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, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 No. 158 Senate The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was to the Senate from the President pro NOMINATION OF BRETT KAVANAUGH called to order by the Honorable CINDY tempore (Mr. HATCH). Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, HYDE-SMITH, a Senator from the State The senior assistant legislative clerk in the past week and a half, the Amer- of Mississippi. read the following letter: ican people have seen a confusing and chaotic process play out right here in f U.S. SENATE, PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, the Senate. PRAYER Washington, DC, September 25, 2018. They have seen uncorroborated, dec- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Today’s To the Senate: ades-old allegations of wrongdoing pop opening prayer will be offered by Pas- Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, up in the press at the last minute, just tor Sam Steele of Chapel by the Sea of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby as Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirma- appoint the Honorable CINDY HYDE-SMITH, a from South Padre Island, TX. tion process was winding down. Senator from the State of Mississippi, to per- They have seen an accuser’s request The guest Chaplain offered the fol- form the duties of the Chair. for privacy disregarded and ordinary lowing prayer: ORRIN G. HATCH, standards of fairness completely dis- Good morning. President pro tempore. carded. Christ Jesus sent people out two by Mrs. HYDE-SMITH thereupon as- They have seen a disturbing pattern two. sumed the Chair as Acting President play out on two separate occasions al- Let us pray. pro tempore. ready. It goes like this: No. 1, our Eternal God, as our Senators gath- f Democratic colleagues on the Judici- er—two from each State—they break ary Committee get wind of or maybe RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME down barriers that divide, create an en- even go looking for a sensitive allega- vironment of honest dialogue, and The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- tion. Second, they decline to share it bring about positive compromise so pore. Under the previous order, the with the majority, meaning the com- that there is unity in our diversity and leadership time is reserved. mittee cannot promptly take appro- so our Nation is steadfast in the foun- f priate action. Third, they allow the al- dation of the people, by the people, and legation to leak to the press at the last CONCLUSION OF MORNING for the people. moment. Loving God, we lift up to You our BUSINESS Fortunately, in stark contrast to this brothers and sisters touched by the The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- malpractice, the American people have weather across our land. May we reach pore. Morning business is closed. also seen the exemplary manner in out our hands of love and help. Comfort f which Chairman GRASSLEY has led the those who suffer, and strengthen those Judiciary Committee throughout the EXECUTIVE SESSION who serve. entire process. The chairman has acted Creator God, pour Your wisdom upon swiftly and transparently in pursuit of each Senator. Bless them with humil- EXECUTIVE CALENDAR the truth. He has treated Dr. Ford with ity as they serve, and make us once kindness and respect. Acknowledging again ‘‘we the people.’’ The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- that the irresponsible and irregular In Your Holy Name we pray. Amen. pore. Under the previous order, the manner in which her allegation was Senate will proceed to executive ses- brought to light was no fault of hers, f sion to resume consideration of the fol- the chairman opened a dialogue with PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE lowing nomination, which the clerk Dr. Ford’s counsel. He deferred to her The Presiding Officer led the Pledge will report. preferences on the timing of her hear- of Allegiance, as follows: The senior assistant legislative clerk ing and a number of other details. read the nomination of Peter A. Feld- I will quote from a letter the chair- I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the man wrote to Dr. Ford yesterday. Here United States of America, and to the Repub- man, of the District of Columbia, to be lic for which it stands, one nation under God, a Commissioner of the Consumer Prod- is what Chairman GRASSLEY had to indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. uct Safety Commission for the remain- say: der of the term expiring October 26, I am committed to fair and respectful f 2019. treatment of you. [The] hearing on Thursday will allow you to testify and also APPOINTMENT OF ACTING RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY LEADER PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE will allow the nominee to address the allega- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- tions. Both of you deserve a credible and The PRESIDING OFFICER. The pore. The majority leader is recog- fair process in a secure and professional set- clerk will please read a communication nized. ting. ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S6283 . VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:59 Sep 25, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25SE6.000 S25SEPT1 dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with SENATE S6284 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 25, 2018 That was Chairman GRASSLEY. himself. As he wrote in his own letter been hearing for months are no fluke. So we have one side that is handling to Chairman GRASSLEY yesterday, the In the last year, Montana’s entre- these sensitive matters with dignity, weaponization of unsubstantiated preneurs founded nearly 3,000 new en- with professionalism, by the book, and smears—that is what we have here, the terprises, and according to Governor we have another side that chose to sit weaponization of unsubstantiated Bullock, the employment rate is the on allegations and keep them secret smears—‘‘will dissuade competent and lowest it has been in over a decade in until they were leaked to the press— good people of all political persuasions Montana. the same side as the Democratic lead- from service.’’ Over the past year and a half, this er’s, who had already made up his mind This isn’t what Members want the united Republican government has im- mere hours after Judge Kavanaugh was Senate to be. This isn’t what Ameri- plemented a bold, pro-growth agenda to chosen and said: ‘‘I will oppose him cans want our society to be. So I look help create the conditions for Mon- with everything I’ve got.’’ Well, appar- forward to hearing from both Dr. Ford tana’s workers and job creators to ently so. and Judge Kavanaugh under oath this write this new chapter. The signs we Look, the American people know Thursday morning. I am glad we will are seeing today are truly remarkable, that sexual misconduct is gravely seri- be able to hear testimony from both. but they shouldn’t come as a surprise, ous. They expect this to be treated se- Then I look forward to an up-or-down for the trends we are seeing across the riously and addressed promptly. That vote on this nomination right here on country today are exactly what this is precisely what Chairman GRASSLEY the Senate floor. united Republican government had in has done and is doing. But the Amer- THE WEEK’S BUSINESS mind when we passed generational tax ican people also insist that vague, un- Madam President, on an entirely dif- reform. They are exactly what one of substantiated, and uncorroborated alle- ferent matter, as I noted yesterday, the Montana’s Senators had in mind when gations of 30-plus-year-old mis- Senate continues to make progress on he voted to deliver it. What a shame conduct—where all the supposed wit- critical national priorities. We are re- that the other Senator joined Senate nesses either totally deny it or can’t storing the regular order appropria- Democrats in lockstep opposition. confirm it—is nowhere near grounds to tions process; we are securing common- These days, the ball is in the Amer- nullify someone’s career or destroy sense reforms to infrastructure policy ican people’s court. They will keep their good name. Justice matters. Evi- and the longest authorization of FAA taking it and running with it—creating dence matters. Facts matter. in over 35 years; and, this week, we are jobs and new prosperity all across our Let’s look at one of the supposed wit- confirming more of the President’s country. Here in Congress, the Repub- nesses, Ms. Leland Keyser. She is not a well-qualified nominees. Yesterday, the licans will keep working hard to help friend of Judge Kavanaugh’s. In fact, Senate voted to confirm Jackie Wol- them do it. she says she doesn’t even know him. cott as the U.S. Representative to the The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- Rather, she is a longtime friend of Pro- International Atomic Energy Agency pore. The assistant Democratic leader. fessor Ford’s. What does Ms. Keyser and to the United Nations in Vienna. Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, what say about the allegations? Through her Today, we turn to consider the nomina- is the business before the Senate? lawyer, she says that she ‘‘does not tion of Peter A. Feldman to be a Com- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- know Mr. Kavanaugh and she has no missioner of the Consumer Product pore. The Senate is considering the recollection of ever being at a party Safety Commission.