E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 115 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 163 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2017 No. 131 House of Representatives The House was not in session today. Its next meeting will be held on Friday, August 4, 2017, at 1 p.m. Senate WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2017 The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY when it comes to protecting the Amer- called to order by the President pro LEADER ican people, especially at a time when tempore (Mr. HATCH). The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. COT- we face a range of threats both at home TON). The majority leader is recog- and abroad. Wray’s impressive creden- f nized. tials, demeanor, and commitment to f the rule of law make clear that he is PRAYER the right person to lead the Bureau in WORK BEFORE THE SENATE The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- its efforts to keep our communities fered the following prayer: Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, as I safe. The work of an FBI Director is Let us pray. said yesterday, the Senate has more difficult, but I am confident that Wray work ahead this legislative period, in- Holy God, You make the clouds Your is capable of shouldering this impor- cluding passing the FDA user fees leg- chariot and walk upon the wind. You tant responsibility and that he will illuminate the darkness with Your islation and confirming a number of nominees. lead the FBI with the strength and pro- presence and provide for the salvation fessionalism that the position de- of our souls. Great is Your faithfulness. We have made important progress al- mands. Today, make our lawmakers heirs of ready, and just last night we passed the peace, demonstrating that they are critical Veterans Choice legislation. Our work on nominees continues Your children, as they strive to stay That bill, which is now on its way to today. We will, for instance, take a within the circle of Your loving provi- the President’s desk, will allow many procedural vote on the nomination for veterans to bypass long wait and travel dence for their lives. May they take the National Labor Relations Board pleasure in doing Your will, knowing times at VA facilities by accessing pri- vate care. later this morning. But there is more that by so doing, they are fulfilling to do. I was pleased to hear the Demo- Your purposes in our world. We also confirmed several nominees. We confirmed eight officials who will cratic leader reaffirm his interest in Lord, You are never far from us, but be critical to advancing administration working with us now to clear more often we are far from You. So show us policy in the Defense Department. It is nominees before the conclusion of this Your ways and teach us Your paths. a good start, but we have other nomi- work period. Many of these nominees Thank You that Your mercy is from nees to confirm for many other posi- everlasting to everlasting upon those have been held up far too long, leaving tions, both security- and nonsecurity- who come to You with reverence. May the administration without a number related, across many different agencies Your glory endure forever. of key officials at various agencies. and departments. In the national secu- We pray in Your great Name. Amen. rity realm, for instance, we must con- I look forward to our Democratic col- firm nominees for the Department of leagues working with us to finish up f Homeland Security, Department of the FDA user fees legislation that I State, and the intelligence community. mentioned earlier, as well. Members PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Senate also came together to will continue to work on other issues The President pro tempore led the confirm a well-qualified judicial nomi- in the meantime, such as tax reform, Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: nee for the Eleventh Circuit Court of which is one of the things the Senate— I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the Appeals, as well as the Director of the led by the Finance Committee—will United States of America, and to the Repub- Federal Bureau of Investigation, Chris- turn its collective attention toward topher A. Wray. The position of FBI lic for which it stands, one nation under God, after the State work period. indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Director is one of great importance ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S4697 . VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:41 Aug 02, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A02AU6.000 S02AUPT1 S4698 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 2, 2017 TAX REFORM These are some of the key goals of HEALTHCARE Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, tax reform. They sound like goals we Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, first, during the 8 years of the Obama admin- should all share, regardless of party. on the topic of healthcare: I was very istration, our economy failed to live up For years, the tax-writing committees happy to hear the statement from have focused on this particular sub- to its full potential—meager growth Chairman ALEXANDER and Ranking ject—holding hearings, soliciting input rates, wages that failed to keep pace, Member MURRAY yesterday in which from stakeholders, and considering the and a decline in opportunities. Middle- they pledged the HELP Committee to views and priorities of Members, both class families were hurting, and they the task of restabilizing and strength- on and off these committees. They are needed policies that would allow the ening the markets, particularly by eager now to begin the process of devel- economy to begin to grow again. Unfor- guaranteeing the cost-sharing reduc- tunately, the last administration often oping tax reform legislation that achieves the shared goals I outlined tion program. As Chairman ALEXANDER gave them exactly the opposite. Some said: ‘‘Without the payment of these were sins of commission, such as mak- above. The administration and congres- cost-sharing reductions, Americans ing things worse with an aggressive will be hurt.’’ That is clear. Everyone regulatory rampage. Others were sins sional leaders stated: We have always been in agreement that has said it, even the insurance indus- of omission, such as failing to address try, and yet President Trump con- an outdated tax code that has made tax relief for American families should be at the heart of our plan. And we are now tinues to treat this critical program as American companies increasingly un- confident that . there is a viable approach if it is some kind of political hostage. competitive in a global economy and, for ensuring a level playing field between The President treats the critical pro- as a result, has moved investment and American and foreign companies and work- gram as if it is some kind of hostage. jobs offshore. ers, while protecting American jobs and the Insurers in three States—North Caro- Then, in November Americans chose U.S. tax base. lina, Pennsylvania, Iowa—have each to go in a different direction. They Our expectation is for this legislation released separate rates for 2018: one if elected a pro-growth President who to move through the committees this the payments are made, and one that is would sign legislation from a pro- fall under regular order, followed by 20 percent higher if they are not. In growth Congress. Ever since, we have consideration on both the House and these three States, premiums will be 20 been working to turn the tide back in Senate floors. There is a great deal of percent higher if President Trump re- favor of the middle class. We have un- bipartisan consensus about what ails fuses to carry out the law. Every dertaken what has been described as our Tax Code, and my hope is that our American will see that increase in the ‘‘most ambitious regulatory friends on the other side of the aisle their monthly bill and know it is a rollbacks since Reagan.’’ We have pur- will join us in a serious way to address Trump premium tax. sued policies that can once again en- it, because the American people de- courage job growth and American in- serve a tax system that works for them Insurers from coast to coast have vestment. instead of against them. They deserve said that uncertainty surrounding the Just last week, the administration a tax code that encourages companies cost-sharing reductions are the No. 1 and congressional leaders and, most to bring jobs home instead of encour- threat to the stability of our markets. importantly, the chairmen of the Sen- aging just the opposite. Americans de- State insurance commissioners—many ate Finance and the House Ways and serve true comprehensive tax reform. of them Republican—are announcing Means Committees issued a joint state- I appreciate the good work of our col- higher rates for next year and directly ment outlining shared principles for leagues in the administration and by blaming the President’s failure to unleashing the American economy Members in both Chambers already to guarantee these payments, as the in- through comprehensive tax reform. get us there, particularly Finance surance commissioner of Idaho did yes- Comprehensive tax reform represents Committee Chairman ORRIN HATCH. terday. the single most important action we Chairman HATCH has been working We have enough problems in the can take now to grow the economy and hard with his fellow Finance Com- world right now without President to help middle-class families finally mittee members—Senators from both Trump creating entirely new ones out get ahead.