Mitch McConnell

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 608, 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, as the Senate reconvenes to cross more items off our to-do list, we should take pride in all we have already accomplished this summer. This month alone, we have already advanced the Senate's farm bill to conference and named conferees to finalize this important legislation. We have also passed another set of appropriations measures. The Senate has now approved 7 of the 12 measures for next year, and we finalized the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which President Trump signed into law on Monday of this week. The reason we are convening today is that important work remains for the weeks ahead. That includes more progress on appropriations, and it includes confirming more of the President's nominees. Last week, Chairman Grassley announced that Judiciary Committee hearings for Judge Brett Kavanaugh, whom the President has nominated to serve on the Supreme Court, will begin September 4. Judge Kavanaugh's testimony will only add to the enormous wealth of information about his legal qualifications, his professional reputation, and his jurisprudence that is already available. Already the committee has received nearly 200,000 pages of material that relate to this nomination. By all accounts, this is already the most material ever submitted for any Supreme Court nomination--the most material ever. Of course, the best indicator of how Judge Kavanaugh will approach the role of a Federal judge is the way he has discharged his duties as a Federal judge in the 12-plus years he served on the DC Circuit Court--12-plus years, more than 300 opinions. I can hardly articulate this point better than my friend the senior Senator from Vermont. Back when the Senate was evaluating the nomination of then-Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, Senator Leahy said: We do not have to imagine what kind of a judge she will be because we see the kind of judge she has been. A number of other prominent Democrats echoed that sentiment, including my friend the Democratic leader. He called Republican requests for additional documents related to the Sotomayor nomination a ``fishing expedition'' and said Republicans were ``grasping at straws.'' My friend from New York said ``everybody knows'' that then- Judge Sotomayor's ``record on the bench'' was ``the best way to evaluate'' her nomination. So I hope that our Democratic colleagues who are demanding even more documents have taken the time to read the 12 years of opinions from Judge Kavanaugh that they already have. That, of course, will underscore exemplary service on the second highest court in the Nation. When it was the Supreme Court nominee of a Democratic President, they themselves insisted that judicial opinions were more important than any other papers for evaluating a Supreme Court nominee. Well, well, we have Judge Kavanaugh's opinions, and we have this record-breaking pile of additional materials--far more materials than were produced for the Sotomayor nomination, by the way--12 years of opinions and the most material in history. Every Senator who is actually willing to give this nominee fair consideration will be more than fully equipped to do just that. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session and 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 the Chair to lay before the Senate the House message to accompany S. 717. The Presiding Officer laid before the Senate the following message from the House of Representatives: Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. 717) entitled ``An Act to promote pro bono legal services as a critical way in which to empower survivors of domestic violence.'', do pass with an amendment.

Mr. McCONNELL. I move to concur in the House amendment, and I ask unanimous consent that the motion be agreed to and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m., Thursday, August 16; 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 Quattlebaum nomination and that notwithstanding rule XXII, all postcloture time on the nomination be considered expired at noon.

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. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, following disposition of H.R. 6147, the Senate proceed to the consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 5515; that the cloture motion on the conference report be withdrawn; that there be up to 1 hour of debate on the conference report, with 30 minutes under the control of Senator Rubio and 30 minutes under the control of the managers; and that following the use or yielding back of that time, the Senate vote on the adoption of the conference report without intervening action or debate.

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, very briefly, on another point, I want to take a moment, as we wrap up this appropriations package, to recognize the distinguished tenure and leadership of our chairman, Richard Shelby. Earlier this year, Senator Shelby cast vote No. 10,000 right here on the Senate floor. Like so many of his accomplishments, that landmark seemed to slip by without a whole lot of fuss, but what a remarkable milepost in a very distinguished career. I imagine this year's appropriations process holds special significance for our chairman. As he took the reins of the committee, he made clear that in working with Senator Leahy, regular order would be the name of the game. He set his sights on restoring the kind of collaborative process that has historically made our institutions so unique. As we all know, that is a little bit easier said than actually done. Yet, the committee completed a markup process that reported out all 12 spending bills faster than it had in any year since 1988. That was three decades ago. When we close out this package, the Senate will have passed a majority of its annual appropriations measures by the beginning of August for the first time since 2000--18 years ago. I am sure my fellow members of the Appropriations Committee would agree with me that this productivity is due, in large part, to the leadership of our chairman, Richard Shelby. So on behalf of the whole Senate, I want to thank him for the work he has done so far and for the accomplishments on behalf of the American people that are yet to come. I want to thank Senator Leahy, as well, and all of our other colleagues on the committee for their contributions.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, in the marble halls of the Kentucky State Capitol building in Frankfort, visitors will discover numerous portraits of those who have served our Commonwealth in our highest offices. Depictions of Kentucky's Governors, legislators, and supreme court justices line the halls as memorials to those public servants. On August 7, another portrait will be added, paying tribute to an individual who has served our State and our Nation with distinction. William Thompson Scott, known by his friends as ``Will T.,'' is a native of Pike County in eastern Kentucky and served as an associate justice on the Kentucky Supreme Court from 2005 to 2015. Known for his humor and congenial nature, Justice Scott clearly earned his colleagues' respect when they elected him to serve a 4-year term as the deputy chief justice. With the esteem of his peers and those he served, Justice Scott's tenure on the supreme court can be remembered for his positive impact on the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Even before his first election to the high court, Justice Scott actively engaged in the service of our Commonwealth and our Nation for much of his life. Interrupting his undergraduate studies at Eastern Kentucky University in 1966 to voluntarily enlist in the U.S. Army, he proudly served our Nation in Vietnam as a first lieutenant and earned the Bronze Star Medal. When he was discharged, he returned to Kentucky and received his bachelor's degree from Pikeville College before studying law at the University of Miami in Florida. After spending a few years as a trial attorney, Will T. found a way to employ his skills for the good of his neighbors and became an assistant Commonwealth's attorney for Pike County in 1981. A few years later, he was elected as a circuit court judge in Kentucky, beginning what would be his long and distinguished career serving on the bench. When his portrait joins those of other jurists from Kentucky's past, Justice Scott's legacy will be enshrined for future generations to study, interpret, and appreciate. So as Justice Scott's friends, family, and colleagues gather to honor his career, I would like to ask my Senate colleagues to join me in thanking him for his service to our Nation and to the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

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 move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 1008.

Mr. McCONNELL

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

Mr. McCONNELL

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 1009.

Mr. McCONNELL

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

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum calls with respect to the cloture motions be waived.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session and 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 the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 604, submitted earlier today.

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, before we wrap up, I would be remiss if I let the day pass without calling our attention to two veteran Senate staff members who are concluding their distinguished service this week. Patrick Renzi has served the U.S. Senate for 27 years, rising to chief reporter in the Office of Official Reporters of Debates. Patrick is a native of Silver Spring, MD. His mother Eileen also worked in transcription, including here in the very same office, but, as my colleagues know well, no route to the Senate is a straight line. After completing his studies at the University of Maryland and Strayer College, Patrick moved furniture, tried freelance court reporting, and recorded a brief, forgivable stint working over in the House of Representatives. But by 1991, he had returned to where it all began. Over the next 27 years, Patrick became a key staff member, updating the technology and team that keep the Office of Official Reporters running smoothly. His staff describe him as a stalwart chief with great respect for the Senate and those with whom he has served. Mr. President, Scott Sanborn currently serves as the Senate Journal clerk. He arrived in this body back in 1979 as a page for Lowell Weicker, our former colleague from Connecticut. Scott wound up serving the Secretary's legislative staff as an assistant bill clerk. I am told he impressed so many colleagues so quickly that in short order he was asked to serve as assistant editor, deputy chief reporter, and coordinator of the Congressional Record. By 2001, Scott had become the 20th Journal clerk of the U.S. Senate. Along the way, he has helped revolutionize the way the Senate records and reviews its transcripts. He found ways to increase efficiency and cost-savings, and he served as a go-to technical liaison, connecting the official reporters with the Members' offices. These two gentlemen have combined to contribute, literally, decades of service to this body. To see them both embark on well-earned retirements in the same week serves as a useful reminder of just how many incredibly talented men and women there are who may seldom find themselves in the spotlight but who are absolutely essential to the smooth functioning of the Senate in a thousand ways that we all get to take for granted every single day. We don't say thank you nearly enough around here. I am honored to be able to say it today. Thank you, Patrick. Thank you, Scott. We are sorry to see them go, but I know that Patrick's wife Germaine and their nine children--nine children--and Scott's wife Kim and their two kids must be happy to see what this next chapter has in store. So we bid them farewell with gratitude for their time here and best wishes for the times ahead.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 369, S. 1668.

Mr. McCONNELL. I further ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 6414, which was received from the House.