result. As our 41st President lay in state earlier this week, the Bush family, world leaders, and tens of thousands of Americans were welcomed to the Capitol to pay their respects. I know my colleagues will join me in thanking the great many people who helped make such a beautiful remembrance possible: to the staff of the Architect of the Capitol, all the offices under the Sergeant at Arms, the Secretary of the Senate and her team, and the Press Gallery; to the volunteers from my own staff and from other congressional offices who freely gave their time; to the staff of the Capitol Visitor Center who ensured that tens of thousands of people could share this experience; to the men and women of the Capitol Police who watch over us all; to the U.S. military, the envy of the world. Special thanks to Stef Muchow, my director of operations, who played such a tireless role in conducting this orchestra, going back through the entire weekend leading up to Monday, and to so many others who worked through the weekend and around the clock to help the legislative branch coordinate a dignified sendoff befitting this remarkable man whom we honor. I thank you, and the Nation thanks you.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, on another matter, for 8 years, President Obama landed blow after blow in his War on Coal. As we all know, it wasn't just the coal companies that endured the pain; hard- working families--many who live in economically distressed communities that relied on mining jobs--became the casualties of this ideological agenda. In my State of Kentucky, for example, those policies inflicted serious damage that is still being felt years later. That is why I was so grateful to hear that later today, the Trump administration will begin the process to undo and replace another Obama anti-coal regulation. Throughout the Obama administration, my Republican colleagues and I did everything we could to stop this assault on vulnerable communities. Where this particular rule is concerned, I personally led the charge, including as the lead sponsor of a resolution to cancel it altogether. Republicans knew these policies would stymie American competitiveness and do little to actually help the environment. Despite our best efforts, President Obama's EPA worked overtime to shutter existing coal plants and, with this rule in particular, stop new ones from being built. It was the fulfillment of one of his most troubling campaign promises, which many of us in coal country remember very well. Here is what he said: If somebody wants to build a coal-fired power plant, they can. It's just that it will bankrupt them. When we blocked the legislation he originally pitched, President Obama chose to go it alone and try to implement aggressive regulations, often bending the rule of law in the process. When we used the tools available to us to bring relief to American families, we were met each time with vetoes. But everything changed when the American people elected President Trump. We have worked hand in hand to end the War on Coal and to bring relief. Earlier this year, the President unveiled his plan to dismantle the so-called Clean Power Plan, a policy designed to shut down nearly every active coal plant. Now President Trump's EPA is also targeting another regulation that would have made it nearly impossible to build any new plants in the future. This is a crucial step toward undoing the damage and putting coal back on a level playing field. On behalf of coal families throughout Kentucky, I applaud the Trump administration. This runaway regulation needs to be rolled back and replaced with a more reasonable and achievable set of standards. Coal deserves a level playing field, and that is what this White House is trying to accomplish. I look forward to reviewing the proposal in the coming days and continuing to work with President Trump on this critical issue.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, this is that time at the end of a Congress when inevitably some of our Members go on to something else and leave this body. I want to take this opportunity this morning to pay tribute to another distinguished Member of the Senate who is leaving us at the end of this year. Senator Bob Corker is one of the most hard-working and, frankly, relentless Members of this body. He is a builder by trade and a fixer by nature. Senator Corker is always a man on a mission. Our distinguished colleague hails from a State with a long history of impressive Senators. Tennesseans such as Howard Baker, Al Gore, Bill Frist, and, of course, our colleague Lamar Alexander all developed national reputations as leaders. But after 12 years of working with Bob, I could not feel more comfortable saying that he himself will now become a part of that great Tennessee legacy. He has met that high bar, and he set it high himself. No sooner could any Senator turn his or her attention to some important but stalled initiative--some dead-end negotiation, some thorny national problem--then you would see Bob Corker diving into the fray and attacking the problem with everything he had. The limitless work ethic, the entrepreneurial drive--these things have defined Bob Corker since long before he was sworn in as a Senator. He started working odd jobs at age 13. At 25, he had saved up enough money to cofound his own construction company--25 years old--and strike out for himself. That firm grew from an $8,000 lark into a major operation that spanned more than a dozen States. Bob was a natural. He was constantly sniffing out opportunities and tackling them with vigor. Along the way, he picked up what some close to him now joke is an addiction to the feeling of a closing handshake-- that sign that needs were met, a deal was done, and both parties would walk away happy. The term ``workaholic'' might be putting it mildly. I am told that after one particularly hairy negotiation ended in success, Bob exclaimed, ``I'd sell it back to him--if I could turn around and buy it again!'' Unlike many of his colleagues, Bob did not necessarily always aspire to public service. In fact, it took a direct appeal to his builder's instincts to set this political career in motion. Bob saw a message in a church bulletin. They needed volunteers with construction experience to help a mission in Haiti. Bob went along, along with his father, and he came back with the drive to keep doing real good for real people. That conviction eventually took him to city hall in Chattanooga, where people still talk about the transformative wave of education reform, economic development, and public improvements that was unleashed during his time as mayor. Tennesseans liked what they saw. They decided the next chapters of Bob Corker's serial success story should be written right here on their behalf in the U.S. Senate. So if I even tried to relate a comprehensive catalog of everything Bob Corker has gotten accomplished in the Senate, this speech would be our last act of business before New Year's, but a few highlights stand out especially. It was early in Senator Corker's first term when the financial crisis threw our economy into chaos, but this fired-up freshman immediately started working with committee chairs and new friends across the aisle. He became a pivotal player, putting his private sector acumen to great use in helping craft policies to begin restoring stability. He has been a leading voice on housing reform, of course, and the combination of his background with his post on the Foreign Relations Committee has led to some unique Bob Corker accomplishments. Just this year, he has been hard at work on the BUILD Act to overhaul how America makes loans to new projects in the developing world. He was also a key champion of the electrify Africa bill that became law in 2016, laying groundwork for a more stable power grid across that continent. There are also other subtler ways he has remained the consummate businessman. Tennesseans know that many of the good things their junior Senator has achieved for his home State didn't even involve legislation. Every bit the former mayor, Bob has continued to hustle to convince every new job and new investment in sight why his home State is the place for them--phone call by phone call, meeting by meeting. So the Senate is preparing to say goodbye to one of our most energetic and accomplished Members. We will miss his enthusiasm and his expertise, but we will also miss his famous generosity and the great kindness everyone close to Bob jumps at the chance to describe. He is thoughtful to those he knows well and to those he has just met. I have it on good authority that on at least one occasion, Bob met a promising young man working in a checkout line and signed him up right there on the spot for a job interview with his chief of staff. Most recently, we know Bob Corker as the brilliant chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. He has traveled constantly. He has engaged issues around the world with an enormous degree of skill and capacity. He is a powerful voice for American interests and those of our allies and a forceful, influential thorn in the side of those who might wish us harm. He has also used that position to champion vulnerable people around the world. His spearheading of the End Modern Slavery Initiative Act, focusing resources and attention on a humanitarian crisis affecting literally millions, will be a core piece of that legacy. I know Bob prides himself on bringing more regular order back to the committee and getting it back to basics--legislation, treaties. Under his leadership, the committee passed the first authorization bill for the State Department--listen to this--in 14 years. Predictably, that Bob Corker work ethic is on full display when he is traveling the world on our Nation's behalf. I hear that when Bob was leading a trip to Israel and Palestine a few years ago, he heard about smuggling tunnels between Egypt and Gaza and decided to go see them himself. So the way I heard it, he arranged for ground transportation to Gaza, examined the system, and was back in Tel Aviv later that day to discuss the situation with Prime Minister Netanyahu. I will admit, though, that I am plenty excited to see what this hugely accomplished individual will get into next, and there is plenty of talk about what mission is next in the queue. I have heard his name is in the hat for an opportunity envied by many in this Chamber, and that is the chance to spend a lot more time with family. I am sure Elizabeth and the family will oblige with a smooth confirmation process. I have to admit, whatever comes next, I really doubt we will be able to call it a retirement in any ordinary sense of the word. You see, I have heard what happens when Bob Corker tries to relax. Apparently, there was one summer when he endeavored to take up waterskiing. You know--nice, lazy days; soak in the sunshine. Well, that didn't last very long. Bob went all in. He practiced and practiced and kept at it all summer, and soon he was a masterful but somewhat exhausted and burned-out water-skier. Once the challenge was gone, on to the next thing, on to the next deal, on to the next construction project. So, Bob, we will miss you a lot. The Senate and the great State of Tennessee will miss your service, but we just simply can't wait to see what you build next.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, on an entirely different matter, the Senate voted yesterday to advance the nomination of Bernard McNamee to serve on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Today, we will vote on his confirmation. I encourage every one of my colleagues to join me in supporting this abundantly well-qualified nominee. After Mr. McNamee, we will continue moving ahead with the personnel business. We will vote on the confirmation of Kathleen Kraninger to lead the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. Ms. Kraninger brings a wealth of experience to an Agency in need of a renewed, consumer- focused mission. I urge each of my colleagues to join me in voting to get her started in this important work.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.J. Res. 143.

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