The presiding officer is there anyone in the chamber wishing to vote or wishing to change their vote . If not, the yeas are 29. The nays are 64. The amendment is not agreed to. A senator madam president . The presiding officer the senator from alabama. Mr. Jones madam president , under the previous order i call up amendment the presiding officer order in the chamber. Please take your conversations out of the well. Lets have order in the chamber. Order in the chamber. The senator from alabama. Mr. Jones thank you, madam president. Under the previous order, i call up amendment number 1141 as modified. The presiding officer the clerk will report. The clerk the senator from alabama mr. Jones for himself and miss mccaly proposes amendment 1141 to amendment number 948. Mr. Jones i ask unanimous consent to dispense with the reading. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Jones madam president , madam president , i rise in support of the amendment offered by myself and my friend from ari
Automatic sequester cuts. Kentucky senator rand paul will offer an amendment to lower spending caps over the next decade. We expect final votes later this morning and we may also see more work on President Trumps judicial nominations. Now live Senate Coverage here on cspan2. The senate will come to order. The chaplain, dr. Black, will lead the senate in prayer. The chaplain let us pray. Eternal god, who has created humanity in your image, look upon us and hear our prayers. Today, give our lawmakers the desire to do your will and the energy to complete the tasks that will glorify your name. That which they dont know, reveal it. That which they lack, supply it and that which they doubt, confirm it. Keep them blameless in your service, so that their lives will be living letters causing people to exalt your name. Lord, strengthen their minds for your service, so that your wisdom will permeate their endeavors. We pray in your mighty name. Amen. The president pro tempore please join me in re
Years. The u. S. Has been without a defense secretary all year since the departure of former defense chief jim mattis in december. This is live coverage on cspan 3. Our meeting will come to order consistent with our policy to start on time. We will be doing that. Good morning. Today were considering the nomination of dr. Mark espy to be secretary of defense. We thank you all for being here today. We anticipate during your opening remarks, dr. Espy, that you will introduce any members of your family who are here and other support groups. It is standard we do have the eight required questions you will have to respond to audibly so we can get that in the record. Have you adhered to ethical regarding conflicts of interest. Yes, sir. Have you taken any actions which would prepare to presume the outcome of the confirmation process . No, sir. Exercising legislative and oversight responsibility makes it important that this committee, its subcommittees and other appropriate committees of congre
Our meeting will come to order consistent with policies to start on time. Well be doing that. Good morning today were considering the nomination of mark esper to be secretary of defense. We thank all for being here today. We anticipate doing your opening remarks, dr. Esper, introduce any members of your family here and other support groups. It is standard we have the eight required questions to respond to audibly to get that in record. Adhere to laws governing conflict of interest. Yes, sir. Assumed duties taken any actions that would appear to presume the outcome of the confirmation process . No, sir. Exercise legislative oversight responsibility makes it important that this committee, its subcommittees and other appropriate kmtsz if congress received testimony, reports, recordings and other information from the executive branch on a timely basis. Do you agree, if confirmed, to and and testify before this committee when requested. Yes, sir. Do you agree to provide records, document, E
Only accelerate when a business may deduct certain deductions and not whether the costs are deductible in the first place. However, the most costly of what i term general business incentives is also likely the most popular. Im going to show you in just a minute. The most popular because it has such an overwhelming number of cosponsors in both bodies. That is the shortline tax credit. This provision offers a tax ched to shortline railroads for qualified maintenance expenditures. This credit isnt available to the largest railroads, what we call the class one railroads. This credit benefits smaller railroads that are critically important for farmers and many manufacturers to get their products to the global markets. For example, in my state of iowa, according to a recent data from the american short line and Regional Railroad association, there are nine short lines and Regional Railroads. This credit isnt just supported by an and important to the railroads themselves. Its also supported b