Transcripts For CSPAN2 U.S. Senate U.S. Senate 20240711

Decision to extend federal funding past the december 11 deadline to avoid a Government Shutdown. Your watching live Senate Coverage here on cspan2. The president pro tempore the senate will come to order. The chaplain, dr. Bay black, will open the senate with prayer. The chaplain let us pray. Almighty god, who in your wisdom has so ordered our earthly lives that we must walk by faith and not by sight, increase our trust in your sovereign care. Remind our lawmakers that no problem is too difficult for you to solve. Lord, give our senators a faith th triumphs over despair, love that triumphs over hate, and courage that triumphs over faintheartedness. Empower them to be bold participants rather than timid spectators in meeting the daunting challenges of these times. We we pray in our powerful name, amen. The president pro tempore please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I edge allegiance to the fla of the United States of erica, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisie, with liberty and justice for all. The presiding officer thet . Senator from iowa. Mr. Grassley one mine for morning business. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Grassley like many iowans, for the first time in my life, i wasnt able to share a meal with my family this thanksgiving. That doesnt keep me from being thankful for the essential workers of our country who have also missed many thanksgiving meals. Still, these essential workers provide and continue to provide for and keep our country safe. An essential job that often gets overlooked is that of the 86,000 iowa farm families that produce the food that we consume on thanksgiving and 364 days out of the rest of the year. Thats why im proud to see ron and susie cardell get welldeserved recognition this past week. You see, ron and susie, along with their two turkeys, corn and cob, participated in a timehonored white house tradition. That tradition is the National Thanksgiving turkey pardoning ceremony at the white house. This ceremony helps connect the dots for many americans, showing them that the food they put on the thanksgiving table isnt grown in a grocery store. So i want to thank ron, susie, and President Trump for highlighting iowa agriculture this thanksgiving, in a year that has been so very difficult for most americans, its nice to see tradition like this carried on. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum. Clerk will call the roll. E quorum call quorum call the presiding officer the majority leader. Mr. Mcconnell i ask consent at further proceedings under thquorum call be dispensed with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell first, mr. President , as the Senate Reconvenes this afternoon, im especially happy to welcome back our president pro tempore. Senator grassley quarantined, worked from home following his positive covid test two weeks ago. We all predicted that if any member of the body had the stamina and the spirit to kick the virus to the curb, it would certainly be him. And sure enough, our colleague reports that he experienced no symptoms. His doctors have cleared him to come back to work, and were sure glad to have him back. Chairman grassley had to put his epic streak of consecutive votes temporarily on hold for the sake of other people. Of course, leadership and examplesetting are nothing new for the senior senator from iowa. Im confident our colleagues will pick up our colleague will pick up exactly where he left off, resuming both his perfect attendance record and the tireless work for iowans that it represents. We all benefit so very much from his leadership. So the senates back in session to finish up 2020. The American People are counting on us to finish strong. We need to Reach Agreement on the federal government funding to avoid a lapse in basic programs and services. We need to finish the annual Defense Authorization to shore up the u. S. Militarys competitive advantage over our adversaries. And we need to continue processing wellqualified nominees for vacancies throughout the government, especially, especially on the federal bench. These are important assignments, but they arent the only things that congress should get done before the end of the year. There is no reason, none, why we should not deliver another major pandemic relief package to help the American People through what seems poised to be the last chapters of this battle. This morning, we got yet another major sign of hope. More data appear to confirm that the vaccine developed by moderna is more than 94 effective. They are going ahead and asking the f. D. A. For emergency use authorization. Experts are calling this news absolutely remarkable. Alongside other promising vaccine developments from pfizer, astro astrazeneca, johnson and johnson and others is continued cause to suspect this victory over this pandemic is not far off. But a huge amount of work remains before us. If operation warp speed remains on this historic trajectory, we need to continue investing in the system that will distribute these vaccines around our country. We want the Small Businesses that have already hung on for most of the year to a few more months. We need a second round of the jobsaving Paycheck Protection Program for the workers at the hardest hit establishments. Some major parts of the historic cares act have already run dry. Many others are set to expire at years end. We republicans have spent months trying to renew important help and provide even more. We tried to send more than 100 billion to help schools and welcome students and teachers safely to the classroom. We tried to implement common sense Legal Protections that universities and charities have been clamoring for. We have tried to pass all of this over and over again. But Speaker Pelosi and the Senate Democratic leader have blocked it. They have been very transparent about all this with their political strategies, laid it right out there. The speaker of the house spent the entire summer and the entire autumn literally gambling with the health and welfare of the American People. She gambled that if American Families didnt get any more relief before the election, her party would expand its majority in the house and democrats could continue demanding the right to remake all of society along farleft lines in exchange for passing any more covid relief whatsoever. But their allornothing obstruction backfired. Democrats did not pick up seats in the house, but instead appear to have lost seats. They have not gained any leverage. Instead, they have lost leverage. And in the meantime, with the coronavirus surging from coast to coast, the American People have gone entirely, entirely without any additional aid, even the least controversial, most bipartisan programs because the democrats say no. Here is a summary from one news outlet. Quote, pelosi seems to have overplayed her hand as she held out for 2 trillionplus right up until the election. The results of the election, we saw democrats lose seats in the house appear to have significantly undercut her position. By now, its abundantly clear to everyone that the speaker will not be getting to fundamentally transform American Society in a socialist direction in exchange for more bipartisan relief. The hostage taking was never going to work. Now, there is only one remaining question for the speaker and the democratic leader, just one question. One question, mr. President. Will they finally, finally let Congress Pass hundreds of billions of dollars of relief on all the subjects where we agree . Where we agree. Or will they continue to insist that either they get their entire ideological wish list or the American People get nothing at all . Even their fellow democrats are increasingly seeing this as not a terribly difficult question to answer. For example, over the weekend, professor Austin Gouldsby who chaired the council of economic advisors under president obama called on democrats to finally play ball. Quote, heres what he said. There are a lot of people really hurting. I Hope Congress can agree on something soon. If they have to accept half a loaf, then they have to accept half a loaf. Speaker pelosi is number two, the House Democratic majority leader feels the same way. I just hope we can get agreement. It may not be everything that everybody wants, but at least some significant relief to people. Our distinguished Senate Colleague from illinois, the democratic whip, said the same thing. Quote, get something done that is significant. Do what we can achieve now. Now. Here is the headline from newsweek. Democrats urge pelosi to accept smaller stimulus package to ensure relief by the end of the year. Even the speakers own democratic members are now openly campaigning for our republican approach. Heres one of the democratic congressmen who nearly lost his reelection after Speaker Pelosis stonewalling. Quote, we absolutely have to get something done. Mitch mcconnell is talking about a bill we can actually pass. We should negotiate that to the finish. Thats a House Democrat saying that the Senate Republican proposal is the template that can pass. Rankandfile democrats in both chambers are telling Speaker Pelosi and the democratic leader to stop stonewalling and move forward with the approach republicans have been urging for months. The American People need more help, and they need it right now, right now. Democratic leaders have already burned through three months, three months, and they didnt even get the political result that their cynical strategy was supposed to deliver. So, mr. President , lets hope our colleagues at the top of the Democratic Party can finally hear their own members and stop blocking the commonsense multihundredbilliondollar measures that republicans have been ready to deliver for months. Now, mr. President , i move to have proceed to executive session to consider calendar number 761. The presiding officer the question is on the motion. All inavor say aye. All opposed no. The ayes appr to have it. The motion is agreed to. The clerk will report the nomination. The clerk nomination, Federal Reserve system, Christopher Waller of minnesota to be a member of the board of governo governors. Mr. Mcconnell i send a cloture motion to the desk. The presiding officer the clerk will report the motion. The cle cture motion, we, the undersigned senators in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standingules of the senate do hereby move to bring a close debate on the nomination of Christopher Waller of minnesota to be a member of the board of governors of the Federal Reserve syste signed by 17 senators. Mcconnelli ask consent the reading of the names be waived. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell i move to proceed to legislative session. The presiding officer the question is on the motion. All in favor say aye. All opposed no. The ayes appear to have i the ayes do have it. Mr. Mcconnell i move to preed to executive session to consider calendar number 842. The presiding officer the question is on the motion. All in favor say aye. All opposed no. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it. The motion is agreed to. The clerk will report the nomination. The priding officer nomination, the judiary, lia p. Hardy of virgia to be a judge of thenited states court of appeals for the armed forces. Mr. Mcconnell i send a cloture motion to the desk. The presiding officer t clotureotion willeport the motion. The clerk cloture motion, we, the undersigned senators in accordanceith the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules the senate do hereby ve to bring to a close debate on the nomination of liam p. Hardy of virginia to be judge of the United States court of appeals for the armed forces for the senators. 5 years signed by 17 mr. Mcconnell i ask consent the reading of the names be waived. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell i move to proceed to legislative session. The presiding officer the question is on the motion. L in favor say aye. All opposed no. E ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it. The motion iagreed to. Mr. Mcconnell i suggest the absence of a quorum. The presiding offir the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call mr. Schumer mr. President . Democratic leader. Cer the mr. Schumer i ask unanius consent the quorum call be diensed with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Schumer first, i he all of my colleagues d a good and fine thanksgiving. We all know that across the country, we celebrated a thanksging, all of us, every american unlike any in recent memory. Too many loved ones spent this holiday alone unable to join with loved ones out of concern for their safety. As painful as it is to refrain from seeing family and friends, these are tough choices that we sometimes have to make. And we need to maintain our resolve more than ever. We are living through the wor stretch of the pandemic right now. Last friday for the first time, over 200,000 new cases of covid were reported in a single day. The United States is arming over one million new cases a week. Some 20 of all patients now hospitalized in the United States have covid19. The worst and most unalterable part of this pandemic, of course, are the deaths. Since november 10, america has beenosing more than 1,000 precious lives a day. On one day, november 24, we lost more than 2,000. The National Death toll stands at a very sad 270,000 american souls. Families all across the country are experiencing the unthinkable, unbearable losses of their loved ones. As a compassionate nation, we cannot and must not ignore or become inureed to this terrible reality. We must not avert our gaze. We must acknowledge the lives were losing. We must honor the lives of, the increasing number of america who are dying from covid19 every single day. And we must redouble our efforts to flat an the curve and protect each other by wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and complying with the guidance of health officials. As this chamber gavels back into session, we must redouble our efforts before the end of the calendar year. As the pandemic increases in severity, so does the economic pain felt by countless working families and Small Business owners. In a few short weeks, several provisions of the cares act, including student loan forbearance, eviction moratoriums will expire. First and foremost on the senas todo lois is covid relief both sides should come bac and negotiate a covid relief bill in a bipartisan way that meets the needs of our businesses, schools, health care systems, ourorkers, our families. At the start of this crisis, democrats came together in a flurry of negotiations. Istically involved with them with secretary mnuchin. Now were about to preach a new, more difficult sge of the crisis. We need to renew that spirit, that urgency, that bipartisanship. Leader mcconnells view, just stated a few minutes ago, seems to be that the only things that should be in this bill are things republicans approve of. Even if the needs of the country, the desperate needs of the country, are beyond the small list that republicans might support. And that is not real compromise. We need to come together. Both sides must give. We have a democratic house, and democratic votes to pass a bill. So we need a trusion bipartisan bill. Not this is our bill, take it or leave it. That can bring us together and solve the desperate needs of the American People, which we all very much want to solve. The secretary item on our todo list is federal appropriations, which expire in two wks. As we speak, appropriators from both sides in theelevant committees continue their negotiations. Its my hope and expectation that we can come to an agreement very soon. Third and finally, congress should pass the annl defense bill. As our country prepares for a peaceful transfer of power, the continuity of the our National Security is paramount. For nearly 60 Years Congress has never failed to pass the annual defense bill. But this year it seems the normally uncontroversial legislation has hit at hit a snag. President trump has threatened to veto the bill over a provision that would rename military basesnd installations named off confederate leaders, men who would rend this country in half to preserve the institution of slavery, men who literally fought against this nations military in pursuit of an ignoble cause. For that, a provision to rename our military bases to honor actual heroes rather than traitors to our country, President Trump is threatening to veto a pay raise for our troops. And it seems that republicans in congressre slowwalking the bill in hes of finding some way to appease the outgoing president rather than just passing a bill over his rather ridiculous objection. The provision to rename these installations was included in both the house and senatepassed versions of the bill. The larger bill paled both chambers with broad bipartisan support. Theres no reason to further delay a pay raise for our military heroes, our living military heroes, because President Trump wanted toonor dead confederate traitors. The other provision thats at risk, shoingly, from our republican colleagues is an amendment to assist veterans who have long suffered from their expose uto agent orange in the vietnam war. The amendment passed this chamber with 94 votes in favor, a rare and near unanimous demonstration of bipartisan support. The trump administrations own v. A. Advisory panel recommended this policy to improve health care for these veterans. But for some reason, our republican counterparts are now reported letter trying to strip it from any are report thely trying to strip it from any final dramatically. It would be an affront to a group of ailing veteran whose suffered enough already to strip a provision that would help provide them Adequate Health care. And n on president elect bidens nominees, as president elect biden prepares to are assume office on january 20, hes beginning to announce a slate of qualified, experienced Public Servants who he intends to coms nominate to his cabinet or other key administrative positions. This morning he annoued that he has assembled his core Economic Team, led by another brooklyn native, janet yellen. The president elects Economic Team clearly has the experience, the knowledge, the pwess to meet the seriousness of this moment. More than that, they understand the needs of all americans because they represent all gen kinds of americans. Theyll get to work not just on rebuilding ourconomy, but striving to provide greater and mo equitable prosperity to future generations. Alongside the president elects deeply experienced National Security team and his soontobe annoced health team, his Economic Team will ensure that the Incoming Administration will hit the ground running. Everyone knows that the senate plays a pivotal role in confirming a new president s cabinet inhe midst of this crisis, its imperative that the next administration can count on the senate to confirm its cabinet without delay. So hearings on president elect bidens nominees should begin in january immediately after the georgia runoff elections. Let me say that again. The senate should begin immediate consideration on president elects nominees mete immediately after the georgia elecons so key cabinet ficials can be confirmed on january 020 and soon thereafter, which is traditional f a new president. Senate committees held hearings for president obamas nominees and President Trumps in early january before the inauguration. Majority and minority staff should begin preparation for those hearings as president elect biden names his cabinet. Now, president elect bidens slate of intended nominees provides a stark contrast to the cassidygraham ber of nominees advanced by the Current Trump administration over the past four years. The early days of the Trump Presidency were defined by highlevel appointments of individuals who were manifestly unqualified, plaqued by ethical complaints or swimming in conflicts of interest, sometimes all three. At t time, republicans in the senate lined up to confirm President Trumps appointments arguing that a president deserves his cabinet in brought calf reins on his nominees. I would hope the same severance will be extended to president elect bidens nominees especially considering the obvious gulf in quality, experience, ethics. Already republicans are twisting themselves into pretzels to explain their opposition. Neera tanden, the first woman of color to run the o. M. B. , is so eminently qualified that some on the roone side have taken issue with comments made on twitter criticizing the policy positions of republicans in congress. Honestly, the hypocrisy is astoding. If republicans are concerned about criticism on twitter, their complaints are better directed at President Trump. I fully expect to see some crocodile tears spilled on the other side of the aisle over president elects cabinet nominees. But it will be very tough to take those crocodile tears seriously. Our republican colleagues are on the record supporting some of the least qualified, most unethical and downright sycophantic federal nominees in recent he memory. Many defended the conduct of the previous o. M. B. Director who allowed foreign aid to be held up for political reasons, resulting in the president s impeachment. Right now republicans in congress are looking the other way while President Trump pardons a man who pled guilty to the f. B. I. So again, it will be impossible to take these overblown complaints over president elect bidens nominees very seriously. Given the urgent need to direct covid19, the senate should follow precedent and hold hearings on president elect bidens nominees in january immediately after the georgia elections, before inauguration. The American People cannot in order to wait to have its government working at full force to keep them safe, defeat the vis and get to ourconomy back on track. I yield the floor. The presiding officer under the previous order the leadership time is reserved. Under the previous order, the senate wl be in a perio of morning business until 5 00 p. M. With senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each. The democraticeader. Mr. Schumer before i yield the floor, i hadalked about agent orange, mbe bore he had come on the floor. It would be outi am anous the senator from montana has done great work helping our veterans get the they can the health care they need and deserve. I hope other republican colleagues will relent and allow those provisions to stay in the ndaa bill understand i compliment hip on the work he ha done. I yield the floor. The presiding officer the senator from monta. Mr. Tester thank you, mr. President. I would just tell you the presumptive conditions that the fighting men and women were exposed to in vtnam are real and the fact of the mter is these folks are getting old enough now that these conditions are putting them in a world of hurt healthwise, and it is the right thing to do to support our vinam veterans when it comes to the presumptive conditions that were caused by agent orange. And it needs toe in the ndaa. Look, as we come near this week heren week back to washington, d. C. , to deal with next years funding package and want to step back for a second andalkbout really whats the most important thing in this body, and thats relationships. Now, as a United States senator, we have relationships with the people that elects and that we work for. Some of those relationships are outstanding. Some maybe not so outstanding. We also have relationships with the people who work for us. And once again some of those relationships are outstanding, some of them could use a little work. Today i get to talk about somebody whos retiring from my office that has had an outsnding relationship with everybody in m office, which is a feat that not lot of folks are able do. She is retiring. She is my scheduler, and her name is tricia bicfordmacafel. I would said that trisha i not hopefully shes watching on cspan. The reason shes not here is because of covid. My wife is not here today, and my wife dear lay wanted to be an my wife dearly wanted to be re to hear the speech in person. Shes not here because of greatly in part because of covid. But the bottom line is, when it comes to tricia mcelvginia, the most difficult job in the United States senate is the the person who schedules the senator. Its difficultnough to deal with the floor schedule and make sureou are meeting with constituentsn a timely order, not holding anybody up. But in my particular case, its even more difficult because, as the folks in this body kw, i stillarm. And so getting back to big sandy montana to that farm called miles west, and to be able to do the things that i need to do, whether it is farming or harvesting, whatever it i is also important. Deal with my schedule here in the senate, she had to deal with a very uncertain schedule on the farm. Met my gunfire you an example. Let me give unan example. May be here on thursday night with full intentions to plant so peas the next day when i call my wifend say, whats the weather like . Shell say, its raining. Iall tcia. Work in the state because ir canto any farming. To which she would start to help schedule, working with my state scheduler and wking with the staff, a full day of work theext day. That didnt happen once in a while. That happened almost every weekend because those of u involved in agriculture know it either rains toouch or not enough. The sun either doesnt shine enough or it shines too much. And the truth is that trecia had to expwruggal all tho balls to juggle all those balls in the air to make sure thatverything got done, to make sure i was able to do my job as United States senator, i was ableo meet with tse constituents, that i was able to meet with those trade groups that were out with different businesses around the state of monta, and then also have time enough to be able to orate the farm. And she did it and she did it with a smile on h face. And why thats important is didnt come at 5 00 in thells afternoon. Sometimes those calls came at midnight montana time, which morning here, and she always answered the phone, always. And she was always there with the solution to any problem that i might he. It made life so much easier. And that is why when i hired trecia mcevoy, it was the best hire i have ever made i my nearly 14 years in thisody. Trecia, when i hired her, was already a seasone veteran. She spent more than 15 years heduling for senator jim jeffords before i was able to hire her. We asked her former colleagues in jefrds office to reminisce on their time working with trecia, and one of them was something that is perfely trecia mcevoy. Th quote goes like this. Trecia was a fierce keeper of the gate for senator jeffords. About jim getting mad at us but at us. Tr etch ecia getting mad whether she was protecting his lunches, or his popcorn or his softball uniform,he never missed a bt, end quote. And coincidentally, here in the United States senate, she met her husband jeff when she worked in jeffords office. Some of you may know jeff. He is one of the senates longest serving phographers. Jeff was anrmy veteran, serving from 1981 to 1989, coming to the senate after his retireme where he has been ever since. He worke his way up, holding positions as official photograph, lead photographe Photographic Services supervisor, and lastly branch manager. Jeff and trecia still have, at least until the pandemic hit, lunch in the dirksen cafeteria every single day. Tween the two of them, they had two kids, zack and anne. It has been a privilege of my lifetime to watch those kids grow up. To go to an occasional hockey game, something i know nothing about, and have treciaell me how the sportorks. But look, its never easy when you have somebody that sits right outside the door of your office. Usually the first person you see when you come into the office, and its usually the last person you see when you leave it. But trecia was a pro. She is a pro. And today, i should feel sad, but i dont. Im actually feeling very happy r her because she gets to retire, and she gets to move up to New Hampshire, and i think if she is watching in washington, d. C. Right now, she is probably sitting on cardboard boxes of clothes or dishes or whatever it might be because my guess is as of tomorrow, she is probably ing to be in New Hampshire in short order. But the truth is that she will be able to go up there enjoy life, and look back at her time here in the United States senate and understand that she has done a j well done. And and i would just say that the next chapter in her life i have no dou will be just as exting as the last one. You know,reciaaid she said that her quote was i she told me that when she and retires, she will look up at the dome and no longereel a sense of wonder. I dont believe thats true. Think now that shes retired, she will look up at this dome that w all work under and think of the incredible ories and th incredible experiences and thencredible people that she was able to enrich their lives and make lives better for them. And even though trecia, youre going to be a shout up north in New Hampshire, you will always be part of myeam, team tester, and would tell you that chaa and my kids and my staffnd i thank y for everything that you have done. Hopefully you wont be a stranger. Hopefully you will come back on occasion, come into the office and tell us what were doing wrong and what were doing right. Beuse youre the best. I yield my time. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call a senator mr. President. The presiding officer the senator from missiippi. Mr. Wicker i ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be dispensed with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Wicker mr. President i have one request for a cmittee to meet during tays session of the senate. It has been approved b the majority and minority leaders. The presiding officer duly noted. Mr. Wicker thank you, mr. President. And now i rise in strong support of the nomination of Taylor Brantley mcneel for the u. S. District court for the Southern District of mississippi. We will vote in a few minutes on the first vote for this outstanding nominee, the cloture vote, and then i have every reason to believe that tomorrow this outstanding candidate will be confirmed for elevation to the u. S. District court of the Southern District of mississippi. Sometimes when we vote, mr. President , those confirmation votes are partyline votes. I think happily many times they are bipartisan, and based on conversations across the aisle, i have every reason to believe that the vote on Taylor Mcneel will, in fact, be bipartisan. I certainly hope it will be, because his support back home in mississippi is certainly bipartisan and multicultural. Because hes such an outstanding individual, such an outstanding attorney and an outstanding member of our state community. Taylor mcneels life has been marked by excellence at every point. Of course, hes a great lawyer. Hes a partner in the law firm of brunini Grantham Brower and hughes where he oversees the Gulf Coast Office for this large law firm. Taylor mcneel has led a distinguished career in the firm with extensive experience in both bench and jury trials in federal and state courts. He has served as lead counsel for numerous appeals to the Mississippi Supreme Court, the Mississippi Supreme Court of appeals, and the United States court of appeals for the fifth circuit. His clients include individuals, government entities, and businesses covering a vast range of law. I believe senators should be impressed also by his work on behalf of disadvantaged members of our Community Back home. He maintains a strong pro bono practice representing clients who would not normally be able to afford legal services, and i think he is to be commended for that. His academic credentials are impeccable. He is cum laude graduate from the university of mississippi where he received his under graduate degree and as an undergraduate, hes an outstanding athlete as well as a leader. He was a member of the old miss Rebel Football Team and elected senior class president of that outstanding university. He went on to receive his jurist doctorate degree cum laude from the university of Mississippi School of law where he served on the mississippi law journal. Taylor mcneel has been widely recognized as a young lawyer to watch. He has been named a mid south rising star in Business Litigation for eight years in a row and has been listed three years in a row in the under 40 hot list for the United States in benchmark litigation. Is it any wonder, then, that he has received a unanimous qualified rating by the american Bar Association. Of course, we know, mr. President , that the highest rating, a candidate for district judge can receive is the rating of qualified and the fact that this was done unanimously by the Committee Just doesnt get any better than that for a candidate for district judge. Its important to note also that mr. Mcneel is an outstanding an active member in his community and is widely respected there. He serves on the school board of the pasagoula school district, racially diversed. Hes an elder at his church, First Presbyterian church and hes been a member of the rotary club of belox si. Now, pass goo la is in Jackson County where hes an outstanding beloxsi is in Harrison County, two of our most populous counties in the state of mississippi. He stands head and shoulders above the crowd in both of those. Hes been president of the Harrison County Bar Association and holds memberships in the american court, the federal Bar Association, the fifth circuit Bar Association, and the federalist society. Taylor and his wife jessica have three children, mollie age 10, taylor age 7, and brantley rose born on the second day of this month. Hes got his hands full and i think he will be able to balance being a dad and a district judge. He has outstanding qualifications in the academic field, judicial field, and his personal qualifications are absolutely out of this world. So im confident that he will serve the Southern District of mississippi and our country well if confirmed. Well vote on cloture in a few moments. Again im sincerely hoping and believe we will based on conversations have a bipartisan vote and urge my colleagues to join me in voting yes on the confirmation of Taylor Mcneel. Thank you, mr. President. I yield the floor. A senator mr. President . The presiding office the senator from vermont. Mr. Leahy mr. President , i see nobody in 15 or 20 feet of me so i will take the mask off. I appreciate the fact that the distinguished presiding officer recognized who it was even with the mask. Mr. President , i have a couple of things that certain me. I was going through history and looking at transitions between president s. And i was struck by even president s who did not like their successor, how hard they worked to make sure that everything was done properly for the good of the country no matter how they might feel about themselves personally, they set the Country First and foremost. I contrast that with whats happening now. Former Vice President , former u. S. Senator served with him joe biden got the most votes of any democratic nominee for president in the history of this country. Millions more than what President Trump did. He has an insurmountable lead in certified electoral votes. And yet the president for weeks refused even to carry out the law that we all voted for, republicans and democrats alike to provide for transition whenever there is a transition. The law that was used quickly when President Trump was elected even though Hillary Clinton had millions more votes than he did. She conceded the election within a day and the transition began. The idea that whoever is president must know what is going on. Certainly the distinguished presiding officer like all of us have access to and get Intelligence Briefings on whats happening around the world. Discloses nothing to say we live in perilous times and the decisions any president must make, even if its five minutes after theyre inaugurated as was the potential when president obama was inaugurated the first time. He actually had talking points to alert people to clear the malls in case there was an attack. But instead today is only the first day that president elect biden is getting the president ial briefing and Vice President elect kamala harris. She, of course, has the advantage as a member of the Senate Intelligence committee to have a lot of that material anyway. But now both do. But we look so foolish in the eyes of the rest of the world. We lecture dictatorships when theyve rigged an election and we lecture them for doing that and not leaving. We lecture those people who refuse to give up their office. And now they see the United States leading democratic country in the world, the country that always espouses democracy saying but were not going to follow our constitution. Were not going to follow our laws. We will do a lot on tweets from the incumbent but were not going to follow our law. What kind of example does that give . And then when the president does even worse by saying well, ive gotten these calls from all these World Leaders saying stick it out. Of course when asked well who were they, suddenly you cant seem to remember who they called if there were any such calls. Its suspect there werent. So lets stop the charade. Lets make it more of an effort to have a smooth transition. There are enough things, enough things that face this country. We should not have for the first time in our history this kind of foolishness. I applaud those few members of the Republican Party who have been honest enough to say its over. We know its over. When you go back in history, when Richard Nixon faced impeachment and ultimate conviction here in the senate, it was some of the most respected republican senators who went down to see him quietly. People like hugh scott, the republican leader whom i got to know well. Barry goldwater, mr. Conservative whom i got to know well. And they went down not with any happiness in doing this, as one of them told me subsequently was actually sorrow in their hearts to tell the president he had to leave, the time had come. And the president did. And the republicans and democrats came together, helped install the next president gerry ford and the next Vice President gerry ford, the two of them becoming the first president and Vice President never to have been elected. Gerry ford and nelson rockefeller, first president and Vice President never to be elected but to be appointed. And thats about the time i came to the senate. I remember hearing republicans and democrats alike saying we knew the government had to keep going and we had to show credibility to the rest of the world. So long as we pretend that we have a presidency by tweet, we dont show that integrity to the rest of the world. Just as i was here for the inauguration of President Trump, even though i had had a different kind voted for secretary and former senator Hillary Clinton, i was there as was secretary clinton and her husband, former president clinton. And outgoing president obama and outgoing Vice President biden. To show the world that we have continuity, even though vastly difference of opinion. Thats not the image were showing now. With everything thats happening whether its iran or economically with brexit and the united kingdom, to a covid epidemic around the world, we, the United States of america, should show unity, at least under our constitution. Of course, republicans should be supporting republicans. Of course democrats should be supportive of democrats. But the one thing we should all be supportive of is our constitution and our laws. We stand down there, the proudest moments of my life was standing down here and taking my oath to uphold the constitution as United States senator just as i did when i became president pro tempore. I did it to uphold the constitution of the u. S. Not the constitution of the Democratic Party, not the constitution of the Republican Party, but the constitution of the United States of america. Lets get on with the transiti transition. Lets make america strong again. And lets do what is necessary to be done to fight this covid epidemic. In that regard, we have two matters that should be the most important matters before us. One is getting an omnibus through because after all, in a couple of weeks, funding for the United States of america runs out. And we dont want to have one of those foolish shutdowns like we had before that cost the taxpayers billions and billions of dollars. And ended four of us, senator shelby and myself and the counterparts of the house met just down the hall in my office and worked out a bipartisan resolution and passed the spending bill so we could put the Government Back in order. Ironically its exactly what we had offered weeks before. For some reason the white house didnt want to accept it and billions of dollars of taxpayers money was lost. Now we have a lifeor death issue that goes beyond even the spending. Thats covid. The house of representatives back in june, i believe it was, passed the heroes act to have money, equipment, and so forth for those who are suffering because of the covid epidemic. Like the small stores and inns and restaurants and so forth in my state to say nothing about our hospitals that are overwhelmed, we had money in there. The republican leader refused to even bring the bill up for a vote. I kept saying why. The republicans are in the majority. Bring it up, have four or five amendments on this side, four or five republican amendments, four or five democratic amendments. Vote them up or down. What are we afraid of . Why do we refuse to vote . If the republican leader doesnt like the bill, instead of blocking it, not even having a vote on it, vote it up or down. Republicans are in the majority. They could vote down any aid for states suffering from covid. But vote it up or down. Ive heard some senators say, but theyre nervous that whichever way they vote, it might be it might be uncomfortable back home. It might not be politically good for them back home. Balderdash the fact is, were sent here to vote. I voted more than any senator in the history of this country, save one. Ive cast well over 16,000 votes. Can people go back to those votes and say, what were you thinking on this vote in 1978 or 1986 or 1995 . And id probably look at it and say, hmm. In retrospect, i think i probably screwed up. But i was willing to vote. I was willing to vote. When i was the key vote in the Armed Services committee to stop the war in vietnam, i knew that our states large 96 largest newspaper would attack me mercilessly. And they did, for months after that. Today they would be hard to find anybody that was in favor of continuing that war in vietnam. But we had five votes in a row in the Armed Services committee. Each one failed by one vote. And i was the newest member on there. Of course i had cascaded, but i was here to vote. Thats what i have to do. I look at some of my friends on the republican side who joined me on some very tough votes. I dont want to embarrass the senior senator from texas, but he is on the floor and on the freedom of information act we stood up against both republicans and democrats and said, no, were standing up for the people of america, and were going to have votes on this so they can see what their government is doing. Thats what weve got to go back to, back to the time when we could do that. So what i would urge the republican leadership, bring up a covid bill, a real covid bill. Have a few amendments on both sides. Vote them up or down. The if you dont like an amendment somebody has, vote against it. If you like it, vote for t but let the American People at least have some hope that were doing something for them. Too many businesses places are going out of business. Too many families dont know what theyre going to do when the school is closed. Too many small hospitals, especially in rural areas, wonder what theyre going to do as the covid sweeps through. Lets give them some hope. Lets say to people, no, youre not going to be kicked out of your home. No youre not going to be living in your car. We will give you money to get through this, knowing that the economy can be much stronger afterward if you do. It certainly is going to be much stronger for our labor force if theyre still in their homes when the jobs open back up than if theyre homes. So lets do that. Mr. President , lets bring it up and vote. Senator shelby and i have worked very, very hard on Bipartisan Legislation for the omnibus. Probably 95 , 98 have agreed on t bring that up and on the 2 , 3 , 4 , bring it up, vote it up, vote it down. If 42 dont like it, vote it if they dont like it, vote it down. But lets the vast bulk of it through, that both democrats and republicans have worked together on. My staff has worked together with republican staff. So vote it up, vote it down. Lets just vote on it. And then lets let people leave here instead of putting our staff, the people who work in the hallway, the people who are here on the floor, let them go where its safe. I am glad to see the distinguished presiding officer. Hes gotten over his own bout with covid. He, like everybody else here, has suffered that, he has been in my prayers when theyve been suffering it. But there are millions of others who are suffering and the highest number weve ever had are dying from it. Lets get together. Lets do what the American People want. Lets do what were elected for. Lets not be afraid to vote. Dont be afraid to vote. Certainly i may have thought long and hard in some of those 16,000 votes ive cast, but i was never afraid to vote, never afraid to vote. Mr. President , i see my colleague and friend waiting for a chance to speak, so ill yield the floor. Mr. Corny mr. President . The presiding officer the senator from texas. Mr. Cornyn mr. President , let me say while hes still here on the floor, i agree with the senator fromempt have. If you dont want to i agree with the senator from vermont. If you dont want to vote, you probably ought to look for another line of work. Coming to congress is a bad place to come if you dont want to actually vote and be on record. Well, mr. President , as america waits for the results of the 2020 election to be certified in a couple of weeks, former Vice President joe biden has begun to announce his picks for cabinet and other highranking positions. Some of these nominees have close ties to investment and other consulting firms whose clients are largely unknown, or maybe even the subject of a nondisclosure agreement. The truth is, these individuals could be working on behalf of a feelgood nonprofit, a Malicious Foreign actor, or a Large Company with business before the government. The truth of the matter is, we have simply no idea what kind of business or Financial Relationships these individuals have with foreign powers that can influence their actions as highrank gunfight officials. This highranking government officials. This is an ethical issue. It is a conflict of interest interest. Americans deserve to know whether these nominees have relationships that could cloud their judgment on behalf of the American People, if confirmed. When it comes to the business dealings of those who could serve in highranking government positions, full transparency is the only option. So i encourage each of these individuals, if nominated, to take an openbook approach throughout the hearings and confirmation process. In fact, i will make a pledge here today. I will not support any nominee who doesnt provide full transparency into their work on behalf of a foreign government. I will not do it. The American People deserve to know if these or any future nominees are beholden to anything other than our national interest. Mr. President , just to make the point that this is not some imaginary or hypothetical problem, let me refer to an article that was written today in the Associated Press news entitled mercenary donor sold access for millions in foreign money. This is a story of an elite socalled elite political fundraiser, ahmad zuberi, who maybe not surprisingly raised a lot of money for Hillary Clinton and for president barack obama and became a top donor to the Trump Inauguration committee. He wasnt particularly partisan. He just wanted to be close to power and be able to influence it. Prosecutors who have now prosecuted him for a variety of violations of Campaign Finance laws and foreign lobbying laws have called him a mercenary political donor. His foreign entanglements were quite extensive. He lobbied for as an unregistered Foreign Agent for at least a half a dozen countries and officials, including a ukrainian oligarch close to russian president vladimir putin. He lobbied for countries like turkey, sri lanka, among others as i said, it doesnt really so much make a difference which countries; its the country that he was lobbying in an undisclosed fashion, violating Campaign Finance laws for which he has now pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing after the first of the year. We spent the last four years on the collect committee on intelligence the russian interference in the 2016 election. As this story makes clear, zubaris story shows there are far easier ways to bend American Foreign policy than using sophisticated hacking tools or wellfunded troll farms. In other words, you can do it the way he has done it, violating our Foreign Agent registration laws, representing foreign governments and foreign interests, hiring lobbyists, cut out donors in a way that funnels foreign money into the american political process, unbeknownst to people like us. Unless its disclosed. Between 1966 and 2015, the department of department of just justice practices brought just 17 cases for violating to register sasse a foreign lobbyist. So this is a serious topic. The incoming chairman of the Judiciary Committee, senator grassley, and the current ranking member, senator feinstein around i have a bill to reform the Foreign Agents act. But this is going to be front and center in thes confirmation process for any nominees by the Incoming Administration. And i think it is fair to someplace everybody on fair notice that full transparency is the only option. Mr. President , on another matter, the senate has of course returned for a last endoftheyear foreign dash and we have a lot of work to do before we cross the finish line. Government funding will expire in less than two weeks and we have to reach an agreement, as the senior nor from vermont mentioned, before december 11 deadline of the current continuing resolution. With millions of americans already facing economic uncertainty, a Government Shutdown is surely not an option. We need to pass the national Defense Authorization act to support americas brave Service Members and ensure that our military leaders have the ability to plan and operate with certainty and provide peace through american strength. And as we move into the winter months, which the experts have told us will present new challenges in our war against the covid19 virus, its time to cut the partisanship and deliver another round of relief to the American People. Its worth recounting because people have short memories apparently in washington, d. C. , but over the last several months, our democratic colleagues have consistently talked about the need to bolster our support in the fight against covid19 but, despite repeated rhetoric and calls to action, theyve unapologetically stood in the way of each and every attempt to make real progress. This summer we proposed something called the heals act, at the presiding officer knows. He was instrumental in that work. As a starting point for negotiations on a new relief package, a starting place, a place to begin bipartisan negotiations in hopes of crafting a package that could get the requisite number of votes. But, unfortunately, our democratic colleagues before the election had simply no interest in amending the bill or trying to find any kind of Common Ground. I think they thought it was to their political advantage for the American People to be experiencing the anxiety and the pain before the election. I cant imagine holding them hostage, but thats what appeared to me to be the case. So instead of trying to find Common Ground and in particular, the speaker who made the amazing statement that nothing is better than something when it comes to covid19 relief the opposite of what i have believed she demeaned the bill as pathetic. The minority leader called it unworkable but then they didnt lift a finger to get anything done. So the next month we took another shot. We attempted to narrow the scope of negotiations to the most urgent matters, things like continuing federal Unemployment Benefits which expired at the end of july. This is last july. This time our limit colleagues reject what had they called a peacemeal approach. Well, never mind the fact that the house returned to washington to help pass a bill that supported the u. S. Postal service. We all believe in supporting the postal service, but apparently they thought that piecemeal bill was acceptable as long as it was a democratically authored bill and didnt provide any additional relief to the American People. Well, after being unsuccessful the first two times, we tried to get a third time. So in september, the majority leader tried to bring a bill to the floor to provide 500 billion for our shared bipartisan priorities. There werent any real differences in the what was in the bill. The only difference was our democratic colleagues wanted to spend about well, multiples of that for unrelated activities. We wanted to concentrate the effort on helping Small Businesses keep their employees on payroll, giving schools the resources they needed to keep their students and teachers safe, strengthening testing nationwide, and investing in the continued success of operation warp speed, which is going to deliver an f. D. A. Approved vaccine before the end of the year. Not just one. Maybe as many as two or three. And more perhaps to come. Anyone who spent time watching cspan over the last several months has heard both republicans and democrats talk about the importance of every single one of these things, but when legislation includes all these priorities came up for an initial vote, our democratic colleagues wouldnt even allow us to get on the bill. In other words, here in the senate, you have to vote to get on the bill before you can then offer amendments to try to make it better, so they killed it. Without batting an eye, our democratic colleagues voted in lockstep to block the bill and unanimously opposed legislation that would have invested an additional half a trillion dollars in our fight against covid19. When the majority leader tried to build bring the bill to the floor again in october, we saw exactly the same thing. It was the same bad movie all over again. Our democratic colleagues refused to let us even debate much less to amend the bill. Its not just these targeted packages that have been blocked by our democratic colleagues. They stood in the way of other commonsense proposals like the one from the nowformer senator from from arizona, senator mcsally, which would have extended Unemployment Benefits for one week while we negotiated a larger compromise. Our friends on the other side of the aisle have repeatedly said Congress Needs to act, but the reality is their own actions have prevented us from doing so. Month after month, they have demonstrated its either the houses multitrilliondollar leftwing policy grab bag wish list or nothing. They have consistently told the American People its our way or the highway. You dont get an extension of Unemployment Insurance unless we get tax breaks for blue state millionaires and billionaires. You dont get vaccine funding unless we get diversity studies on the marijuana industry. You dont get funding for schools unless we get permanent changes to hijack and take over our election laws and run them out of washington, d. C. Well, even rankandfile democrats have now understood and criticized the bogus approach, this sort of bogus approach to legislating. Its been the same song and dance month after month. Fiery speeches, press conferences, tweets, and letters calling for action, but each time our democratic colleagues have been given an opportunity to actually do something, to do more than spout off some meaningless, vapid rhetoric near a microphone. They have simply stood in the way. The fact of the matter is our democratic colleagues have blocked more covid relief bills than they have passed. If they continue to feign outrage over congress failure to pass a bill. We heard it again here today, as they they arent the ones responsible for the impasse. Our jobs here in the senate arent simply to vote against imperfect bills. If that were the case, no bill would ever pass because none of them are perfect, but this body is built on making imperfect legislation better through a debate and amendment process. Two processes we havent seen much at work this year. So the bottom line, mr. President , is Congress Needs to act, the American People want democrats and republicans to come to an agreement on the things our country actually needs to make it through this crisis. It wont be the last piece of legislation we pass, but we do need to do this next step, and we need to do it soon, as soon as possible. Its time for our democratic colleagues to realize the elections over, and the only real people being hurt by their intransigence will the people they represent in their various states. So its time to start getting back to work for all the American People on a bipartisan piece of legislation and to quit the partisan games. I cant say it any more directly than that. Mr. President , i yield the floor and i would note the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quor call a senator thank you, mr. President. Are we in a quorum call . The presiding officer we are in a quorum call. Mrs. Blackburn i ask that we suspend the quorum call. The presiding officer without objection. Mrs. Blackburn thank you, mr. President. This week, as we return to d. C. , we are going to resume consideration of the 2021 national Defense Authorization act. Around d. C. , we call it the ndaa. And before i get into discussing some of my priorities in this legislation, i want to encourage each and every one of my colleagues to carefully consider why we go through the lengthy process of drafting and reconciling this authorization, and we do this every single year. The easy answer, of course, is that we have a duty to provide for our common defense, and that of our allies and partners, but every year, the media devotes most of their attention to how much money weve agreed to spend on the tools of war. The chinook helicopters, the virginia glass submarines and reapers. They want to know about the flashy hardware and end up ignoring the people that are in the drivers seat. Thousands of service men and women call tennessee home and when i accepted the role of senator, i took on a special responsibility to look after, to take care of each and every one of them. Their decision to serve came with necessary and serious lifestyle changes, both for themselves and for their families. Anyone who knows a Service Member knows that their lives are not their own. They go where theyre told to go. They do the jobs that they are told to do. And, mr. President , they do it without hesitation because theyve accepted that serving their country is more important than the autonomy they sacrificed when they put on that uniform and when they took their oath. Sacrifice is the key word here because it applies not only to the Service Member but it also applies to their family. This is why we spend so much time focusing on programs that make their lives as seamless as possible. For example, this year i continued work on Military Spouse license portability to make it easier for spouses who wish to continue working in their chosen field after they have changed locations, moved from one state to another because they were told this was going to be their new duty station. And, mr. President , we hope that these spouses are able to continue their careers, to be fulfilled in their jobs and responsibilities. Last year we established a Pilot Program for licensure reciprocity, and this year we worked to increase funding for this very important program. With my remaining time, i want to focus on our special operations community, especially the fifth special forces group and the 160th special Operations Aviation regiment. And they each call Fort Campbell their home. For those who serve in these elite units, uncommon bravery is an everyday occurrence. They go to some of the worst places on the face of the earth to be surrounded by the most dangerous people alive, to do work that no one can ever know about and at a higher occupational tempo than any other aspect of our forces. Their operational tempo is unbelievable. The physical, spiritual, and psychological toll of that work and the stigma attached to it by those who do not understand its importance cannot be overstated. Its not a unique burden but it is an especially heavy burden. U. S. Special Operations Command knows this and has made taking care of the people behind this mission a priority. They created the preservation of the force and Families Program to support these war years and their families, but like any program of its nature, it requires continuous innovation and evolution to stay effective. This years senatepassed ndaa reaffirms the importance of this initiative to both Service Members and their families and improves human, psychological, spiritual, and social performance programs. It also requires a deeper study on new opportunities for special and incentive pay parity in order to increase retention of our valuable special operators. This is only one aspect of an expansive piece of legislation, but it provides a useful reminder that every dollar, every single taxpayer dollar that we spend to defend the cause of freedom is gone to waste if we ignore the unique needs of the people fighting our battles for us. We have to put the emphasis on this human capital, on the individuals on their families. Mr. President , this is one of those moments where it would be in everyones best interest and our nations best interests to avoid playing politics with a very important policy. Protecting these men and women in uniform, providing for the common defense, providing the tools, the training, the services they need in order to be ready to deploy, in order to take care of their families, in order to treat their wounds when they return, to care for the whole of the soldier. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, delay isnt an inconvenience when it comes to the ndaa. Its not a bump in the road. When it comes to our Nations Defense spending, delay is dangerous. Its dangerous for our national defense. Its dangerous for the allies and the partners who depend on us, and it is dangerous for our troops and their families. And it is my hope that we will be able to proceed with consideration of the final 2021 ndaa with that above all else at the forefront of our minds. I yield the floor. I note the absen of a quorum. The presid the presiding officer would the senator withhold . Thank you. Under the previous order, the senate will proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the following nomination which the clerk will report. The clerk nomination, the judiciary, taylor b. Mcneel of district judge for the Southern District of mississippi. Mrs. Blackburn mr. President , i note the absence of a quorum. E presiding officer the clerk will call theoll. Quorum call quorum call quorum call mr. Shelby mr. President , i ask unimous consent that the quorum call be dispensed with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Shelby whats t regular order . I ask unanimous consent now that the presiding officer is there objection . Without objection the clerk will report the motion to invoke clore. The clerk cloture motion. We, the undersned senators, in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules of the sate, do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the nomination of taylor b. Mcneel of mississippi to be uned statesistrict judge for the Southern District of missisppi, sned by 17 senators. The presiding officer by unanimous consent, the mandatory quorum call has been waived. The question is, is it the sense of the senat that date on the nomination of taylor b. Mcneel of mississippi to be United States district judge for the Southern District of mississippi shall be brought to a close. The yeas and nays are mandatory under the rule. The clerk wilallhe roll. Vote te vote vote vote the presiding officer are ther any senators wishing to if not, the yeas are 52. E . The motion is agreed to. Mr. Mcconnell mr. President . The presiding officer the majority leader. Mr. Mccoell i ask unanimous const that notwithstanding the provisions of rule 22, the postcloture time o the mcneel nomination expire at 11 00 a. M. Tomorrow. And the senate vote on confirmation of the nomination. I further ask that if cloture is invoked on the calabrese minati, the postcloture time expire at 2 15 tomorrow. And the senate vote on confirmation of the nomination. Finally, if any of the nominations are confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the president be needly notified of the senates action. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnel i ask unanimous consent the senate pload to proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following nominations executive calendar 905 and 906. The presiding officer whout objection. Mr. Monnell i ask consent the senat vote on the nominations en bloc with no interveningction or debate. If confirmed the motions to reconsider be considered made and la upon the table en bloc and the president be immediately notified of the senates action. The presiding officer without objection. The presiding officer the question is on the confirmation of the nominations en bloc. All those in favor say aye. All opposed no. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it. The nomination is confirmed en bloc. Mr. Mcconnell i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to legislative session and ben a period of morning busines with senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell i ask unanimous consent the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of s. Res. 753 and the senate proceed to its immediate consideration. The presiding officer the clerk will report. The clerk Senate Resolution 753, support rg the goals and ideals of natiol domestic violce awareness month. The presiding officer is there objection to proceeding . Without objection, the committee is discharged and the senate will proceed. Mr. Mcconnell i further ask the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to and the motions to reconsider be considered pa id and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell now, mr. President , i ask unanimous consent that when the senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 00 a. M. On tuesday, december 1. Further, followinghe prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the journ 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. Further, following leader remarks, the senate proce to executive session and resume coideration of the mcneel nomination under the previous order. Finally, i ask that the Senate Recess from 12 30 until 2 15 to allow for the Weekly Conference meetings. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell so if theres no further business to come fore the senate, i ask it stand adjourned under the previous order. The presiding officer the Senate Stands adjourned until Senate Stands adjourned until legislation deadline. Olife Senate Coverage here on cspan2. Tonight, on the communicators, netflix founder and Ceo Reed Hastings in business professor erin myers behind one of the Largest Tech Companies in the world and their book no rules rules. Netflix and the culture of reinvention. You have to do what you think is right to help the customers and the company. You cannot continue to easier. And not allowed to let me drive us off the cliff. You have to fight for the benefit of the company. In general we say dont seek to please your boss, seek to please the customers and grow the company. So we want people to think independently. Not just implement their bosses wishes. Watch the communicators tonight at eight eastern on cspan2. To be back t saint tasury secrety Steve Mnuchin and jerome powl testified before th Senate Banking committee. Theyll provide an update on emergency measures to provide relief from the economic downturn, triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. Watch live coverage of the hearing. On cspan. Org, or listen live wherever you are on the cspan radio app. Backward join next by lee he is a senior fellow heading the Political Reform Program at new america. Here to joining usca