Lisa Murkowski

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the en bloc consideration of the following nominations: Executive Calendar Nos. 101 and 102.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate vote on the nominations en bloc with no intervening action or debate; that if confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table en bloc; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; that no further motions be in order; that any statements relating to the nominations be printed in the Record; and that the Senate then resume legislative session.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I want to take just a moment and thank those who have worked so hard to make sure that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will have a functioning quorum--and more than just having a functioning quorum, the quality of individuals we are sending to the FERC as Commissioners is truly impressive to see. Neil Chatterjee, whom, without doubt, almost all of us on this floor know, has been working here in the Senate, working in the leader's office for years, and has been an invaluable asset to me and my staff on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He is extremely knowledgeable, extremely committed and dedicated, and it has been a real pleasure to work with him. I don't know Mr. Powelson as well, but having had an opportunity to advance his name before the Energy and Natural Resources Committee for confirmation, too, I know that the expertise and the credentials he will bring to the Commission are greatly appreciated. I think we recognize that there is much we are anxious to see happen throughout the country in a new administration where we are talking a lot about infrastructure--when we are talking about our energy assets and what we can do to help facilitate the build-out of an aging infrastructure and the add-on of new infrastructure. But in order to proceed with much of this, you have to have the FERC actually operating, working to review the permits, working through the rate- making cases. It is substantive work, it is challenging work, and it is work that has now been stacked up for months and months. So knowing that the FERC will be able to commence its operations again with a quorum is really good news today. I think it is also important to note that the White House sent just this week two additional names--those of Mr. Glick and Mr. McIntyre. The Energy and Natural Resources Committee will be considering those in early September when we return so that, hopefully, we can get a full complement to this very important Commission.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported amendment be agreed to, the concurrent resolution, as amended, 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.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. 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.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, we are considering the nomination of Dan Brouillette to be the Deputy Secretary for the Department of Energy. Mr. Brouillette has a long history of distinguished service to our Nation. He is a veteran. He has served in the Department of Energy. He has been the staff director for the House Energy and Commerce Committee. More recently, he has held high-level posts in the private sector--first, as vice president at Ford, currently as senior vice president at USAA. He has strong experience and thorough knowledge of the Department he has chosen to return to. He understands the work that its thousands of scientists undertake and the importance of maximizing their research efforts, especially in a time of constrained Federal budgets. He recognizes the importance of our 17 National Labs and the Department's responsibility for environmental management, including the cleanup of Cold War-era legacy sites. As second in command to Secretary Perry, Mr. Brouillette will oversee programs critical to our Nation's cyber security, energy innovation, and scientific discovery. Based on his hearings before the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, I am confident he is up for the challenge and ready for this role. I would urge all of my colleagues to support the nomination of Dan Brouillette to be the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Energy. Mr. President, I yield all time.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I wish to take a brief detour and congratulate my colleague who has been working aggressively as we worked to address the issue of marine debris. This is something on which, as members of the Oceans Caucus, we have been working with Senator Sullivan, Senator Whitehouse, and so many. I want to acknowledge the good work that has gone into this particular piece of legislation we have just passed.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 181, S. 756.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 192, S. 810.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be considered and agreed to, the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 374, which was received from the House.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S. 1182 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. I ask unanimous consent that the Young amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to, and the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. I know of no further debate on the bill.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 209 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. 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.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn to then convene for pro forma sessions only, with no business being conducted, on the following dates and times, and that following each pro forma session, the Senate adjourn until the next pro forma session: Friday, August 4, at 9:45 a.m.; Tuesday, August 8, at 12:30 p.m.; Friday, August 11, at 3:30 p.m.; Tuesday, August 15, at 4:30 p.m.; Friday, August 18, at 10 a.m.; Tuesday, August 22, at 7 a.m.; Friday, August 25, at 11:30 a.m.; Tuesday, August 29, at 2:30 p.m.; Friday, September 1, at 3 p.m. I further ask that when the Senate adjourns on Friday, September 1, it next convene at 3 p.m., Tuesday, September 5; 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 for up to 10 minutes each until 5 p.m.; finally, that at 5 p.m., the Senate proceed to executive session under the previous order.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 169, S. 1099.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Carper amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to, the bill, as amended, be considered 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.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S. 1617 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Ms. MURKOWSKI

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate in order to hold a hearing on Thursday, August 3, 2017 at 10 a.m. in Room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate in order to hold a Business Meeting on Thursday, August 3, 2017, immediately after the 12 p.m. vote in S-216, the Capitol, in Washington, DC. Committee on Finance Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, August 3, 2017, at 10 a.m., in 215 Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing to consider pending nominations. Committee on Foreign Relations I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, August 3, 2017 at 10 a.m., to hold a business meeting. Committee on the Judiciary Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on August 3, 2017, at 10 a.m., in SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct an executive business meeting. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to hold a meeting during the session of the Senate on Thursday, August 3, 2017, at 9:45 a.m. in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building. The Committee will hold a Subcommittee Hearing on ``Insurance Fraud in America: Current Issues Facing Industry and Consumers.''