John Thune

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. 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. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in recess until 2:15 p.m. Thereupon, the Senate, at 12:04 p.m., recessed until 2:15 p.m. and reassembled when called to order by the Presiding Officer (Mrs. CAPITO).

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Louisiana (Mr. Cassidy), the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Cramer), the Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. Inhofe), the Senator from Wisconsin (Mr. Johnson), and the Senator from Louisiana (Mr. Kennedy). Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Wisconsin (Mr. Johnson) would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Madam President, this week we expect to vote on a War Powers Resolution related to operations in Iran. I am pleased that the President's demonstration of strength has restored our position of credible deterrence. Some have challenged that the President's action was escalatory, but the reality is that Iran had become increasingly bold. The United States responded in self-defense, and, as the President has said, it appears that Iran is standing down. Hopefully Iran's tragic error in shooting down a civilian passenger plane has served as a sobering check on the regime's activities. We have seen thousands of Iranians rallying in the streets in recent days protesting the bringing down of the passenger plane and calling for change. I hope the people of Iran are able to organize and demonstrate in safety and that their hopes and prayers for change are answered. Soleimani's death provides an opportunity for Iran to rethink its direction, to move away from brutally oppressing its citizens and fomenting violence throughout the Middle East. We should encourage such rethinking by continuing to make it clear through the sanctions the President has imposed and other measures that we will not accept Iranian aggression against Americans or our allies.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Louisiana (Mr. Cassidy), the Senator from North Dakota (Mr. Cramer), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Graham), the Senator from Oklahoma (Mr. Inhofe), the Senator from Louisiana (Mr. Kennedy), the Senator from Idaho (Mr. Risch), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Scott), and the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Toomey).

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I think it is safe to say that most Republicans here in the Senate expect that at some point we will be receiving Articles of Impeachment from the House of Representatives, at which time we will conduct the Senate's business. We will give the President a fair opportunity to be heard--something that was lacking in the House of Representatives. I heard the Democratic leader's suggestion that the reason the House had to sit on this is because if they sent this over to the Senate, somehow the Senate would dismiss this earlier, immediately, or something along those lines. I have no idea where that comes from. That has never been the intention here for Republicans in the Senate. Republicans in the Senate know full well that we have a job to do under the Constitution in which we hear the case, hear the arguments, ask questions, and consider the possibility of additional evidence being presented. We have said all along that is how we intend to treat this. But we want to make sure it is a fair process--a process that isn't rushed, a process that isn't partisan, as it was in the House of Representatives. We have gone so far as to suggest that the precedent to be used be the Clinton precedent--in other words, the precedent that was used during President Clinton's impeachment process back in 1999. At that time, there were 100 votes in the Senate--Republican and Democrat-- supporting that particular process, which, as I pointed out, allows for both sides to make their arguments. The managers in the House of Representatives come over and make their case, and the President and his team have an opportunity to respond to that, and then there is an opportunity for Senators to propound questions. It seems to me, at least, that is a fair process. So far, we haven't seen the articles; nor have we seen any cooperation from the Senate Democrats about a process that would do all the things I just mentioned. So the Democratic leader's suggestion that they needed to wait all this time because they have to somehow ensure that Republicans were not going to dismiss this is a false argument. I would argue that the House of Representatives sitting on this and stalling it undermines the very point they made about why it was so important that they do this. If they rush it, if they do not hear some of the witnesses, if they do not subpoena some of the witnesses--some of the very people they want the Senate to subpoena and hear from are people they could have subpoenaed and heard from. They have now evidently concluded that--while at one time ``We just have to get this through because this President is such a clear and present danger to the country. We have to do this fast and do it with a sense of urgency,'' now, all of a sudden, the brakes have been put on and for no apparent reason other than, I would argue, they see political advantage in doing that. But the fact is, the Senate will hear this at some point if we receive the articles, and we will employ a process--a fair process-- that allows both sides to make their arguments and to be heard. Then we will allow the Senate to do its will, and whatever 51 votes in the Senate decide is ultimately how this will be disposed of. I can tell you, contrary to the assertions of the Democrats, I believe people across this country are very weary and tired--frankly, in some ways exhausted--from having this thing just drag on. There are so many important issues we need to deal with. We have a trade agreement that is teed up and ready to go--I hope we can vote on it here in the Senate--that has real relevance to the American people. There are farmers and ranchers in my State of South Dakota and across this country who desperately need to expand and open markets. We have depressed ag prices and low commodity prices in both grains and livestock, and we need to create opportunities for these farmers to get back on their feet and to restore profitability. Instead of doing that, we are waiting for the Articles of Impeachment to come here. Assuming that they do, we will spend who knows how long on processing that at a time when there are so many pressing needs the American people care deeply about, not to mention the fact that in November of this year, we will have a Presidential election and congressional elections, where the people of this country can weigh in. They can have their voices heard. That is how we ought to decide the differences we have in this country. If you have a difference with the President of the United States, you will have an opportunity to go vote in November of this year. If you decide you don't like him and you want to vote him out of office, you can do that. That is where the people believe this ought to be decided, not through a long, drawn-out, protracted process here in Washington, DC, where a bunch of Members of Congress, who should be working on important issues like energy, healthcare, economy, jobs and wages, and things like that, are bogged down with this impeachment process. I believe the American people are weary. I think they know that starting in about 3 weeks in Iowa, they are going to start voting. We have a Presidential election that is underway, and it seems to me that people who have views they want to express can make their voices heard in the election, rather than having a long, drawn-out impeachment process, which, as I said earlier, the House of Representatives initiated in such a hurried way that they came up with some pretty weak tea-type Articles of Impeachment in a rush to try to get it over here. Now they are stalling it and not delivering it. The Senate is not going to act, obviously, until the House acts and sends over those articles. When they do, we will ensure that, unlike the way they conducted themselves in the House of Representatives, it is a fair process that gives the President of the United States, who has been attacked through this process, a chance to respond and defend himself.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander), the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Moran), and the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Perdue). Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) would have voted ``yea'' and the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Moran) would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander), the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Moran), and the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Perdue). Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) would have voted ``yea'' and the Senator from Kansas (Mr. Moran) would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m., Thursday, January 9; 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; finally, that following leader remarks, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Ray nomination.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. 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. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) and the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Perdue). Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) and the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Perdue). Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. 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. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) and the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Perdue). Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) and the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Perdue). Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) and the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Perdue). Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) and the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Perdue). Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, let me say that I, along with I think most Americans, am grateful that in the rocket attacks launched last night by Iran, there were no American casualties. I think I, like most of our colleagues here in the Senate, I hope, will have an opportunity later today to hear from the administration about the state of events there and what the plans are going forward. We all know it is a dangerous part of the world. It has been that way for decades. The Iranian influence there is a malign influence that has put at risk and in jeopardy not only American lives but lives of countless people throughout that region. Mr. Soleimani, who was removed in the last few days, of course, was responsible for hundreds of American deaths. His loss is something that I think people not only in this country but certainly people in that region of the world benefit from because he will no longer be able to conduct and operate and commit terrorist attacks and bring about death to people all over that region of the world.

Mr. THUNE

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

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I have 2 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: Committee on Finance The Committee on Finance is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, January 7, 2020, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Select Committee on Intelligence The Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, January 7, 2020, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a closed briefing.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) and the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Perdue). Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, many of us here in the Senate thought we would be opening the new year with an impeachment trial, but that is not what is happening this week because the Senate is still waiting-- waiting for Speaker Pelosi to actually send over the Articles of Impeachment. Democrats rushed impeachment through the House, throwing fairness and due process to the winds in their haste to impeach the President, but now they are apparently content to just sit on the Articles of Impeachment for the foreseeable future. If Democrats really believe that this impeachment is a serious matter, that there is literally a crime spree in progress, as they have claimed, they would have already sent over the articles. The truth is, Democrats' impeachment efforts, which basically started before the President had even taken the oath of office, have been politically motivated from the start. Democrats thought they could damage the President politically by rushing to impeach him, and now they think they can damage the President politically by stalling a trial. Speaker Pelosi is also attempting to force the Senate to conduct the trial she would like it to conduct in hopes of getting the outcome she would prefer--demonstrating once again the fundamentally political nature of the Democrats' impeachment quest. Here in the Senate, we will continue working on the business of governing until the Speaker decides she is ready to stop playing games.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander), the Senator from Utah (Mr. Lee), and the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Perdue). Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Isakson).