Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 115 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
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E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 115 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Vol. 164 WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2018 No. 169 House of Representatives The House was not in session today. Its next meeting will be held on Friday, October 12, 2018, at 9:30 a.m. Senate THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2018 The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was HURRICANE MICHAEL are fortunate enough to win back the called to order by the President pro Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, House and/or the Senate, that’s when tempore (Mr. HATCH). Hurricane Michael made landfall along civility can start again.’’ f the Florida Panhandle. This storm has ‘‘That’s when civility can start again,’’ she said, when they win back already claimed multiple lives and left PRAYER the House and/or the Senate. the gulf coast communities wounded by The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- Just yesterday, we saw President fered the following prayer: surging waters and high winds. As Mi- Obama’s Attorney General Eric Holder Let us pray. chael continues inland, those left in its offer his own version of a slogan made Eternal God, who has given us life, wake can count on the Senate’s sup- famous by our former First Lady, we praise You that Your tender mer- port for responsive recovery efforts and Michelle Obama. This is Mr. Holder’s cies are over all Your work. Today, trust in our continued prayers. We re- new vision for civil discourse. Here is may we represent the glory of Your main grateful for the vigilance of first how the former Attorney General of kingdom on Capitol Hill, living in a responders and emergency prepared- the United States urged Democrats to way that will glorify Your Name. ness organizations as they work to treat the other side. He said: Thank you that the work you have keep residents of affected communities Michelle always says, ‘‘When they go low, given our lawmakers and those who safe and for all of those who will help we go high.’’ No. No. When they go low, we labor with them is crucial for our Na- to rebuild after the storm has passed. kick ’em. tion’s future. Lord, uphold our Sen- f He said: ators with Your might, surrounding POLITICAL CLIMATE When they go low, we kick ’em. That’s them with the shield of Your grace as what this new Democratic Party is about. You provide for their needs. Deliver Mr. MCCONNELL. Now, Madam The ‘‘new Democratic Party,’’ he them from impatience, irritability, and President, on an entirely different mat- said. anger, as You keep them from the self- ter, with the bipartisan progress the Remember, these comments come ishness that can see only its point of Senate has made this week, it is hard less than a year and a half after Repub- view. Help them to reflect Your grace, to believe what was happening just a lican Members of the House and Senate purity, and love. few days ago right inside this Capitol were literally shot at by a politically We pray in Your great Name. Amen. and right outside the building. It is crazed gunman. Our colleagues were f hard to believe it was less than a week nearly killed just a few minutes from PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ago that far-left protesters were lit- the Capitol. In just these past days, erally storming the steps of the Capitol there have been graphic death threats, The President pro tempore led the and the Supreme Court, running my Senators and staff have needed extraor- Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: colleagues out of public places and at- dinary police protection, and the I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the tempting to shout over their voices United States of America, and to the Repub- Democrats are calling for more incivil- lic for which it stands, one nation under God, right here in the Senate Chamber. Of ity and more rage? They are calling for indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. course, it didn’t work. The Senate more incivility and more rage? stood tall and did the right thing. There isn’t a firmer defender of the f The far left isn’t done yet. If we take First Amendment than I. It is vital RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY them at their word, this may have only that citizens be heard. Americans with LEADER been the warmup act. Here is the ad- strong opinions on both sides of last The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. vice former Secretary of State Hillary week’s debate spoke up in a civil and HYDE-SMITH). The majority leader is Clinton gave to her fellow Democrats respectful way, and our Nation was recognized. just a few days ago. She said: ‘‘If we better for it. But only one side—only ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S6777 . VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:11 Oct 12, 2018 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A11OC6.000 S11OCPT1 dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with SENATE S6778 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 11, 2018 one side—was happy to play host to After we confirm Mr. Clark, we will reached its lowest level since 2000—the this toxic fringe behavior. Only one consider another Assistant Attorney lowest unemployment in 18 years. side’s leaders are now openly calling General nominee, Eric Dreiband, for News like this will not surprise any- for more of it. They haven’t seen the Civil Rights Division. Mr. Dreiband one who has been listening to the ac- enough. They want more. is also well prepared to serve. His re- counts of Missourians, like Mary Beth I am afraid this is only phase 1 of the sume includes several stints of public Hartman, who runs a small construc- meltdown. We are already seeing des- service, including as general counsel of tion company in Springfield. She says perate voices on the far left explain the EEOC, in addition to private sector the new tax law has given her the flexi- that, well, because they lost this fight, experience. Others have praised his bility to expand vacations and bonuses even more drastic steps are in order. service at the EEOC as ‘‘widely re- for her employees and invest half a There is crazy talk—crazy talk— spected,’’ ‘‘in the highest rung of the million dollars in new equipment. about impeaching Justice Kavanaugh. Agency’s general counsels,’’ and a Or Brandon Pister—he used his tax There are left-wing writers demanding ‘‘record of superlative performance.’’ reform bonus to help his family cover that Democrats pack the Court—a Those who have worked with Mr. medical expenses and put money into zombie idea from the 1930s they have Dreiband emphasize his strong commit- savings. dug up just in time for Halloween. ment to protecting all Americans’ civil The junior Senator from Missouri How about this: One columnist for a rights. can be proud that he voted for the his- national newspaper called the result a In the words of one leader who is toric policies that helped unleash all of coup—a coup—and implied that the known and worked hard with the nomi- this good news. It is a shame that his Founders got it wrong and designed the nee for 15 years, ‘‘his commitment to colleague, the senior Senator from Mis- Senate incorrectly. They want to re- fairly enforcing the law is without souri, chose to vote in lockstep with write the Constitution? The Founding question.’’ Senate Democrats and try to block tax Fathers got it wrong? Handling defeat After Dreiband will come James reform from taking effect. badly is one thing, but regretting the Stewart, the President’s choice to Republicans will keep sharing suc- Constitution itself because you don’t serve as Secretary of Defense for Man- cess stories like these from Missouri like how a vote turned out—really? power and Reserve Affairs. Mr. Stew- and keep helping the American people This is something else. But I guess it is art’s experience managing military write more. not entirely surprising given the out- manpower runs deep through his dis- I suggest the absence of a quorum. right embrace by many on the left, in- tinguished career at the U.S. Air The PRESIDING OFFICER. The cluding elected officials, of radical con- Force, from which he retired as a clerk will call the roll. cepts like open borders and socialism. major general. The senior assistant legislative clerk Anyone who thinks that intimidation He has most recently served on the proceeded to call the roll. and scare tactics might rule the day North Carolina Military Affairs Com- Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I must have missed the Senate’s vote mission and on the Secretary of De- ask unanimous consent that the order last Saturday. Maybe they weren’t fense’s Reserve Forces Policy Board. for the quorum call be rescinded. tuned in. This body will not let un- Each of these nominees deserves con- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without hinged tactics replace reasoned judg- firmation, and I would urge our col- objection, it is so ordered. ment. We will not let mob behavior leagues to approve all of them. f drown out all the Americans who want f to legitimately participate in the pol- RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY TAX REFORM icymaking process on all sides. The LEADER Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, Senate, I assure you, will not be in- The PRESIDING OFFICER.