John Thune

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I also ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the names of Chairman McCaul's staff and Ranking Member Thompson's staff. Also, we are grateful to the staff of Chairman Smith, who chairs the House Science Committee. There was a good amount of science policy that was ultimately included in this legislation. Also, we are very grateful to Ranking Member Johnson's staff, Pam Whitney and Allen Li.

Mr. THUNE. As if in legislative session, I move to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 6 under the previous order.

Mr. THUNE. Madam President, it is oftentimes easy to believe the news reporting on how the Senate is broken and bipartisanship is dead, but then you work with your colleagues--both Democrats and Republicans, from the House and the Senate--on something like the FAA Reauthorization Act, which we just passed, and you are reminded that we can still come together and get things done for the American people. The bill we just overwhelmingly passed and sent to the President's desk is the longest FAA reauthorization since the 1980s, and it will improve our aviation system for travelers, manufacturers, and innovators alike. The bill also reauthorizes the Transportation Security Administration, ensuring improved screening technologies and more explosive detection K-9s, additional focus on security and surface transportation to public areas, and new pathways to mitigate airport security delays for an overall better travel experience. It also reauthorizes the National Transportation Safety Board, providing key reforms to modernize and improve transparency in this important safety agency's investigations, recommendations, and Board member discussions. These important provisions are just the three- quarters of the bill in the jurisdiction of the Senate Commerce Committee, of which I have the privilege to serve as chairman. As chairman, I would like to personally thank the members of our committee for all of their hard work this Congress and especially Senator Nelson, the committee's ranking member; Senators Blunt and Cantwell, the chairman and ranking member of our Aviation Subcommittee; and Senators Fischer and Peters, the chairman and ranking member of our Surface Transportation Subcommittee. I would also like to acknowledge, on the House side, Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member DeFazio of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Thompson of the House Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Johnson of the House Science Committee. They have been great partners, and I appreciate their efforts in helping to get this bill across the finish line. Finally, I would like to thank all of the staff from both Chambers who worked tirelessly, including many late nights and weekends, on this bill. Without their efforts, the final product would not have been such a success. While everyone on the team worked hard on this bill, on my staff I would like to especially thank Nick Rossi, Adrian Arnakis, Mike Reynolds, Simone Perez, Jackie Keshian, Missye Brickell, Fern Gibbons, Jason Smith, Andrew Neely, Isaiah Wonnenberg, Chance Costello, Alison Graab, Fredrick Hill, and Brianna Manzelli. On Senator Nelson's staff, thanks should go to Kim Lipsky, Mohsin Syed, Tom Chapman, Chris Day, Laurence Wildgoose, and Danny Blum. I would also ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the names of the staffers who are part of the committees in the House who played key roles in the legislation and, of course, the staff members from the committee Chairman Shuster chairs, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the House, which was very instrumental in getting this bill across the floor in the House and ultimately over to us in the Senate and then the ranking member, as I mentioned, Peter DeFazio's staff. I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the names of their staffs to whom we are grateful.

Mr. THUNE. I am sure there will be people whom I have left off this list, and I apologize for that, but it just underscores the amount of collective effort that underpins our work. I could also easily expand that list to include those at the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration who provided valuable assistance and technical expertise. We look forward, now that this bill has passed and headed to the President's desk for his signature, to working with them on its implementation. So again, I say thank you to my colleagues who supported this bill and all of those who were involved in bringing us to a conclusion. This is the culmination of many months of hard work, bipartisan negotiation. Frankly, it wasn't easy, and that is a great credit to the staff members I mentioned and to the individual members of our committee and the other committees who were so involved in seeing this get across the finish line. So I say thanks to the Members on the floor and the members of our committee. With that, I yield the floor.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, aviation continues to play a significant role in the American economy and in American life. The industry contributes $1.6 trillion to the economy on an annual basis and supports more than 10.6 million jobs. In 2017, 850 million passengers boarded U.S. airline flights for both domestic and international trips. Americans rely on planes to do their jobs, to catch up with far-flung friends, and to take a much needed break from work, to make it to important family events. Every few years, Congress has to pass legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration, the government agency responsible for everything from overseeing the safety of the national airspace to providing grants for critical infrastructure needs at airports. Passing that reauthorization bill gives us the opportunity to take a look at aviation as a whole and to hear from manufacturers, airport administrators, airlines, and the flying public. That is exactly what we did with the reauthorization bill that is before the Senate today. In the lead-up to this bill, we spent months conducting research, holding hearings in the Commerce Committee which I chair, and listening to the aviation community and to airline passengers. Then we took that information and used it to develop legislation that will strengthen aviation, promote economic growth, enhance transportation safety and security, and improve the flying experience for the public. I am proud of the bill we have before us today and grateful for the hard work done by Members of both parties in the House and Senate. Obviously, security is a massive priority for the airline industry and for the flying public and for the Federal Government. Terrorist groups continue to target passenger aircraft and the aviation sector, but security measures, of course, can also lead to frustration. Who hasn't been caught in a long TSA line desperately hoping to make it through in time to catch a flight? The bill before us today will both boost security and help reduce some of the delays associated with security checks. For starters, the bill represents the first-ever reauthorization of the Transportation Security Administration in the history of the agency. It establishes a 5-year term for the head of the TSA which will increase leadership stability at the TSA and promote the efficient and effective deployment of security initiatives. The bill also puts in place measures to speed the deployment of the latest, most effective screening technologies so we can keep up with the latest threats to aviation. It requires an agencywide review at the TSA to look at how to eliminate duplication and redundant senior personnel to ensure that the agency operates in the most efficient manner possible. This legislation also authorizes more K-9 teams to be deployed in airports and other transportation facilities around the United States, and it creates an outside certification process to enable faster deployment. This is good news both for security and for passengers. K-9 teams enhance security at airports, and security checkpoints with K-9 teams can operate substantially more quickly. Currently, a majority of explosive detection dogs in the United States come from overseas. Being able to obtain more of these dogs in the United States would reduce the cost and speed up the process of acquiring K-9 teams. That is why this bill helps build our capacity to test and certify explosive detection dogs here at home. In another victory for anyone who has ever waited in a long security line, this bill also requires the TSA to post real-time security checkpoint wait times not just at the airport but also online. That means you will be able to check the security wait time while you are still at home so you will know if you need to leave for a flight or if you can spend a few more minutes reviewing your packing list. The bill will also make it easier for travelers to sign up for Precheck and to receive expedited screening--something that will speed up checkpoint wait times and enhance public area security for all passengers. While we are on the subject of making life easier for passengers, this bill contains some commonsense reforms that will improve the flying experience. For starters, this legislation prohibits airlines from involuntarily bumping from a flight passengers who have already boarded. I think we can all agree that once you have boarded a plane, you shouldn't be kicked off until you have arrived at your destination. I also think everyone would agree that when you pay for a service, you should get it. That is why this legislation requires airlines to promptly return fees for services they don't deliver. If you pay for a seat assignment, for example, you should get that seat. If you don't, you should get your money back promptly. This legislation also directs the FAA to set minimum legroom requirements for seats on commercials flights to ensure safety. As I mentioned above, the aviation industry makes a big contribution to our economy, and the legislation before the Senate today will help this industry continue to compete and innovate. The FAA sets standards for aircraft designs and other aircraft components, and it certifies these designs to ensure they meet specific requirements. This legislation will take excess bureaucracy out of the certification process so that U.S. air companies can get their products to market on time and successfully compete in the global marketplace. It will also enable U.S. manufacturers to fully use certification authorities that have been delegated to them. The bill before us today also supports the development of the air- based technologies of the future, including the return of supersonic aircraft and the integration of unmanned aircraft systems--more commonly known as drones--into the international airspace. The bill advances the development of low-altitude traffic management services, which are essential as drone use becomes more widespread. It also provides more flexibility to the FAA to approve advanced drone operations, like extended flights or flights over crowds of people, and it directs the FAA to authorize operators of small drones to carry packages, meaning that sometime in the near future, your Amazon Prime order could arrive via drone. In the wake of serious accidents on our Nation's roads, railroads, or in the sky, Congress turns to the National Transportation Safety Board to get the facts and to tell us what went wrong. The legislation before us today will strengthen the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation process and make more information available to the public. It will also expand access to assistance for the families of victims of rail and aviation accidents. There are a lot of other good provisions in this bill, as well, everything from infrastructure investment to upgrades in safety requirements. Mostly unrelated to aviation, this bill also includes critically needed disaster response reforms and a down payment to help communities in the Carolinas recover from Hurricane Florence. I am very proud of the bipartisan bill we have produced and the advancements it will make for all stakeholders in the aviation industry--from manufacturers to airline workers, to passengers. I thank the ranking member, Senator Nelson, and our counterparts on the Transportation Committee and the Homeland Security Committee in the House of Representatives, as well as other Senate committees that contributed to this bipartisan legislation. The members of our committees and their staffs put in a lot of hard work on this bill, and our Nation's aviation and air transportation system will be safer as a result. I look forward to casting a vote for this bill and getting this legislation on the President's desk and signed into law. I encourage all of my colleagues here in the Senate to support this legislation when we have the opportunity to vote on it, hopefully, later today. I yield the floor.

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be able to complete my remarks.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I have 5 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 Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, October 2, 2018, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Implementation of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act.'' Committee on Energy and Natural Resources The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, October 2, 2018, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Finance The Committee on Finance is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, October 2, 2018, during votes to conduct a hearing the nomination of Andrew M. Saul, of New York, to be Commissioner of Social Security. Select Committee on Intelligence The Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, October 2, 2018, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a closed hearing. Subcommittee on the Constitution The Subcommittee on the Constitution of the Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, October 2, 2018, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Threats to Religious Liberty Around the World.''

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, America has always been a place of economic promise. Millions of people have come to this country in search of a better life for themselves and an even better life for their children, but in recent years this dream had started to dim. Under the Obama administration, our economy stagnated. Too many American families struggled. Worse, some economists were predicting that weak economic growth would be the new normal. Republicans disagree with that assessment. We didn't think the United States was doomed to a future of weak growth and diminished opportunity. We knew American workers and American businesses were as driven, creative, and innovative as ever. We also knew they were facing a lot of obstacles, including burdensome regulations and an outdated tax code that acted as a drag on economic growth. So instead of giving up on the economy, we decided we were going to get the economy going again by removing obstacles to economic growth and job creation. Over the past 21 months, that is exactly what we have done. We have removed burdensome regulations, and last December we passed a historic and comprehensive reform of our Tax Code. The Tax Code isn't necessarily the first thing people think of when they think of economic growth, but in actual fact, the Tax Code has a huge effect on our economy. A small business owner facing a huge tax bill is highly unlikely to be able to expand her business or hire a new employee. In fact, if her tax burden is heavy enough, she may not even be able to keep her business open. Similarly, a large business is going to find it pretty hard to create jobs or improve benefits for employees if it is struggling to stay competitive against foreign businesses that are paying much less in taxes. Prior to the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, our Tax Code was not helping our economy. It was doing the opposite, and so we took action. We lowered tax rates across the board for owners of small and medium-sized businesses, farms, and ranches. We lowered our Nation's massive corporate tax rate, which up until January 1, was the highest corporate tax rate in the developed world. We expanded business owners' ability to recover the cost of investments they make in their businesses, which frees up cash they can reinvest in their operations and their workers. We brought the U.S. international tax system into the 21st century so American businesses are not operating at a disadvantage next to their foreign competitors. Now we are seeing the results. Our economy is thriving. The economy grew at a vigorous 4.2-percent pace in the second quarter of 2018. Since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law less than a year ago, 1.7 million jobs have been created. U.S. job openings have hit a record high of 6.94 million. In fact, the number of job openings has exceeded the number of unemployed for 5 straight months. Think about that. The number of job openings has exceeded the number of people who are looking for jobs for the past 5 months. Wages are rising at the fastest rate since 2009. Middle-class income hit its highest level ever last year--ever--and the poverty rate dropped to its lowest level since 2006. Small business optimism shattered its previous record to reach a new high in August. I could go on. So what does this all mean? It means that if you need a job, there are more jobs available and jobs with good benefits. It means there are more opportunities for workers to advance and build rewarding and secure careers. It means fewer families are having to live paycheck to paycheck and that more families have money available to plan for the future, such as for their kids' college or for their retirement. It means small business owners can think about expanding their businesses and hiring new workers instead of wondering how they are going to make ends meet. When the American people elected us to the majority almost 2 years ago, we had one priority, and that was making life better for American families. I am very proud we are succeeding, but we are certainly not stopping here. We are going to continue working to expand opportunity for Americans even further. We are going to continue to build on the work we have done on other priorities, from equipping our military and supporting our veterans to fighting the opioid crisis.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I have 6 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 Armed Services The Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, September 25, 2018, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing on the following nominations: General Robert B. Abrams, USA, to be General, and to be Commander, United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea, and Vice Admiral Craig S. Faller, USN, to be Admiral, and to be Commander, United States Southern Command. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, September 25, 2018, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Foreign Relations The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, September 25, 2018, at 3 p.m., to conduct a hearing on the following nominations: Bonnie Glick, of Maryland, to be Deputy Administrator, and Michael T. Harvey, of Texas, and Mark Montgomery, of Virginia, both to be an Assistant Administrator, all of the United States Agency for International Development. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, September 25, 2018, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``The Every Student Succeeds Act: States Leading the Way.'' Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, September 25, 2018, at 3 p.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Health Care in Rural America: Examining Experiences and Costs.'' Select Committee on Intelligence The Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, August 01, 2018, at 2.30 p.m., to conduct a closed hearing.

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, today I recognize Red Arndt for his many years of service to the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System, as well as his lifetime commitment to bringing safe and reliable water to the rural corners of this country. Born Lennis Arndt on May 1, 1948, he earned the nickname, ``Red,'' while in grade school from his full head of red hair. The name stuck, and most people only know him today as Red Arndt. Red grew up in Springfield, MN, about 90 minutes from his current hometown, Luverne, where he first started working in 1989 as their public utilities director. Shortly after beginning his new position, Red heard about a proposal to bring water from the Missouri River in South Dakota to the surrounding States. A major undertaking with more people doubting the idea than supporting, Red saw the opportunity and potential, recommending to the mayor and city council that Luverne join and become one of the first members of the corporation that would later become the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System. Seeing Lewis & Clark develop from conception to construction was a labor of love for Red and a mission he fought hard to achieve. Red, one of only two original directors from 1990 still on the board, held a shovel when the ground was first broke in 2003. He has probably made over 60 trips to Washington, DC, and many more to the State capitals and attended countless county, city, and community meetings. Fighting to get Lewis & Clark off the ground was just a starting point for Red. He has worked tirelessly on behalf of the project, serving as the vice chairman of the board beginning in 1994, until becoming the board chairman in 2006, a position he still holds. Lewis & Clark has experienced ups and downs during those years; yet under Red's leadership, over 200 miles of pipeline have been laid in the ground currently delivering much needed water to 14 member communities and rural water projects, reaching over 300,000 people across South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa. He has seen over $470 million in funding to Lewis & Clark, including $57 million in advance funding from the three States. Red's indisputable dedication was demonstrated when he participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the water treatment plant in August 2012, a mere 2 weeks after having open heart surgery. His fellow directors surprised him at the ceremony by presenting him with the Lewis & Clark Trailblazer Award, which is the organization's highest honor. In May 2016, Luverne was finally able to celebrate their connection to Lewis & Clark, with Red reveling in taking the first swig of water. It was at this ceremony that the meter building in Luverne was dedicated in Red's honor. Red will be the first to acknowledge that this endeavor, benefiting generations to come in the tristate area, has been a true team effort. But, there is no question Red's vision for the future, dogged dedication, and strong leadership have been a driving force through the years. When he is not dedicating his time to Lewis & Clark, Red is a proud father of three boys--all sharing his red hair--and grandfather of three red-headed little girls. His family is his pride and joy. You will often find Red wearing a pin honoring his son who served in the U.S. Air Force. As a dessert first type of guy, Red lives life to the fullest, enjoying travel, fishing and numerous other outdoor activities in his free time, as well as hanging out in his ``man cave.'' I am grateful for his commitment to public service, his hard work on behalf of Lewis & Clark, and, more importantly, I am proud to call him a friend. I commend Red Arndt for his many great contributions and wish him the best as he continues to make the most out of the life God has given.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, many in the Carolinas and other communities in our eastern States are dealing with wind, flooding, and storm surge damage caused by Hurricane Florence. In the lead-up to this hurricane and in the ongoing response to it, Federal agencies have played and continue to perform critical roles in forecasting, public safety, rescue, and recovery. One of the key agencies involved in this effort is the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA. NOAA houses the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center, which is responsible for issuing watches, warnings, and forecasts of these hazardous weather events. Despite its responsibility for critical functions, NOAA has been without a Senate-confirmed Administrator for nearly 2 years due to obstruction by Senate Democrats. Barry Myers, the President's nominee to lead NOAA, was first approved by the Commerce Committee, of which I have the privilege of chairing, in December of 2017. Ten months later, his nomination sits stalled on the Senate floor, and he is far from alone. During and after disasters like a hurricane, Americans use products such as portable generators, ladders, and power tools in greater quantity and frequency than during other times. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has a critical public safety mission to ensure that such products sold on store shelves or over the internet are safe. When there are safety issues, the Commission is charged with taking action. But nominations for this critical agency have also been blocked in the Senate. The same is true for the country's leading highway safety regulator. For months, Democrats have blocked the nomination of Heidi King to be the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While she has shepherded the agency in an acting capacity, she has been denied the full weight and authority of a Senate-confirmed leader. So have other Commerce Committee-approved nominations for the Departments of Transportation and Commerce, Amtrak, and the Surface Transportation Board. All of these agencies play critical roles in promoting public safety. What is most frustrating is that this all feels like deja vu. We have already seen this disturbing pattern play out with other safety nominees earlier in this Congress. The nomination of Ronald Batory to lead the Federal Railroad Administration had been stalled in the Senate for more than 6 months over demands by Senate Democrats concerning a parochial infrastructure project. Only after three deadly passenger rail accidents did Democrats finally relent and allow this critical railway safety official to assume his full agency leadership duties. In another instance, Senate Democrats blocked nominees for the National Transportation Safety Board. This opposition only subsided following a deadly Missouri duck boat tragedy that claimed 17 lives. Once the Board was sent out to investigate and attention moved toward the blocked vacancies, Democrats finally relented to their confirmation. Maybe Hurricane Florence will have a similar effect on some of these other blocked nominees, but it shouldn't take a tragic national disaster for Democrats to stop making unrelated demands that obstruct nominees from working in critical posts. I urge my colleagues to stop this dangerous obstruction and instead give qualified nominees approved in committee the chance to lead their agencies so that we are all well prepared for the next natural disaster, safety recall, or serious accident.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, in 2017, more than 72,000 Americans died from drug overdoses, and 49,000 of those deaths were related to opioids. Opioid overdoses have surpassed motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. Whole communities have been devastated by the opioid epidemic. The situation is rightly described as a crisis. Here in Congress we are focused on doing everything we can to support the fight against substance use disorder. In 2016, we passed the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, which authorized a variety of grants to States to boost their efforts to reduce opioid deaths and help individuals overcome opioid addiction. That same year, we also passed the 21st Century Cures Act, which provided $1 billion in State grants over 2 years to combat the opioid epidemic. In March of this year, Congress passed an appropriations bill that provided $4.7 billion to address the opioid crisis. Today, we voted on an appropriations bill that will provide another $3.8 billion to fight this epidemic. Overall, Federal funding to address the opioid crisis has increased by nearly 1,300 percent over the past 4 years. Then there is the bill we passed last night. The Opioid Crisis Response Act, which passed the Senate yesterday evening, is the product of months of work by five Senate committees. It contains more than 70 proposals from Senators of both parties and represents the serious efforts Congress has made to address opioid addiction on a number of fronts. This legislation will support critical treatment and recovery efforts. It will help babies born in opioid withdrawal. It will help support family-focused residential treatment programs, and more. Just as importantly, it will also take steps to address what I see as the supply side of the opioid epidemic. It will help stop the movement of illegal drugs across our borders through the mail--the work of the Senator from Ohio, Rob Portman. It will promote research into and fast- track approval of new nonaddictive pain management alternatives. It will help stop the practice of ``doctor shopping'' by improving State prescription drug monitoring programs. The bill also provides grants for law enforcement agencies to help protect law enforcement officers from accidental exposure to deadly drugs in the course of their duties. I am proud that this legislation includes a bill that I introduced, the Expanding Telehealth Response to Ensure Addiction Treatment Act, which will help expand access to substance use disorder treatment for Medicare recipients by using telehealth technology. The Opioid Crisis Response Act also includes my legislation to close a safety gap in railroad drug and alcohol testing regulations and require the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Transportation to include fentanyl in the drug-testing panel. Opioid addiction destroys lives, not just the lives of the addicted but the lives of their children, their parents, their siblings, their spouses, their relatives and friends. The Opioid Crisis Response Act and the funding that we passed today will help move us forward in the fight against this deadly epidemic. We will continue to make combating opioid addiction a top priority here in the Congress.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, before I close, I want to mention the good economic news that continues to pour in. The economy created more than 200,000 jobs in August, beating expectations, and the unemployment rate was yet again below 4 percent. Economic growth in the second quarter was even stronger than we thought--a robust 4.2 percent. Average hourly earnings for workers are rising at the fastest rate since 2009. Middle-class income hit its highest level ever last year. In 2017, U.S. job openings have hit a record high of 6.94 million jobs. In fact, the number of job openings has exceeded the number of unemployed in this country for the past 5 months. Think about that. The number of job openings--the number of jobs available to people in this country--has exceeded the number of people who are unemployed in this country for the past 5 months. That has never happened before in the history of tracking those two statistics. Consumer confidence is at an 18-year high. Small business optimism shattered its previous record high to reach a record high in August. The poverty rate has dropped to its lowest level since 2006. The percentage of Americans listing economic issues as the most important problem in the United States dropped to a record low, and the list continues. These are all facts. These are indisputable facts, and they are the results of policies that are put in place with an eye toward growing this economy at a faster rate and creating better paying jobs and higher wages for people in our economy. Since President Trump took office, Republicans have focused on fixing those things that have been holding the economy back. We removed burdensome regulations. We passed historic comprehensive reform in our Tax Code to put more money in Americans' pockets and to remove barriers to job creation and economic growth. Now we are seeing the results: strong economic growth--as I mentioned, 4.2 percent in the second quarter of this year--thriving small businesses, with optimism and investing confidence unlike anything we have seen in history, more money in families' paychecks, new jobs, better paying jobs, better benefits, and more opportunities for American workers. Mr. President, America is back in business, and it is American families and American workers who are benefiting from that. We intend to continue to work on an agenda that creates policies that will drive and fuel economic growth in this country and provide more opportunities, a better standard of living, and a higher quality of life for all Americans. I yield the floor.

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, in the wake of Senator John McCain's passing, I was particularly moved by the announcement that, in accordance with his wishes, he will be buried in the cemetery at the U.S. Naval Academy. It is a fitting resting place for someone who belonged, in a special way, to the U.S. Navy, and it is characteristic of him that in death he wished to rest with his comrades in arms. It was during his service in the Navy that LCDR John McCain's plane was shot down over North Vietnam. He ejected, breaking several bones in the process, and was taken into captivity. During World War II, ADM Chester W. Nimitz, describing the actions of the Marines in the battle of Iwo Jima, noted that ``uncommon valor was a common virtue.'' The same thing can be said about the American soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines in the prison camps of North Vietnam. John McCain joined their number in October of 1967. During the years of his confinement, he was regularly beaten and tortured. He survived thanks, in part, to the friendship of his fellow prisoners of war. In 1968, his captors offered the malnourished and ill McCain the chance to be returned home early, ahead of prisoners who were next in line. John McCain said no. He spent another almost 5 years in captivity before being released on March 14, 1973. It scarcely needs to be said that he remained a thorn in his captors' side the entire time. Living in perhaps the most privileged country in the world, it is hard for most of us to imagine going without the internet for a few months, let alone something more fundamental like electricity or indoor plumbing. The courage and character and sheer determination required to undergo regular torture, malnourishment, and deplorable living conditions is almost impossible to fathom. Yet hundreds of U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines--John McCain among them--endured these torments and persevered. Amazingly, it was in the prison camps of North Vietnam that John McCain discovered the fierce love of country that would animate the rest of his life. Years later, he noted: I fell in love with my country when I was a prisoner in someone else's. I loved it for its decency, for its faith in the wisdom, justice, and goodness of its people. I loved it because it was not just a place but an idea, a cause worth fighting for. I was never the same again; I wasn't my own man anymore; I was my country's. John McCain was his country's man. Throughout a congressional career that spanned 35 years, he served her faithfully. He inspired those who served with him, on both sides of the aisle. He always called on all of us to live up to all that is best and greatest about the United States of America. He was a fierce crusader for the causes close to his heart, from supporting our Nation's veterans to equipping our military with the tools it needs, to advancing liberty around the world. He was also a wonderful colleague and friend. Shortly after I got to the Senate, I read his book, ``Faith of My Fathers.'' As I am reading this book, I am starting to think that some of the dates and places sound pretty familiar. I did a little research and ended up discovering the Distinguished Flying Cross my father Harold Thune received had been awarded to him by none other than ADM John McCain--our John McCain's grandfather. When I shared this with John, and every time I would see him, he would say: ``We've got to call your dad,'' and that is exactly what we did one day. I cherish that special connection with a family who has meant so much to our country and to freedom. It was an honor to serve with John McCain. I will miss his sense of humor and the passion he brought to every battle. I admired him greatly. He reminded me and all of us every day that life is not about advancing ourselves but about serving a greater cause and that, paradoxically, it is in service that we find freedom. In his farewell message to his countrymen, John said, ``To be connected to America's causes--liberty, equal justice, respect for the dignity of all people--brings happiness more sublime than life's fleeting pleasures. Our identities and sense of worth are not circumscribed but enlarged by serving good causes that are bigger than ourselves.'' Already, the new class of midshipmen has overrun the grounds of the U.S. Naval Academy. In the days and years and decades to come, midshipmen will walk past John McCain's grave and the graves of other marines and sailors who have served our country. The graves will fade into the background of everyday life, but they will still whisper always of the courage and sacrifice of those who have gone before. Later, at that time of their testing, some of those midshipmen may remember the graves of those heroes and resolve to be like them, to be like John McCain. When discussing how he would like to be remembered, John McCain said, ``I want, when I leave, that the ceremony is at the Naval Academy, and we just have a couple of people that stand up and say, `This guy, he served our country.' '' ``This guy, he served his country.'' I think he can be assured there will be more than a few people saying that on Sunday. There can be few finer epithets. I yield the floor.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the remaining votes in this series be 10 minutes in length.

Mr. THUNE

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

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, when it comes to deciding whether to confirm a Supreme Court Justice, there are two important questions: One, is this person well qualified? And, two, does this person understand the proper role of a judge? When it comes to Brett Kavanaugh, the answer to both questions is yes. I don't need to tell anyone how qualified Judge Kavanaugh is. He is a graduate of Yale Law School and a lecturer at Harvard Law School. He has extensive legal experience in government and private practice, and he has spent the past 12 years serving on the Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, sometimes referred to as the second highest court in the land. His opinions have been endorsed by the Supreme Court more than a dozen times, and they are regularly cited by courts around the country. In short, he is eminently qualified to be a Justice on the Supreme Court. But being qualified, while essential, is not sufficient. A Supreme Court Justice also needs to understand the proper role of a judge, and that role is to interpret the law, not make the law; to judge, not legislate; to call balls and strikes, not rewrite the rules of the game. Judge Kavanaugh understands this. He understands that as a Supreme Court Justice, his job will be to rule based on the facts of the case, the law and the Constitution, and nothing else, not his personal opinions, not his political feelings, not his beliefs about what the law should be--just the plain text of the law and the Constitution. And that makes Judge Kavanaugh exactly the kind of judge that all of us, Democrats and Republicans alike, should want on the Supreme Court--the kind of judge who, in the words of Judge Kavanaugh, will decide cases ``without regard to policy preferences or political allegiances or which party is on which side in a particular case.'' Of course, that is not the kind of Justice Democrats are looking for. They don't really want an impartial Justice. They want a Justice they can rely on to rubberstamp Democratic policies. So even before President Trump had named a replacement for Justice Kennedy, Democrats were already signaling their intention of rejecting anyone the President put forward. One Democrat Senator formally announced his opposition to the President's nominee the morning of July 9, before the President had actually nominated anyone. Since Judge Kavanaugh's nomination, Democrats have tried to make a case against Judge Kavanaugh, flinging up accusations in the desperate hope that something will stick. Needless to say, they haven't had much luck. It is difficult to argue that a judge like Judge Kavanaugh isn't eminently suited to serve on the Supreme Court. Democrats are also doing their best to delay the proceedings by making outlandish demands for documents relating to Judge Kavanaugh's time in the White House. Apparently the up to 1 million pages that the Judiciary Committee expects to receive from Judge Kavanaugh's time in the executive branch and his circuit court confirmation aren't enough, even though it could be more than the amount of material received for the last five Supreme Court nominees combined. Let me repeat that. One million pages that the Judiciary Committee expects to receive from Judge Kavanaugh's time in the executive branch and his circuit court confirmation are more than the amount of material received for the last five Supreme Court nominees combined. One also has to ask why Democratic leaders feel the need to see any material for Judge Kavanaugh, given the fact that they have already made up their minds to oppose him. Of course, it is not about the material. We all know that. Democrats aren't really interested in reading every email that happened to be copied to Judge Kavanaugh. They just want to delay his nomination. It would be nice if Democrats would abandon their partisan opposition to Judge Kavanaugh and take a serious look at this superbly qualified nominee. Unfortunately, I expect the political posturing to continue, but we will continue to move forward with the confirmation process to deliver another outstanding Justice to the Supreme Court. Economic Growth Mr. President, the good economic news continues to pour in. The economy grew at an impressive 4.1 percent in the second quarter of this year, bringing economic growth for the year so far up over 3 percent. Unemployment dropped to 3.9 percent in July, which is close to an 18- year low. Worker pay and benefits are increasing at the fastest pace in a decade. Consumer confidence is at a nearly 18-year high. Disposable income, which is income after taxes, is up 3.5 percent this year. And small business optimism is at a record high. In short, Republican economic policies are working, and I don't need to tell anyone that economic growth lagged during the Obama administration. Recovery from the recession was historically weak, and some economists were predicting that 2 percent growth would be the new normal. But Republicans disagreed. We didn't think American workers should have to resign themselves to permanently sluggish economic growth and the diminished opportunities that come with it. We knew that American innovators and job creators were as creative and driven as ever, but we also knew that American businesses, large and small, were weighed down by burdensome regulations and an outdated tax code that discouraged growth. So over the past year and a half, the White House and Republicans in Congress have focused on removing obstacles to economic growth. We have reduced burdensome regulations, and in December, we passed historic, comprehensive tax reform legislation. Before that bill passed, before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed, the Tax Code was not helping businesses grow and create jobs. In fact, it was doing the opposite, and that had real consequences for American workers. A small business owner struggling to afford the hefty annual tax bill for her business was highly unlikely to be able to hire a new worker or to raise wages. A larger business struggling to stay competitive in the global marketplace while paying a substantially higher tax rate than its foreign competitors too often had limited funds to expand or increase investment in the United States. So we took action to improve the playing field for American workers by improving the playing field for businesses as well. We lowered tax rates across the board for owners of small and medium-sized businesses, farms, and ranches. We lowered our Nation's massive corporate tax rate which, until January 1, was the highest corporate tax rate in the developed world. We expanded business owners' ability to recover investments they make in their businesses, which frees up cash that they can reinvest in their operations and their workers. And we brought the U.S. international tax system into the 21st century so that American businesses are not operating at a disadvantage next to their foreign competitors. Now we are seeing the results: stronger economic growth, as I mentioned--4.1 percent in the second quarter of this year, giving us an annual growth rate of over 3 percent. That is something we haven't seen in quite a while. Low unemployment--we are seeing the lowest unemployment numbers, literally, in the last 18 years. The number of jobless claims is the lowest in 40 years. There are better wages and benefits. We are seeing companies large and small across this country increasing wages and the benefits they pay to their employees. Wages, as I mentioned earlier, are up--the highest level increase in wages in a decade. And, as I said earlier, disposable income is up 3.5 percent since the first of this year. All of this has happened since tax reform passed last year. One and a half million new jobs have been created since the passage of tax reform, and that means more opportunities for American workers. I am proud of the progress we have made in getting the economy going again, and I am going to go keep working with my colleagues, hopefully on both sides of the aisle, to expand economic opportunities for Americans even further. I yield the floor.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I recognize Rachel Parsons, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all of the hard work she has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota over the past several weeks. Rachel is a graduate of Philip High School in Philip, SD. Currently, she is attending Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD, where she is pursuing degrees in English, history, and religious studies. She is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of her internship experience. I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Rachel for all of the fine work she has done and wish her continued success in the years to come.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I recognize Katherine Gladitsch, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all of the hard work she has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota over the past several weeks. Katherine is a graduate of Shanley High School in Fargo, ND. Currently, she is attending Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD, where she is pursuing degrees in political science, Spanish, and French. She is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of her internship experience. I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Katherine for all of the fine work she has done and wish her continued success in the years to come.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I recognize Nicole Schneider, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all of the hard work she has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota over the past several weeks. Nicole is a graduate of O'Gorman High School in Sioux Falls, SD. Currently, she is attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she is pursuing degrees in political science, global studies, national security studies, and Russian. She is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of her internship experience. I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Nicole for all of the fine work she has done and wish her continued success in the years to come.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I recognize Will Hannemann, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all of the hard work he has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota over the past several weeks. Will is a graduate of Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls, SD. Currently, he is attending Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD, where he is pursuing degrees in history, political science, and secondary education. He is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of his internship experience. I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Will for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I recognize Logan Torve, an intern in my Rapid City, SD, office, for all of the hard work he has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota over the past several weeks. Logan is a graduate of Crossroads Academy in Davidson, NC. Currently, he is attending Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, NC, where he is majoring in political philosophy. He is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of his internship experience. I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Logan for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come.

Mr. THUNE

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, the confirmation process for Judge Kavanaugh continues and, predictably, so does the Democrat hysteria. It is the same old playbook: Any Supreme Court nominee from a Republican President is guaranteed to destroy the Constitution, abolish our rights, and endanger the lives of the American people. I am not exaggerating for effect. Those are actual accusations from Democrats and liberal interest groups. In the lead-up to Justice Gorsuch's confirmation, the head of one liberal organization stated that there was ``substantial evidence'' that if Gorsuch's ``egregious views were to become law, Americans' lives . . . would be put at risk in untold ways.'' A year into Justice Gorsuch's tenure on the Supreme Court, Americans seem to be doing OK. But that didn't stop the former Democratic Governor of Virginia from tweeting that ``the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh will threaten the lives of millions of Americans for decades to come.'' Then, of course, there is that other favorite Democrat accusation-- that the Constitution will be put in jeopardy if we confirm a Republican President's Supreme Court nominee. In the lead-up to Judge Kavanaugh's nomination, the junior Senator from California said: ``We're looking at a destruction of the Constitution of the United States.'' I have to say that I find this accusation particularly hilarious because if there is one thing that we can count on Judge Kavanaugh to do, it is to defend the Constitution. In fact, his respect for the Constitution and the rule of law is perhaps the distinguishing feature of his jurisprudence. In a speech last year, Judge Kavanaugh said: As I see it, the Constitution is primarily a document of majestic specificity, and those specific words have meaning. Absent constitutional amendment, those words continue to bind us as judges, legislators, and executive officials. Later on in the same speech, Judge Kavanaugh noted: Because it is so hard, and because it is not easy even to pass federal legislation, pressure is often put on the courts and the Supreme Court in particular to update the Constitution to reflect the times. In the views of some, the Constitution is a living document, and the Court must ensure that the Constitution adapts to meet the changing times. For those of us who believe that the judges are confined to interpreting and applying the Constitution and laws as they are written and not as we might wish they were written, we too believe in a Constitution that lives and endures and in statutes that live and endure. But we believe that changes to the Constitution and laws are to be made by the people through the amendment process and, where appropriate, through the legislative process--not by the courts snatching that constitutional or legislative authority for themselves. In short, if there is one thing the American people can count on, it is that Judge Kavanaugh will uphold the Constitution, even when he doesn't like the result. He will not attempt to legislate from the bench or to make the Constitution say what he wants it to say. Anyone who comes before Judge Kavanaugh can be certain that he will rule based on the facts of the case, the law, and the Constitution, and nothing else--not his personal feelings, not his political opinions, not his beliefs about what the law should be, but just the plain text of the law and the Constitution. That is the kind of judge that all of us, including the Democrats, should want on the Supreme Court--the kind of judge who, in the words of Judge Kavanaugh, will decide ``cases based on settled principles without regard to policy preferences or political allegiances or which party is on which side in a particular case.'' The truth of the matter is that Democrats are not worried that Judge Kavanaugh will not uphold the Constitution. Let's be clear about that. They know very well that he will. What they are worried about is that he will not deliver their preferred outcomes and that his judicial opinions will conflict with the Democrats' political opinions. Democrats aren't looking for a qualified Supreme Court Justice. They are looking for a political rubberstamp. For Democrats, the only good Supreme Court Justice is a Supreme Court Justice who will use his or her power to advance the political agenda of the Democratic Party. Just look at the Democrat Senator who announced his opposition to the President's Supreme Court nomination before the President had actually nominated anyone. That is right. The Democrat Senator announced plans to oppose the nominee before a nominee even existed. Well, that is all the evidence we need that Democrats' opposition to Judge Kavanaugh is based not on any actual problems with Judge Kavanaugh but on Democrats' ideological opposition to any nominee they are not sure will be a rubberstamp for the Democrat agenda. The confirmation process will continue, and I am sure the hysteria from Democrats will continue as well, but the Senate will move forward with the business of confirming another outstanding judge of the Supreme Court.