Mitch McConnell

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 394, 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 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 7; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; finally, that following leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of the House message to accompany H.R. 695.

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 understand that there are three bills at the desk, and I ask for their first reading en bloc.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I now ask for a second reading, and I object to my own request, all en bloc.

Mr. McCONNELL

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

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.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 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 582 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to, the bill, as amended, 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. Madam President, I wish to begin this afternoon by offering condolences to the family and friends of Christopher Foley of Louisa County, VA. Mr. Foley was killed last Wednesday when his truck collided with an Amtrak train carrying many of my fellow lawmakers to a conference in West Virginia. He was just 28 years old. He leaves behind his fiancee Adriana and Rylan, their 1-year-old son. Our thoughts are with them especially, along with Christopher's family, his community, and his colleagues at Time Disposal. They and all those who were injured in the accident are in our prayers. Our heartfelt thanks are with the first responders who rushed to the scene. It is too easy to take for granted that our brave law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency personnel will be there for us on our worst days, forgetting that, for them, heroism and service are everyday realities. I would like to recognize some of our own colleagues who immediately sprang into action to assist the wounded. Senator Cassidy and Congressmen Wenstrup, Burgess, Roe, and Bucshon are all doctors by training, as are Senator Cassidy's wife Laura and Congressman Bucshon's wife Kathryn. All of them sprang into action and rushed to aid the victims, alongside our attending physician, Dr. Brian Monahan. Senator Flake and several others also hurried to help. I thank all of them for their efforts when every moment counted, and I am proud to call them colleagues and friends.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, on another matter, our deadline to fund the Federal Government is this Thursday. Serious bipartisan negotiations continue on long-term spending levels, along with other important issues. I am optimistic that these talks will bear fruit. In the meantime, as broader discussions continue, we have the opportunity to remove the uncertainty facing our all-volunteer Armed Forces. Since the passage of the Budget Control Act, it has become increasingly obvious that current funding levels are not sufficient for our Armed Forces to accomplish each of the missions and tasks that our Nation asks of them. Secretary Mattis's new national defense strategy will require considerable new investment, and he has repeatedly pointed out that short-term continuing resolutions harm the readiness of our forces. I am pleased that we are making real headway in our negotiations over spending caps and other important issues, but there is no reason why our warfighters need to continue to face uncertainty until all of the other issues are resolved. Last week, a bipartisan majority in the House passed a bill that would fund our national defense through fiscal year 2018. Democrats and Republicans came together, voting to secure adequate, predictable, annual funding for our Armed Forces while we continue our productive negotiations on all these other subjects. The Senate will soon take up this House-passed bill. I have recently heard many of my Democratic colleagues detail the harmful effects of short-term funding measures on our servicemembers. Soon, each one of us will have a chance to vote to give them the certainty they deserve while our other work continues.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, on one final matter, in the State of the Union Address last week, President Trump detailed signs that our Nation's economy is thriving under the policies of his administration and this Republican Congress. Evidence keeps piling up that good things happen when the government takes its foot off the brake and gets out of the way of American workers and job creators. Last week, UPS, the largest private employer in my hometown of Louisville, KY, announced that tax reform will enable them to invest $12 billion in expanding their smart logistics network, funding employee pensions, and other capital improvements. Their chairman and CEO had this to say: We applaud President Trump and Congress for their bold action. . . . Tax reform is a tremendous catalyst. On Thursday, another major American employer, Lowe's, announced that it will give bonuses of up to $1,000 to more than a quarter of a million hourly employees and expand family friendly employment benefits, like adoption assistance and paid parental leave. The very same day, the major pharmaceutical company Amgen, which houses a distribution facility in Louisville, announced that tax reform is causing them to shift more of their planned investments here to the United States, including the construction of a new ``next-generation manufacturing plant'' right here at home. Already, our historic tax reform law is giving employers the flexibility to invest more, expand more, hire more American workers, and give bonuses, pay raises, and new benefits to their employees, and, already, middle-class families across the country are seeing the benefits. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, on a related matter, in the few days since last week's tragedy, yet another fatal train crash has already taken place. Two lives were lost yesterday when a passenger train and a freight train collided in South Carolina. Last December, three people were killed and scores were injured near Seattle when a passenger train jumped its tracks and crashed into a busy highway. This worrying spate of accidents offers a sobering reminder that partisan obstruction has kept the Federal Railroad Administration, the top rail regulator, without an Administrator. The President's nominee, Ronald Batory, has more than 40 years of rail experience. I know of no questions about his qualifications. He was reported out of committee by voice vote on August 2 of last year, meaning that this important safety regulator has now been sitting on the Senate calendar for 6 months--6 months. My Democratic colleagues are holding his nomination over a parochial issue that is completely unrelated to rail safety. This needs to come to an end. The FRA Administrator is the Nation's top rail safety regulator. There is an urgent need and a highly qualified candidate. I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will put a stop to their partisan games on this front. We can and should confirm Mr. Batory today--today.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate my friend Dr. Jo Marshall, president and CEO of the Somerset Community College, SCC, on her upcoming retirement. Taking over the helm of the school in Somerset, KY, in 2000, Jo has led the school through its unprecedented growth. When she leaves SCC at the end of June, she will leave behind a legacy of innovation, achievement, and inspiration. Originally from Alabama, Jo worked as the vice president and dean at Chattahoochee Valley Community College before moving to Somerset with her husband, Scott, to accept the position as president and CEO of SCC. After he retired from the Alabama college system, Scott taught economics at Eastern Kentucky University until he passed away in 2011. The Kentucky Community and Technical College System, KCTCS, operates 16 colleges, including SCC, serving nearly 80,000 students throughout Kentucky. Under Jo's leadership, SCC has become one of the preeminent members of KCTCS and one of the fastest growing community colleges in the Nation. Many of the students who graduate from SCC go on to make important contributions to their community and the economy. The school, founded in 1965, has grown exponentially during Jo's presidency. She oversaw SCC's merger with the Somerset Technical College and the Laurel Technical College in 2003, expanding the number of programs offered to SCC's students. Under Jo's leadership, SCC also saw its largest enrollment in the school's history. To facilitate this growth, Jo oversaw the addition of seven new buildings to the institution. Further, she helped launch a scholarship foundation to help students of diverse economic backgrounds attend SCC to earn degrees or credentials with the goal of preparing them for successful careers. During a time of economic hardship for many Kentuckians, this was an important accomplishment in the region. Today that scholarship foundation is worth nearly $1 million. These are just a few examples of what will make Jo's legacy at SCC a lasting one. By any measure, each of these notable accomplishments under her leadership improved SCC, its reputation, and its impact on students. In addition to her commitment to growing SCC as an institution and enhancing its impact on its students and the region, Jo has also worked to support SCC students by providing them with the tools they need to succeed upon graduation. For example, working with local business leaders, she has established various programs to help students find good-paying, high-demand jobs by offering short-term certificates and diploma options. For SCC students wishing to continue their education, Jo has also worked with 4-year colleges and universities throughout Kentucky to help expand opportunities for students who wish to complete a bachelor's degree. Because of her leadership, and the efforts of everyone involved at the school, SCC consistently has won a number of awards. SCC was named a Military Friendly School, and the Chronicle of Higher Education named it a Great College to Work For. In addition, SCC was called a Best Place to Work in Kentucky by the Best Companies Group every year for a decade. Finally, the Aspen Institute's College Excellence Program, which ``aims to advance higher education practices, policies, and leadership'' in an effort to help schools improve student outcomes, has also named SCC a Top 120 Community College in the United States. These national accolades for SCC under Jo's leadership showcase her passion for SCC, its faculty and students, and the community. It would also come as no surprise to those of us who know Jo and her work that she has been the recipient of many well-earned awards as a result of her time at SCC. In 2011, the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce named her its Business Woman of the Year. She received the Master Musician's Festival Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015, and the Somerset Business and Professional Women's Club named Jo the Business Woman of the Year in 2017. In addition to her transformational work at SCC, Jo has also dedicated her talents to the Southeastern Kentucky community in other ways. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Center for Rural Development and the Southern Kentucky Economic Development Corporation. Jo is also a former member of the Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital board of trustees. Her community college peers have recognized her outstanding success at SCC. Phi Theta Kappa, one of the largest and most prestigious honor societies for community colleges, established the Marshall Leadership Award in 2013. Named in Jo's honor, the international award is given to Phi Theta Kappa advisors to boost their professional growth beyond the completion of professional degrees. On a more personal note, I have always enjoyed being in Somerset and getting to visit with Jo in her position as president of SCC. In 2015, I had the privilege of participating in the school's ``John Sherman Cooper Lecture Series,'' an annual reflection on the accomplishments and character of my role model, Senator Cooper. Like each of my meetings with Jo during her time leading SCC, I truly enjoyed this experience. In her retirement, I know that Jo looks forward to spending more time with her children, Kristin and Scott, Jr., both accomplished in their own right, and her five grandchildren. She has certainly earned it. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my friend for her work to help prepare the students of southeastern Kentucky to enter the workforce and thrive. I am sure that SCC will miss her steady hand. However, the wide breath of accomplishments she oversaw throughout the last 18 years has set the school on a course of continued success. I know her community is grateful for her work, and I urge my Senate colleagues to join me in celebrating Jo's stellar career.

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, February 6; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; further, that following leader remarks, the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein until 12 noon, and that the time be equally divided between the two leaders or their designees; finally, that the Senate recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 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. I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 4708, which was received from the House.

Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time.

Mr. McCONNELL. I know of no further debate on the bill.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, this evening, President Trump will deliver his first State of the Union Address. As tens of millions of Americans tune in, he will continue a time-honored tradition by taking stock of the past year and laying out his vision for the future. For anyone who has been reading the headlines over the last year and paying attention to the issues that directly impact middle-class families, the state of our Union will not come as a surprise. Unemployment is low and consumer confidence is high. The news is packed with all the pay raises, special bonuses, expanded benefits, and new investments that are flowing into American households and communities because of a landmark tax reform law that Congress passed and the President signed in December. Hundreds of companies have announced that a more competitive tax code is allowing them to quickly ramp up the amount they can invest in their own American workers. This includes some of our country's largest employers. Walmart is increasing its starting wage for all hourly associates, expanding maternity and parental leave, and giving $1,000 bonuses to its own employees. Disney, AT&T, and Bank of America are giving $1,000 tax reform bonuses to more than 100,000 workers each. The list goes on. It is not just the big guys who are benefiting. Yesterday afternoon, here on the floor, I talked about Verst Logistics in Walton, KY, which paid its full-time workers bonuses as a result of tax reform. I shared the story of a woman who works for Verst. She fought back tears as she explained what this bonus would do for her family. Money had gotten tight around the holidays, but while she and her husband had saved enough to give their five children a merry Christmas, mom and dad were planning to go without gifts of their own. But because Congress seized this opportunity to modernize our Tax Code, she got her very own tax reform bonus. With that extra money she and her husband were able to buy each other Christmas presents after all and enjoy a nice dinner out, to boot. I can share these stories all day. I am so proud that Congress and the President teamed up to take money out of Washington's pocket and put it back in the pockets of hard-working Americans who earned it. Some of our Democratic colleagues don't seem to feel that way. They all voted against a law that would raise take-home pay for American families, who have spent a decade struggling not just to get ahead but oftentimes to simply stay afloat. Several have made news in recent days by scoffing at these bonuses, pay raises, and new benefits. My friends the Democratic leaders in both the Senate and the House have both used the word ``crumbs''--``crumbs.'' One of their colleagues, the former chair of the DNC, said she doesn't think $1,000 ``goes very far for almost anyone.'' So $1,000 doesn't go far for almost anyone? That might be true in New York or San Francisco, but it sure isn't true in Kentucky. I think taking that argument to most kitchen tables would get you laughed out of the room. Of course, the immediate raises, bonuses, and worker benefits are far from the whole story. Tax reform will also deliver direct relief to middle-class families across America by cutting our tax rates and doubling the standard deduction. A typical family of four earning a median income will get to keep more than $2,000 of their own money that they would have otherwise sent to the IRS next year. Furthermore, the law repeals ObamaCare's punitive individual mandate tax, and soon many Americans are likely to see lower utility rates as utility companies pass along their savings to consumers. Just yesterday, two major Kentucky utilities asked the Kentucky Public Service Commission for permission to pass $180 million in tax reform savings on to their customers, which could lower their bills this year. That is particularly important to low-income families, because paying their utility bill is a big percentage of any of their take-home pay. We are already seeing early signs that tax reform will create an environment where wages will be higher and opportunity will be more abundant for years, even decades, to come. President Trump and Republicans in Congress understand that when you make America a more attractive place to invest and create jobs, you are helping American families and communities. We understand that the myth of an ``us versus them'' economy, where employers must lose for workers to win, is nothing more than a divisive political talking point with no basis in economics. That is why we seized this generational opportunity to provide a 21st century tax code that will give our country a fairer fight with our competitors overseas. We are already seeing new factories announced and new investments pouring into our country as a result. Tax reform is far from the only way this President and this Congress have gone to bat for the future of our country. We have taken a machete to the forest of redtape that the Obama administration left behind. To name just three examples, Congress and the White House have teamed up to roll back regulations that threatened hundreds of thousands of coal jobs, required States to give grants to Planned Parenthood, and had needlessly blocked oil exploration in a small portion of Federal land in Alaska. After the Senate confirmed President Trump's Cabinet, from Secretary Mattis at the Pentagon to Administrator Pruitt at the EPA, these fine officials have notched achievement after achievement for the American people, laying the groundwork for a stronger and safer nation. We have made major progress for American veterans, like Cpl Matthew Bradford of Central Kentucky, a true American hero who will be attending tonight as a guest of the First Lady. Congress has passed and the President has signed laws that will help our veterans access the healthcare options they need and the employment training programs they deserve. We have much more to do for our heroes, but these first steps are indeed promising. We have taken big steps in the war against addiction and the scourge of opioids, an issue that is deeply personal for far, far too many American families. In just his first year in office, the President has begun to transform the Federal judiciary. President Trump had more new circuit court judges confirmed in his first year than any prior President, a testimony to the fine quality of the nominees he sends here to the Senate, and we will vote to confirm another excellent judge later today. And the President rose to the occasion of a Supreme Court vacancy by filling it with a brilliant and experienced jurist in Justice Gorsuch. On all of these fronts--from middle-class Americans' pocketbooks to the ongoing fight against ISIL--there is more good news than I can begin to recite this morning. I very much look forward to attending the State of the Union tonight and hearing from our President. On behalf of all the Americans we represent--men and women from coast to coast who are seeing the economy turn around and their country grow stronger before their eyes--I am glad there will be so much to applaud.

Mr. McCONNELL

Mr. McCONNELL. 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 at 5 p.m. on Monday, February 5, the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of the following nomination: Executive Calendar No. 570. I ask consent that there then be 30 minutes of debate, equally divided in the usual form, and that following the use or yielding back of time, the Senate vote on the nomination with no intervening action or debate; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; that no further motions be in order; and that any statements relating to the nomination be printed in the Record.