Mitch McConnell

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session and that the Chair lay before the Senate the message to accompany H.R. 5515.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move that the Senate insist on its amendment, agree to the request of the House for a conference, and authorize the Chair to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 5 p.m. today the Senate resume legislative session and vote on the pending compound motion; further that if the motion is agreed to, Senators Cornyn and Reed each be recognized to offer a motion to instruct conferees; that the Senate vote on the motions in the order listed with no further action on the motion; that there be 2 minutes of debate between each vote, equally divided in the usual form; and that following disposition of the Reed motion and the appointment of conferees, the Senate resume executive session.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now resume executive session.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.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 notwithstanding the provisions of rule XXII, all postcloture time on Executive Calendar No. 639 be considered expired at 2 p.m. tomorrow and the Senate immediately vote on the nomination; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and that following disposition of the nomination, the Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Ney nomination.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate resume 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 notwithstanding rule XXII, at 12 noon on Wednesday, July 11, the Senate proceed to legislative session and the Chair lay before the Senate the message to accompany H.R. 5895; further, that the majority leader or his designee be recognized to make a compound motion to go to conference and that the Senate immediately vote on the motion; further, that if the motion is agreed to, Senators Cassidy and Corker each be recognized to offer a motion to instruct conferees; that the Senate vote on the motions in the order listed with no further action on the compound motion; that there be 2 minutes of debate between each vote, equally divided in the usual form; and that following disposition of the Corker motion and the appointment of conferees, the Senate resume executive session.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Con. Res. 41, 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, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m., Wednesday, July 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. I ask that following leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of the Benczkowski nomination and that all time during adjournment, leader remarks, and morning business count postcloture on the nomination.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it stand adjourned under the previous order.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, ``sexist,'' ``a disaster for women,'' ``totally unacceptable''--these are just a few of the ad hominem attacks the far-left special interest groups hurled at a Federal circuit court judge whom a Republican President nominated to the Supreme Court. The name of the Federal judge--Anthony Kennedy. After President Reagan nominated then-Judge Kennedy to the Court in 1987, these far-left special interest groups impinged his character. They cooked up apocalyptic warnings about all of the terrible things that would happen to Americans if he were to be confirmed to the Court. Of course, the American people didn't buy it, and a majority of Senators saw through the hyperbole and hysteria and confirmed that qualified nominee. Believe it or not, the sky didn't fall, but decades later, our Democratic colleagues still haven't tired of crying wolf whenever a Republican President nominates anyone to the Supreme Court. We have seen this same movie time after time. Less than 3 years after Justice Kennedy's confirmation, President Bush nominated David Souter to the Supreme Court. Guess what leftwing pressure groups said about David Souter right after President Bush selected him. That is right, the very same things we are hearing today. The same things you have heard from these same corners about every Supreme Court nominee named by a Republican President. One organization proclaimed that Justice Souter might ``undo the advances made by women, minorities, dissenters and other disadvantaged groups.'' That was about Justice Souter. Back in 1975, they assailed the nomination of John Paul Stevens. They said he lacked impartiality and opposed women's rights. That is what was said about John Paul Stevens. So these far-left groups have been at these same scare tactics for over 40 years. The consistency is really quite amazing. Decade after decade, nominee after nominee, the far-left script hardly changes at all. Anyone and everyone the Republican President nominates to the Supreme Court is some kind of threat to the public, according to the hysterical press releases that inevitably follow. No matter their qualifications, no matter their record, no matter their reputation, it is the same hyperbole, the same accusations, the same old story. Tonight, President Trump will announce his nominee to fill the current Supreme Court vacancy. We don't know whom he will name, but we already know exactly what unfair tactics the nominee will face. They will not be new, and they will not be warranted. We can expect to hear how they will destroy equal rights or demolish American healthcare or ruin our country in some other fictional way. Justice Kennedy's resignation letter had barely arrived in the President's hands before several of our Democratic colleagues began declaring their blanket opposition to anyone and all--anyone the President might name. One Democratic Senator stated she would resist any attempt to confirm any nominee this year: ``It doesn't matter who he is putting forward.'' It doesn't matter who. Earlier today, just today, another Democratic Senator issued a press release declaring preemptively that he plans to oppose whomever the President nominates tonight, no matter who they are. Another of our Democratic colleagues offered this assessment: ``We are looking at the destruction of the Constitution of the United States as far as I can tell.'' It is hard to keep a straight face when you hear stuff like that. There is not even a nominee yet. Justice Kennedy just announced his retirement, and they are talking about the destruction of the Constitution? Please, give the American people some credit. This far- left rhetoric comes out every single time, but the apocalypse never comes. Americans see beyond this far-left fearmongering they have tried over and over again for 40 years, and Senators should do the same. We should evaluate this President's nominee fairly based on his or her qualifications, and we should treat the process with the respect and dignity it deserves. The Judiciary Committee under the able leadership of Senator Grassley will hold hearings, and the nomination will come to the full Senate for our consideration. One more round of 40-year-old scare tactics will not stop us from doing the right thing.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, today I am proud to recognize a remarkable woman who has been a constant presence in Hardin County for many years. Barbara Proffitt has meant so much to this community, and as she begins her long-awaited retirement, I would like to thank her for her decades of care and support. For 30 years, Barbara represented Hardin Memorial Hospital as its community/guest relations coordinator. In her own description, she helps ``get the word out about the hospital,'' but for someone like Barbara, that meant a lot more than sitting behind a desk sending emails. Throughout Elizabethtown and the surrounding area, Barbara seemed to be everywhere, attending community meetings, special functions, and even driving the health group's car during parades. Beyond her work at the hospital, Barbara supported her community and her neighbors in so many ways. Although she hasn't had a child attending North Hardin High School since the late 1970s, Barbara proudly continues to be the ``team mom'' of the boys' basketball team. Usually carrying bags of candy to share, she rarely misses a game and always seems to have a hug ready for every player, manager, and coach. The close proximity between Barbara's home in Vine Grove to the U.S. Army installation at Fort Knox inspired another form of community work. Crediting her father's service in World War I and the service of her brother and husband in Korea, Barbara has made it her personal mission to support our Nation's men and women in uniform stationed at Fort Knox. She packs boxes of food for soldiers deployed overseas who are serving in Fort Knox's 1st Theater Sustainment Command. Barbara also bakes pecan pies for those at the installation, earning her the nickname she treasures: ``Pie Lady.'' Having tasted one of her pies myself, I can confirm just how delicious they are. Because of her longstanding generosity to those at the installation, Fort Knox awarded Barbara and her family with its Gold Neighbor Award. In her retirement, she has chosen to join a new mission called ``No Vet Dies Alone,'' providing comfort to our Nation's heroes in their final hours. Barbara has also passed on her love of community service to her children, Rhonda and Blake. As the current mayor of Vine Grove, Blake credits his mom's passion for others as what helped inspire his decision to enter public service. After her last day at Hardin Memorial Hospital, Barbara began a well- deserved vacation. When she returns, however, no one expects her to slow down too much. As a local columnist wrote when he heard about her retirement, ``For Barbara the word retire is a word, that's it. I am certain we still will see her around, everywhere we seem to go.'' I certainly hope we will. Today I am proud to join with the people of Hardin County in thanking Barbara Proffitt for taking care of so many in her community throughout the years. I ask my Senate colleagues to help me wish her a wonderful retirement. Mr. President, the News-Enterprise in Elizabethtown recently published an article on Barbara's legacy of service to her community. I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the article be printed in the Record.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to congratulate Alan Watts, an indispensable broadcaster in western Kentucky, who will soon celebrate his 25th year with WKDZ/WHVO Radio in Cadiz. When the listeners of Caldwell, Christian, Lyon, Todd, and Trigg Counties tune in for the news, a trusted voice provides them with the information important to their lives. Even before he graduated from high school, radio broadcasting had piqued Alan's interest. He worked part-time at WHOP in Hopkinsville through college, and he proudly remembers that his news career began when he attended a rally featuring Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Alan's time at WKDZ began in 1993 not with a formal contract, but rather with a handwritten agreement with the owner, D.J. Everett. He started by answering phones, writing stories on an electric typewriter, and delivering the weekend news. As the station has grown and expanded during the last 25 years, Alan has taken on more responsibility and has become a well-known local figure. On weekdays at 5 a.m., Alan goes on air for his ``Morning Ag Report.'' The program debuted in 2008 with the mission to tell the southern Pennyrile region's agriculture story. In his own words, ``Each morning I start my day at 3 with a much-needed cup of coffee and a fresh outlook on life.'' Bringing the latest news to farm families, Alan and his team have earned the strong support of the community, but he doesn't sign off after a single program. Alan also hosts the ``WKDZ Country Club'' program for 3 hours, sharing news and local events and hosting a number of guests. It is his way to help listeners throughout the region begin their day. As if 4 hours of daily broadcast weren't enough, Alan doesn't stop there. This January, he became the host of the Kentucky Farm Bureau's ``Across Kentucky'' program that airs on more than 140 radio stations across the Commonwealth. He is also a frequent guest on RDF-TV, the first 24-hour TV network with programming focused on agribusiness and rural lifestyles. Winning such praise as the 2007 Kentucky Farm Bureau Communications Award and the 2018 Christian County Friend of Agriculture, Alan has clearly earned the respect of his listeners and his peers. I have enjoyed my many opportunities to join Alan's program over the phone, in studio, and here in my office in the U.S. Capitol. Covering everything from farm bills to tax reform and the Supreme Court, we have discussed the issues that are important to western Kentucky. When I join his show, I know that my constituents in the region are listening. I would like to thank Alan for his years of dedication to his agricultural community and, once again, to congratulate him on this milestone accomplishment. As he continues his impressive career, I send my best wishes to him, his wife, Susan, and their daughter Jennie. I urge my Senate colleagues to join me. Mr. President, the Kentucky New Era recently published a profile on Alan's career. I ask unanimous consent that the article be printed in the Record.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I want to take another opportunity to pay tribute to Justice Anthony Kennedy, who announced yesterday that he will retire from active service and assume senior status at the end of July. Justice Kennedy deserves our sincere thanks for his service and our congratulations on a truly remarkable career. He served our Nation on the Federal Bench for 43 years, 30 of which he spent as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. His contributions to American jurisprudence have been many. In particular, he has earned our gratitude for his steadfast defense of the vital First Amendment right to political speech. We congratulate Justice Kennedy, his wife Mary, and their entire family on this well-earned retirement. We wish them every happiness during the additional time they will get to spend together in the years ahead. Filling the Upcoming Supreme Court Vacancy As I stated yesterday, the Senate stands ready to fulfill our constitutional role by offering advice and consent on President Trump's nominee to fill the vacancy that Justice Kennedy's retirement will create. The Senate will vote to confirm Justice Kennedy's successor this fall. This is not 2016. There aren't the final months of a second-term, constitutionally lame duck Presidency with a Presidential election fast approaching. We are right in the middle of this President's very first term. To my knowledge, nobody on either side has either suggested before yesterday that the Senate should process Supreme Court nominations only in odd-numbered years. The situation today is much like when Justice Kagan was confirmed in 2010 and when Justice Breyer was confirmed in 1994 and Justice Souter in 1990. In each case, the President was about a year and a half into his first term. So just as on numerous other occasions, the process to confirm Justice Kennedy's successor will take place this year. As in the case of Justice Gorsuch, Senators will have the opportunity to meet with President Trump's nominee, examine his or her qualifications, and debate the nomination. I am confident Chairman Grassley will capably lead the Judiciary Committee through the confirmation process that lies before us. The President's nominee should be considered fairly and not subjected to personal attacks. Unfortunately, far-left special interest groups are already calling on Senate Democrats to oppose anyone--anyone--on President Trump's long list of potential nominees. The ink wasn't even dry on Justice Kennedy's resignation letter before my friend the Democratic leader seemed to echo that right here on the floor--that none of the exceptional legal minds on this list would be tolerable to him. Think of that. These are 25 Americans from all over the country who have excelled in their professions. The idea that any of them--let alone all of them--would be automatically unacceptable is totally absurd. Unfortunately, I am afraid this may just be a precursor of all the unfair attacks to come, both from inside and outside the Senate. Fortunately, we have every reason to expect an outstanding selection. President Trump's judicial nominations to date have reflected a keen understanding of the vital role judges play in our constitutional order: interpreting the law fairly, applying it evenhandedly, setting aside personal preferences, and assessing what the law actually says. These traits have characterized the excellent nominees the President has sent to the Senate. I look forward to another such nomination. Mr. President, on another matter, we hope to wrap up our consideration of the farm bill, a victory for American agriculture. All week, I have highlighted some of the ways this important legislation will support the family farmers whose harvest feeds America and supplies the world. It is an understatement to say this bill comes at an opportune time. American farm communities need stability, and they need predictability--and they need it urgently. The industry is filled with uncertainty. There are volatile world markets. There are persisting low commodity prices. There are natural disasters beyond their control. All of these things make it harder for our growers to go about their business. They depend on the kind of long-term certainty that this legislation will provide. This subject is extremely important to me, as the proud senior Senator from the Commonwealth of Kentucky and as a Member who has served on the Agriculture Committee since my first day in office. Agriculture is in the bones of our State. It is a huge part of who we are. From soybeans and corn to hay and tobacco, to poultry and livestock, Kentucky agriculture encompasses a multibillion-dollar industry that supports thousands and thousands of good jobs in nearly every corner of the Commonwealth. Kentuckians know as well as anyone just how important American agriculture is, and we understand as well as anyone all of the unique challenges it faces. That is why I am pleased to support this bill, which will bolster the safety net programs for our producers. It will also enhance infrastructure investment in rural communities on everything from local water projects to broadband internet, to helping curb the drug epidemic in rural America. And it gets Washington out of farmers' way in areas where bureaucracy is holding them back. One such area is industrial hemp. Consumers across America buy hundreds of millions in retail products every year that contain hemp. But due to outdated Federal regulations that do not sufficiently distinguish this industrial crop from its illicit cousin, American farmers have been mostly unable to meet that demand themselves. It has left consumers with little choice but to buy imported hemp products from foreign-produced hemp. Fortunately, this farm bill will change that. It builds on the success of the pilot program I initiated 5 years ago and will break down the major Federal barriers that prevent American farmers from fully exploring the burgeoning hemp market. When this becomes law-- subject to proper regulation and oversight--U.S. producers will no longer be barred from this legitimate U.S. market. I am also proud of how this farm bill has come about. The chairman and ranking member, Senators Roberts and Stabenow, assembled it through an exemplary bipartisan committee process that included 73 amendments. Here on the floor, 18 more bipartisan amendments were adopted in the substitute amendment. It was my personal hope that we could have had even more amendment votes, but the Senate is a consent-based institution, and Members have the ability to object. Nevertheless, the transparent and open leadership of Chairman Roberts and Ranking Member Stabenow has been commendable. Now the time has come to deliver. The farm bill is too important a subject to keep our farmers and their families waiting. After all, the groups charged with advocating on their behalf overwhelmingly support it. More than 500 industry groups and advocates representing agriculture, food, nutrition, hunger, forestry, conservation, faith- based and research interests have already publicly backed the Senate bill. Nearly 70 such groups had this to say in a recent letter to Congress: ``During a prolonged recession in agriculture, failure to pass a farm bill on time would undermine the financial security of America's food, fuel, crop and fiber producers.'' The Senate must not fail that test. It is time to pass the farm bill. Tax Reform Mr. President, on another matter, it has been a little over 6 months since this Republican Congress passed historic tax reform legislation. Already, we have seen big headlines: millions of worker bonuses, plans for thousands of new jobs, and billions of dollars being invested here in the United States; individual companies announcing billions in new American investments; small business optimism at its highest level since President Reagan's first term. But these national headlines don't tell the whole story on their own. This week, I have discussed how tax reform is already transforming American families' kitchen-table conversations: how lower rates and larger deductions are letting them pocket more of their hard-earned money and how our new corporate tax structure has already started paving the way for higher wages. If you pick up a local paper in almost any State, you will find yet another angle to this story. From Montana to Florida, Americans are paying less to keep the lights on. That is right. Despite warnings from our Democratic colleagues that tax reform savings would never reach consumers, utilities all across America are already making that happen. In my home State of Kentucky, the new Tax Code led to announced rate cuts of up to 6 percent for Kentucky Utilities and Louisville Gas & Electric customers. Just this month, Idaho Power announced a 7-percent rate cut for consumers. In Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Edison is one of 17 utilities that is planning to deliver rate savings, thanks to the new tax law. On July 1, more than half a million customers in Philadelphia can expect their electric bills to drop by as much as 8 percent. Help with the monthly bills, higher take-home pay, and new job opportunities because American enterprise is thriving are what tax reform means around middle-class kitchen tables. This is why Republicans passed this historic law. 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 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. 639.

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. 686.

Mr. McCONNELL

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