enemy and islam. i know that semantics matter and i know that the criticism of the president in this body is sort of front and center no motor what he does -- no matter what he does when he gave what i thought was a coherent speech, often with restraint where we have taken the, i think we've taken the fight to isil in this country, i think we've done it domestically, i think the president wants to do it internationally. this body doesn't seem to have the courage to debate whether or not we actually look at an authorization resolution, authorization of the use of force where the president is still forced to rely on a resolution that president bush pushed through that led to a disastrous policies in iraq. i don't think that was the right thing, but i apologize. i want to speak on something else, mr. president. that's why i came to the floor. two weeks ago, most of us went home to our families to celebrate, to give thanks for

the many blessings we have in this country. we all look forward to spending more time with family during this holiday season, but for far too many americans, the holidays are just another time when they struggle to put food on the table or even to have a roof over their heads. this is sadly particularly true of our nation's veterans. again to go back 15 years, we -- we take people into war in this country, sometimes for very, very good reason. our sending troops to afghanistan was exactly the right policy back in 2002 and 2003, going into the war in iraq was something very different, but if we in this body are going to send people into war, it's time we think about the costs of war, not come to the senate floor and make speeches that how tough we are as senators when most senators don't have children, some do, most don't have children that go off to war, we're willing to send people into combat, then we too often turn our backs on those

soldiers once they come home and become our nation's veterans. the suicide rate is too high among veterans. many of them suffering from ptsd or traumatic brain injury or a whole host of other illnesses or afflictions. the suicide's rate too high, the unemployment rate for veterans is too high, the drug addiction rate is too high. yet how often our colleagues come and talk about let's send combat troops, let's go to war but how rarely they talk about what we do with these men and women when they come home, whose lives have been changed dramatically. these are the costs of war, and they don't get nearly the attention on the senate floor, in the media or among policymakers as do actually going to war and sending our troops. it's shameful that veterans have these rates of unemployment and

suicide and new hampshireness. we have made accomplishments on new hampshireness. in the last five years, homelessness among veterans has declined 36% but too many remain on the streets. veterans comprise 12% of the nation's adult homeless population. according to the u.s. department of housing and urban development, some 48,000 veterans were homeless, including 1,800 -- including about 1,200 in my state of ohio on a given night in january when a census, if you will, was taken about homelessness. that's 48,000 too many. it's a disgrace. after they serve our country with honor, thousands are left with a roof -- without a roof over their head here. think about that. we send them off to war. they are sometimes damaged by their time in combat or their time in the military, and then we don't care enough to find them places to live and find them drug treatment and find them jobs and give the kind of help to them that they gave to our country. i met the veterans these

organizations serve. the organizations like v.f.w. and american legion, these groups and counties called veterans service organizations, my state is blessed to have one in each of the 88 counties. i hear the stories of perseverance and service, they're inspiring. i visited the scenario self house in cincinnati where nathan pelatier and his team of dedicated staff and volunteers provide transition treatment and housing for veterans. we hear of britton carter. he works as a case manager helping struggling veterans. he spoke eloquently about the trials he's overcome. let me tell you one thing he said. i will just read his words. as a small youth, i fell in love with playing army man. my mom would buy me army men. i dreamed of one day being a soldier. god gave me the gift of being a pretty good basketball player. such i game the first freshman to start and play on my varsity

team. success came with many people who had an agenda that didn't have the my best interests at stake. from the early years of high school, i found myself star struck. i ended up in the company of those using wine, and heroin and cocaine. with the grace of god, i was given the opportunity to attend college in new mexico, had offers from other schools. i was attracted to the opportunity of being able to play army man once again. i was caught with drugs, kicked out of school. i lost the chance to become an army of the united states military. i went to another college only to have my drug addiction lead me to the poor choices that brought my career closer and closer to an end. i enlisted, discovered that being away from home left me face to face with these old demons. once again i was being discharged. it wasn't long after my return, i found myself in and out of trouble, having no insurance to pay for the treatment. i truly needed to address my addiction. nearly a life sentence on the installment plan in years of struggle. he goes on, the joseph house was

the one place that believed in never leaving any soldier behind. joseph house in cincinnati. it was while at the joseph house i had the opportunity to get the treatment i so badly needed today, thanks to god and his mercy. he goss on to talk about some of the things he's done. he's written a play, produced a play. he has done wonderful things, especially for his fellow veterans. his story should serve as a reminder to all of us that we should not leave the men and women who serve this country behind. there are so many other veterans with stories like his. in october, i was in dayton where i met with robert white, home of the homeful organization, as opposed to the homeless, the homeful organization. he served one year in the active duty, one year in the reserves, honorably discharged in 1980. spent years working while facing challenges that he said left him lower than low. he said that as soon as i left for basic training, i was homeless. he talked about his work, his time in shelters. he said the result was always

the same. i entered homeless and no matter how good i did i still left homeless. then on the july fourth weekend seven years ago, he entered homeful's v.a. per diem transitional supportive housing program. he became a model guest at homeful. he got a job at trotwood, a community near dayton. he still has the same job. homeful connected mr. white with its partner organization which helped him achieve homeownership. today he has done from homeless veteran to owner of his own home. that's because of his community in dayton, it's because of his organization homeful. it's because of his partnership with the veterans administration. whose funding is always under jeopardy because of many members of the senate and how they simply don't put the same effort into helping veterans as they do into funding the military. last month, i was in cleveland. i visited the supporting housing home for veterans. i visited the interim bl metropolitan housing authority in youngstown. these organizations are doing work that's so important.

we owe them our support. even one veteran on the street means congress isn't doing enough to tackle this problem. that's why i join my colleagues in introducing the veterans housing stability act of 2015 which would make meaningful improvements to services for homeless veterans and giving more veterans access to permanent housing opportunities. president kennedy in his 1963 thanksgiving prostate cancer la mitigation, i believe coming the week that he died, he said as we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them. sure we come to this floor, we send people off to battle, sure we need to do that sometimes, but sure we come to the floor and talk about veterans, but so often we don't live up to the obligations to help these veterans deal with their homelessness to help veterans deal with suicide, with -- with the threat of suicide, the likelihood of suicide for some of them, helping our veterans deal with drug addiction,

helping our veterans deal with mental health issues. often these are costs of war that we simply don't discuss on the senate floor. it's so important we do. i hope my colleagues will join me in ensuring every veteran has a place to call home and the opportunity to succeed. mr. president, in closing, i'd like to recognize a long-term young woman who has served in my office, megan dubiac. she has been my communication director for most of my years in the senate. she comes from shaker heights, ohio. she has been a terrific public servant. today is her last day. this is about her last hour on the job, although she is going with me tonight to do one other appearance, but she -- megan is planning to get married this summer, and she is going to joiw off and going on monday to join the staff of the vice president of the united states, joe biden. she has been an incredible employee, i wish her well. my wife connie and i love megan as long as we have had the privilege of knowing her in the

years ahead. thank you to megan, and i yield the floor.

snoo

mr. mcconnell: mr. president? the presiding officer: the majority leader. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent that further proceedings under the quorum call be dispensed with. the presiding officer: the senate is not in a quorum call. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of calendar 397 through 414 and all nominations on the secretary's desk in the air force, army, navy, coast guard and foreign service, that the nominations be confirmed en bloc, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate, that no further motions be in order, that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the record, the president be immediately notified of the senate's action and the senate then resume legislative session. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the environment and public works committee be

discharged from p.n. 7 is 14 -- 714 and the senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations en bloc: pn-714, calendar 385, 392 and 426. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: nominations ... richard hallworth of mississippi to be a member of the board of directors. department of energy cher cherry

ann murphy of kansas to be director of the department of science and energy. eric drake eberhard of washington to be a member of the board. darrell l. depriest of illinois to be chief counsel for advocacy the presiding officer: is there any further debate? on the nominations en bloc. the question occurs on the nominations en bloc. those in favor say aye. those opposed say nay. the ayes have it. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the nominations are confirmed en bloc. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate, that no further motions be in order to the nominations, that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the

record, that the president be immediately notified of the senate's action and the senate then resume legislative session. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent that on monday, december 14, at 5:00 p.m. the senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations: calendar 393 through 396. that there be 30 minutes of debate on the starzack nomination equally divided in the usual form, that upon the u.s.s. or yielding back of time -- the use or yielding back of time the senate vote without action or debate on the nominations in the order listed. following disposition of the nominations, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate, that no further motions be in order to any of the nominations, that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the record, the president be immediately notified of the senate's action and the senate resume legislative session. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: now,

mr. president, i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar 35 s. 142. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 35, s. 142, a bill to require the consumer product safety commission to promulgate a rule to require child safety packaging for liquid nicotine container and other purposes. the presiding officer: without objection the senate will proceed to the measure. mr. mcconnell: i further ask the committee-reported substitute be withdrawn, the nelson substitute amendment be agreed to, the bill as amended be read three timed and pafs -- three times and passed, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i now ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to immediate consideration of calendar 62, s. 993. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 62, s. 993, a bill to increase public safety and so forth.

the presiding officer: is there any further debate? without objection, the senate will proceed to the measure. mr. mcconnell: i further ask the franken amendment be agreed to. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the bill as amended be read a third time and the senate proceed to vote on passage of the bill as amended. the presiding officer: without objection. the question occurs on the bill as amended. all those in favor say aye. all those opposed say no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the bill as amended is passed. mr. mcconnell: i finally ask the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i now ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar number 242, s. 209. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 242, s. 209, a bill to amend the indian tribal energy development

and self-determination act of 2005 and for other purposes. the presiding officer: without objection the senate will proceed to the measure. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent that the barrasso amendment number 2714 be agreed to, the bill as amended be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the committee on financing discharged from further consideration of s. 2308 and the senate proceed to its immediate consideration. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: s. 2308, a bill to amend the internal revenue code of 1986, and so forth and for other purposes. the presiding officer: without objection the committee is discharged and the senate will proceed to the measure. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i now ask unanimous consent the committee on veterans' affairs be

discharged from further consideration of h.r. 2693 and the senate proceed to its immediate consideration. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: h.r. 2693, a bill to designate the arboretum at the hunter homes mcguire v.a. medical center in richmond, virginia, as the phyllis e.galente arboretum. the presiding officer: the committee is discharged and the senate will proceed to the measure. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of s. 2393, submitted earlier today by senator whitehouse. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: s. 2393, a bill to extend temporarily the extended period of protection for members of uniformed services relating to mortgages and so forth and for other purposes. the presiding officer: without objection, the senate will proceed to the measure.

mr. mcconnell: i further ask the bill be read a third time and passed and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i now ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to consideration of s. res. 333, submitted earlier today. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: senate resolution 333, to direct the senate legal counsel and so forth. the presiding officer: without objection, the senate will proceed to the measure. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: so, mr. president, i now ask unanimous consent that when the senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 3:00 p.m. monday, december the 14th. following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day. further, following leader

remarks, the senate be in a period of morning business until 5:00 p.m. with senators to speak therein up to 10 minutes each. finally, at 5:00 p.m., the senate then proceed to executive session as under the previous order. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: so if there's no further business to come before the senate, i ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order. the presiding officer: the senate stands adjourned until 3:00 p.m. onreid: mr. president?

the presiding officer: the the presiding officer: the >> here is what senator reid had tuesday's. >> mr. president supreme court oral arguments fisher vs. texas. the plant was challenging for the programming university of texas has during the oral arguments that justice scalia asked of affirmative action arms students by putting them in an environment that is too challenging for them.

justice scalia said this about african-americans " there are those it content to does that benefit african-americans they do not do as opposed to having them go to lessen the next school, a slower track school, to do well. '' he further said they come from lesser schools they do not feel there pushed ahead and passes better too fast for them. the university of texas should not take african-american students because of a competent blacks that the lesser schools turns out to be less. ''. that was not enough. it stands to reason for university of texas to would

mitt as many blacks as possible for but it is stunning a man of this intellect that these ideas are racist and application and if not intent. it is deeply disturbing to hear a supreme court justice raised these racist ideas from the bench, the nation's highest court. the separating ramifications not the least of which is academic achievements of african-americans especially. earlier this week i spoke of the republican platform that has a lot of hate in it and. as donald trump is proposing to ban muslim immigration others about religious test. the top two leaders in the senate i'm sorry in united

states said they will support donald trump of he is nominated. now racist ideas are being supported from the bench. the only difference is that justice scalia has a rope. ideas like this don't belong to national figures. the idea that african-american students are intellectually are inferior to others goes back to the time that america left behind have a century ago. we should not be pushed in and out of the top universities in to a lesser school that is unacceptable. that the justice could raise it to the uninformed idea how out of touch he is with the values of this nation. rose one dash an

african-american student has the same rights as any other. the greatest nation in the world is our ability from all backgrounds are able to succeed. they provide students that many can never hope to obtain. the people of different backgrounds first creativity and innovation and research has shown diversity and campuses produces higher levels of academic achievement for all students four to 500 companies agreed embracing diversity is good for the bottom line. the supreme court previously has acknowledged diversity provides compelling contribution to the educational system but yet justice scalia's comments paints that picture of to a disturbing realities despite the progress we have made on

diversity and inclusion ready to make sure we give every american a fair shot due to race or ethnicity or religion we still have a responsibility to our educational system generations of discrimination have produced racial disparities it is sad but true. these must be addressed by embracing diversity markets, neighborhoods for all students. preschool through higher education. our nation was founded on the values of liberty justice and equality justice scalia is distressing comments are a reminder we must remain diligent as an opportunity for all americans. it is not the right thing but the american way. linden johnson said collected is not enough just

to open the gates of opportunity all citizens must have the ability to walk to the gates. it is our responsibility to open the gates to all americans decided what the justice said yesterday. >> [inaudible conversations] good afternoon. i do not have anything at the top we can go straight to questions. >> senator harry reid said the justice clea and donald trump based on the comments

he made from the bench and those ideas endorsed the differences that justice scalia has a role bendel lifetime appointment as the white house agree? >> i will just say yesterday about the comments of the justice scalia obviously the sentiment he expresses is not something anybody who has heard the public comments of senator and now president obama would detect a difference. for our position on this case i refer to the filing from the department of justice they have outlined the position of the administration. opening the doors to a

college education for every student in america is a top priority of this administration and as an insignificant progress made a high school all graduation rate is that the all-time high of 81% the gap between white and minority students is closing. the high school dropout rate is a historic low and most of the progress has been made among minority students there are more than ever graduating from college and college enrollment with black and hispanic students since 2008 is up by more than 1 million. so this administration and president has made access a high priority. we have worked closely with

congress, elements of the administration but public and private universities to insure they are filling their important mission to educate the next generation of american workers. >> the president would not agree with that comparison? >> i think the comments articulated by justice scalia is a different view than the priorities and values president obama has spent his career talking about. >> last night it was said the president directed his team for a set of recommendations what could be dead from the administration to save lives from gun violence for collective short order means

does that cover the extended use of background checks? >> i still don't have an update the terms of progress in administration is making. to scrub the rules to determine what elements of the executive authority can be used to do a better job. what additional steps can we take to keep guns out of the hands of criminals? it is no surprise as a priority of the president but with the ongoing process i don't have an update at this point. >> [inaudible] are you more optimistic or

pessimistic? [inaudible] >> there is a lot there. to keep the government opened it was as a general 30 deadline to reach a compromise so to make substantial progress toward completing that agreement but the differences that remain can be boiled down to the insistence on the part of republicans including ideological fighters --

policies that would not be able to pass congress. republicans see this as an opportunity. and in most cases this is more than your larkspur or the biggest contributors to the republican party. the american people don't believe that is effective or responsible to manage the affairs of the greatest country in the world. for us to reach eight agreement is when republicans abandon their assists -- insistence of the budget process. >> what is the status of the visa program?

with the powers that you need already to make changes to that? where are you working with congress on that issue right now? >> it is possible that after this investigation in terms of the actual case or investigation into the act of terrorism, that we may ask congress for additional assistance in reforming the program that allowed the female terrorists into the united states. there is more information of the of circumstances through which they came into this country. her background or communications she may have

had but also to take a close look at the k1-b program itself. with that beyonce program there are questions asked about whether or not additional steps or screening measures could have been or should have been implemented. these are all questions better still under careful consideration. department of homeless security and the state department are responsible for administering this program and conducting a review to see but changes are necessary. so that screening program at large is not uncommon for

adaptations to be implemented on two different occasions the secretary of komen security has tighter screening measures those that cooperate with united states with those individuals to richer to properly enter the country. edits an example with the ongoing efforts to orient our defenses to protect the homeland. >> is that due to the

california shooting? >> what i am saying is there is more information in the context of the investigation. at the same time that investigation is ongoing. there is a review that is under way at the state department and department of homeless security to look into the program more broadly for changes to be made. the information about the counterterrorism investigation ended in parallel as we collect additional information that if we determine that

congressional authority is required to make the changes that need to be made to make those changes. >> [inaudible] is that something the white house takes seriously? >> we are concerned about the policies for destabilizing actions. those of the have access to. call into serious question that we take very seriously the threat that was posed of north korea regime that

doesn't just ahead threaten the closest allies but to have a destabilizing impact and the national security threat to others in the region. it does take them quite seriously. >> just knowing what we know now that she has talked to her potential husband attending a the madrasah. in islamabad does and that alone tell you about the screening process? is reason enough to look at the program. >> but this is big holes already?

>> the field changes need to be made? >> the question is you are asking under careful consideration of the experts added minister that program. >> but the comments they are out of trap monday shot dead ted chin distressing? >> i will not respond to justice scalia other than the abuse -- the views they express are in stark contrast that this administration has been fighting for. but when it comes to the view of this particular case they have filed a persuasive brief for our position on these issues.

>> cubic those comments are problematic? >> i think they're quite different than the values and priorities this administration has been fighting for. >> i did not hear your answer in the beginning about the confidence level of the budget deal. >> i am confident the republicans stop the assistance of the ideological writers in the process. >> deal of confidence they want? >> i have confidence knowing the majority leader in the united states senate has said there will be a government shutdown when they take some solace to know that the newly elected speaker of the house will not be in a position of a government shutdown six weeks into the tenure so i take some solace in that recognizing ultimately republicans will have to decide if they shut down the

government over these ideological issues. >> [inaudible] >> our position on lifting the ban on crude oil from united states is a position that has sought cage we continue to oppose legislative action like that. the reason i have given for that position is we believe it is necessary for congress to take that step primarily because there is authority the rest of the executive branch to make that decision. that is our view and has been a number of months since it originally came up to debate.

we oppose it in our position has not changed. >> i don't know the specific bill has been filed and i stated consistently that we oppose it. there is some suggestion that may be added to the omnibus and i have been rigorous not walking through the things that would lead to a veto or not. looking at what republicans put forward by our position on that particular policy proposal has not changed. >> has the president been doing any personal of reach? was eating you can talk about? but there has been some

presidential involvement the president and the first lady spent several hours taking pictures for the holiday party earlier this week. i don't know how many detailed negotiations were entered into probably not very many while in-line. [laughter] i don't have a lot of color with the president's personal involvement he has really been updated by his team members of congress are negotiating among themselves but the president is more than just an interested observer because it did require his signature. he is aware of what is going on and he has had conversations.

>> the conversation yesterday about the aumf and one of those limitations would not be during the offensive ground operations. so i am wondering if they're doing offensive operating in depth. >> what we have said all along is we would be happy to engage in a constructive project -- process to negotiate. so if they were interested to clarify that provision.

>> the reason it failed the first time is to fulfil their responsibility on this issue. and even what we have seen today senator dan cook to pleasant responsibility somewhere else. it is congress refusing to take the seven members are frustrated by their colleagues collected refusal to consider this important piece of legislation. but that language we sent to congress was designed to articulate our opposition to the military mission that would require tens of thousands of u.s. troops

invading another country and being in a position for a large swath of territory for the open-ended period of time. that is obviously different than the mission given to special operations forces. there in a dangerous situation it is not their primary responsibility to deal with territory so trying to describe what we tried to convey to award the aumf as we did but if there are members of congress that have suggestions for clarifying that language in a helpful way we would be open to those conversations. >> with the omnibus with

democrats and republicans are struggling. >>guest: no rider whatsoever? . . so,