Mitch McConnell

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate be in 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., Wednesday, August 22; 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; that following leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of H.R. 6157; further, that the Senate recess from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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, last week the Senate turned to a critically important pair of appropriations bills--those which encompass the Departments of Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. And we proceeded to this legislation by unanimous consent. That may seem like a small detail in the scheme of things, but it underscores a fact that should be a real source of pride for this Senate: Bill by bill, we are rebuilding a regular process for responsibly appropriating taxpayers' money. We are achieving what we set out to do, and we are doing it together. Because of the leadership of Chairman Shelby, Senator Leahy, and our subcommittee chairs and ranking members, all 12 appropriations bills for this fiscal year were reported out prior to the July 4th recess. The process was so bipartisan that, cumulatively across all 12 bills, the committee votes were 363 to 9. Here on the floor, we have already approved--with bipartisan support--measures to fund Energy and Water Development, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Environment, Agriculture, and other priorities. We have had a normal committee process. We have had amendment votes here on the floor of the Senate. We have considered these bills thoroughly but efficiently and then passed each of them with bipartisan majorities. That is exactly the momentum we need to keep up right now. The legislation now before us will be a major milestone. It addresses vital priorities: a pay raise for our troops, plus funding for their missions and work to restore combat readiness, training programs for American workers, and new tools for combating the opioid epidemic. These bills will bring billions of dollars and resources and relief to the families and communities that are fighting every day against the crisis of drug abuse and addiction that has inflicted so much pain on our country. I will have more to say this week on the important things this legislation will accomplish, but first I want to pause and take stock of our progress. When we finish and pass the legislation before us, we will have approved 9 of the 12 bills to appropriate money for the government. Together, they will account for more than 87 percent of the discretionary spending for next year, and it will be the first time in 15 years that the Senate will have passed the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill before the start of the fiscal year. I am glad we will be voting on a pair of amendments later this afternoon, and I hope that, with consent, we will be able to vote on more amendments this week. Then I will look forward to passing this legislation for our servicemembers and for middle-class families across our country.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, now on another matter, if I sound like a broken record discussing the pro-growth, pro-worker trend in our Nation's economy, it is because the headlines continue to roll in faster than I can relate them. Here is one headline from last week: ``Small-business confidence hits another record high.'' And one industry survey reports more optimism among small business owners this month than at any time in the past 35 years. Another headline: ``U.S. jobless claims fall for a second straight week.'' That one comes not long after the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits hit a 49-year low last month. And another: ``U.S. retail sales increase strongly in July.'' In fact, they are up 6.4 percent over 1 year ago. An economy that is expanding, bringing more people into the workforce, and encouraging investment at all levels--reports like these are exactly what Republicans had in mind when we began implementing our pro-growth, pro-opportunity agenda last year. But while we worked to pass the historic tax reform and regulatory reforms that are helping create these conditions, our Democratic colleagues offered up a different set of predictions. They shared our belief that 2018 would be a headline-making year for the U.S. economy, but they insisted the headlines would be catastrophic. The House Democratic leader talked about ``Armageddon.'' My friend, the Senate Democratic leader, proclaimed that ``nothing''--nothing--in tax reform was ``suited to the needs of the American worker.'' I don't think I have heard my friends revisit those arguments recently. I haven't heard too many Democrats eager to remind middle-class American families and small business owners that every single Democrat in the House and in the Senate tried to kill their tax cuts with completely partisan opposition. But Republicans were undeterred. We pressed on and got tax reform and so many other pro-growth policies accomplished for the American people. And now, unlike our friends across the aisle, we are talking about these victories practically every day. American enterprise, American ingenuity, and the talent and work ethic of our people are what made these headlines happen. Republicans are just proud we could play a part by getting Washington's foot off the brake and leaving them more free to build their lives and pursue their happiness. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following amendments be called up en bloc and reported by number: Nelson No. 3773, Kennedy No. 3703. I further ask consent that at 12:10 p.m. on Tuesday, August 21, the Senate vote in relation to the amendments in the order listed and that there be no second-degree amendments in order to the amendments prior to the votes.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the Commonwealth of Kentucky recently lost a remarkable man and a longtime public servant, Earl Fields. At the age of 96, Earl passed away earlier this month. My friend and fellow Kentuckian, Congressman Hal Rogers, called Earl, ``one of our region's greatest treasures.'' I couldn't agree more, and today it is my privilege to honor his memory. A member of the Greatest Generation, Earl left his position as a school teacher in 1942 to join the U.S. Navy. During his 4 years of service aboard the U.S.S. Nicholson, Earl served in 10 major conflicts and engaged both German and Japanese enemy forces. As a Navy radioman, he was tasked with copying incoming coded messages. Among his many experiences during his service, Earl remembered receiving the fateful news of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's death in 1945. After the war, Earl returned home and married Gloria, the love of his life. Together, they raised six children and built a life together in eastern Kentucky. In subsequent years, Earl once again felt called to public service, and he ran to become the Leslie County clerk. He won his race and served his community in the role for 24 years. When Earl left the clerk's office, he moved to Laurel County to enjoy his retirement. That doesn't mean he slowed down, however. Earl kept a number of hobbies, including hunting, fishing, and beekeeping, throughout the rest of his life. Elaine and I would like to extend our condolences to Earl's wonderful family and his many devoted friends. His life impacted our country and so many communities in eastern Kentucky, and he will surely be missed. I ask my Senate colleagues to join me in remembering the life of a great man, Earl Fields.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of Calendar Nos. 1033 through 1038; 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; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, as we continue to discuss the farm bill, I would like to take a moment to congratulate a prominent member of the agricultural community in northeastern Kentucky. Hinton Mills in Fleming County is a family-owned and operated business celebrating 100 years of serving farm communities in our State. Founded in 1918 by Frank L. Hinton in Goddard, KY, Hinton Mills began as a small general store for the rural community and was the first retailer in the area to recognize the need for a one-stop, full-service farm supply store. Since its doors opened, it has grown and transformed into a major feed supplier in the area. Under the family's constant care, Hinton Mills continued to expand and today has five locations in three counties. They also make deliveries to farm families in Kentucky and Ohio, providing important services to communities throughout the region. Today, the family business is led by Bud Hinton of the third generation. As the president and CEO, Bud has reaffirmed Hinton Mills' commitment to the many small towns and rural communities it serves. Continuing the tradition in the family, Bud's three sons joined the business and are currently vice presidents. Representing the fourth generation, Matt, Adam, and Nathan were all raised in Fleming County, and each of them brings unique skills and experiences to Hinton Mills. They are helping Frank Hinton's business and legacy continue to thrive. For example, Matt brings a manufacturing background and has received his MBA. In 2015, Adam became Kentucky's first graduate of the American Farm Bureau Federation's Partners in Agricultural Leadership program, which is a national training program for advocates of agriculture. Nathan joined the family business directly out of college, earning a wealth of institutional knowledge. Their new perspectives help Hinton Mills embrace innovation as a way to better serve its customers, but they also maintain the bedrock traditions on which the company was built. During its centennial celebration, Hinton Mills will showcase both its history and its potential for the future. Hosting 2 days of events, the family has invited members of the community to join them at their Plummers Landing location to visit exhibitions commemorating their company's history, while enjoying kids' games and even a cane pole fishing tournament. On the second day, they will host a tractor parade and a 1918-themed fair to reflect on how far they have come and to signal hope for their future. To top it off, the night will conclude with a fireworks spectacle. I think these festivities are a perfect way to mark 100 years of serving Kentucky farm communities. I am honored to call the Hinton family my friends, and I admire their remarkable success in Kentucky. Our home State has a rich heritage of agriculture, and family-owned businesses like Hinton Mills are a great example of that tradition. It is my pleasure to congratulate the Hinton family on their many successes and to express my gratitude for all they do for Kentucky's farm communities. As they celebrate their centennial, I would like to wish them all the best, and I urge my Senate colleagues to join me. (At the request of Mr. Schumer, the following statement was ordered to be printed in the Record.)

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, for two decades, Representative Marie Rader from Mckee was a powerful voice for her constituents in Kentucky's House of Representatives. It is my privilege today to pay tribute to a dedicated public servant and a dear friend who retired from her legislative career at the end of last year. A graduate of Berea College in Madison County, Marie was a passionate advocate for the causes important to Kentuckians, and she spent her career helping guide the public policies of our State. As the chair of house transportation committee, she proved her leadership for Kentucky and was a strong supporter of our Commonwealth's infrastructure, Her work to encourage economic development provided a wonderful service to Marie's constituents and to families throughout our State. Even after her retirement from the general assembly last year, Marie has continued to remain active in the Jackson County community. She serves as the executive director of the public housing authority and employs her many talents with the Jackson County Development Association and the Jackson County Industrial Authority. Earlier this year, she helped organize a Memorial Day event to honor the service and sacrifice of local Vietnam veterans. The community gathered to celebrate more than 100 brave Kentuckians, and Marie was crucial to making the event a success. Her selfless work for the residents of Jackson County and the Commonwealth continues to inspire others. When the Kentucky State House came into session at the beginning of this year, its members recognized the absence of their former colleague with gratitude and respect. Representative Robert Goforth, Marie's successor, sponsored a resolution honoring her lasting impact in that body and throughout Kentucky. It is my privilege today to join with the members of the Kentucky State House in sharing those sentiments and wishing her a wonderful retirement. I urge each of my Senate colleagues to help me honor Marie Rader, a remarkable individual and my friend.

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, August 21; 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, and that following leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of H.R. 6157; further, that the Senate recess, following disposition of the Kennedy amendment, until 2:15 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, the Senate is back in session this August for a simple reason: We have more to do for the families across America who count on us to work hard and to fight for them. That is why the next legislation the Senate will consider is a pair of critically important appropriations bills that will fund our national defense, along with the Department of Labor and the Department of Health and Human Services. Talk about subjects that are vital to the American people, at stake is a 2.6-percent pay raise for U.S. servicemembers, the largest pay raise for troops in almost a decade; the equipment, tools, and training they need to complete their mission; and funding to support the necessary programs we just authorized when the John S. McCain National Defense Act became law earlier this week. At stake are billions of dollars to fight back against the opioid crisis, hundreds of millions to support and retrain American workers who need a boost back into the labor force, hundreds of millions more for employment training specifically for our veterans, funding for the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health, and Federal funding for our Nation's schools. I have only scratched the surface. There will be plenty of time in the days ahead to discuss and detail all of the ways this legislation will help our country, as well as to consider amendments. Yesterday was a promising start. We agreed to proceed to these two important funding bills by consent after we wrap up the nominations that are before us today. Now we need to keep up the collaboration. There is a reason why it has been quite some time since we have completed a full, regular process. There is a reason why, for example, it has been 15 years--15 years--since the Senate passed the Labor, Health, and Education bill in time for the start of the fiscal year. This process is not easy. It is hard work for our Appropriations subcommittees and the full committee to craft this legislation. Then, on the floor, we need cooperation from both sides to process amendments, while resisting the temptation to turn the appropriations process into a free-for-all on all manner of policy issues. But this year, that is exactly what we are doing. The Senate has already passed 7 of 12 bills. In the next several days, we will consider Nos. 8 and 9. Once we finish them, they will encompass more than 87 percent--more than 87 percent--of total discretionary spending--two more big strides toward avoiding another omnibus and appropriating the taxpayers' money in the right way.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, on one final matter, Members were back in our home States meeting with constituents last week. I had the opportunity to visit a remarkable business in my hometown of Louisville. Caldwell Tanks has been making large industrial and water storage tanks in Kentucky for over 100 years. It is no secret that they do good business, but when I stopped by on Friday, they had some especially good news to share. In 2018 they invested $100,000 in upgrades to their fleet of cranes. Their 150 Kentucky employees, along with hundreds more in other States, are seeing estimated wage increases of up to 10 percent or more. Preload, Caldwell's sister company, which makes prestressed concrete tanks, has invested $500,000 in new manufacturing equipment. The company's leadership states that all of these improvements--every one of them--are direct results of the historic tax reform this Republican Congress passed last year. Tax reform, along with all of our other pro-growth policies, has helped to transform the overall business climate in our country. In the words of Bernie Fineman, Caldwell's CEO, ``the most important thing that it's done is to provide hope''--hope--``for our future.'' So while these developments alone are remarkable, the conditions that made them possible are not a fluke--not in a State that has recently seen its unemployment rate drop to a 42-year low, not in a country where the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits is about as low as it has been in half a century. Tax reform and regulatory reform helped to make this happen. They helped to unleash free enterprise and give Caldwell's customers the confidence to fill up the warehouse's backlogs and drive up 2018 sales by 14 percent so far. Caldwell is just one case study in what has become a national phenomenon. Nationwide, consumers are experiencing renewed confidence. Retail sales are up 6.4 percent from July of last year. According to one industry survey, a majority of U.S. manufacturers say this favorable policy climate has been more likely--more likely--to raise wages for their workers. Bustling warehouses and rising wages weren't exactly what our Democratic colleagues predicted when they railed against tax reform last year or voted in lockstep to oppose its passage, but one would hope that hindsight is helping our Democratic colleagues to see how tax reform and regulatory relief were exactly what the doctor ordered and how they have contributed to a healthy economy that is paying dividends for American workers and middle-class families. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, first, the Senate is currently considering two well-qualified nominees, both for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Yesterday afternoon, we voted to advance the nomination of Marvin Quattlebaum, a graduate of Rhodes College and the University of South Carolina. He presently serves as a district judge for the District of South Carolina. At noon the Senate will vote to confirm his nomination. When he was nominated to the Federal bench last year, Judge Quattlebaum received strong, bipartisan support from the Senate. The American Bar Association deemed him unanimously ``well-qualified,'' their highest possible rating. Once we complete consideration of Judge Quattlebaum, we will turn to Jay Richardson. Mr. Richardson is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and the University of Chicago Law School. He has held clerkships with Seventh Circuit Judge Richard Posner and with the late Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist. Since 2009, he has served as assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. Current and former peers in the U.S. Attorney's Office say he has a ``well-earned reputation for excellent preparation, good judgment, fairness, and hard work.'' In that role, Mr. Richardson led the successful prosecution of the gunman who murdered nine innocent people at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC, back in 2015. Our colleagues on the Judiciary Committee have received a letter from Jennifer Pinckney, the wife of the late Clementa Pinckney, one of the victims of that senseless violence. Ms. Pinckney wrote to enthusiastically support Mr. Richardson's confirmation. She said that he ``will make a fine jurist.'' I urge my colleagues to join me in voting to confirm both of these impressive nominees.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that with respect to the Quattlebaum and Richardson nominations, 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 call up amendment No. 3699.

Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following amendments be called up en bloc and reported by number: Menendez-Murkowski No. 3705 and Fischer-Baldwin No. 3706. I further ask consent that at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, August 20, the Senate vote in relation to the amendments in the order listed and that there be no second-degree amendments in order to the amendments prior to the votes.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to 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 the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 609, submitted earlier today.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 3 p.m., Monday, August 20; 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; that following leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of H.R. 6157 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 under the provisions of S. Res. 609.