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quorum call: mr. mcconnell: madam 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: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i understand there is a bill at the desk and i ask its first reading. the presiding officer: the clerk will read. the clerk: a bill to improve postal operations and service. mr. mcconnell: i ask for a second praoegd and in order to place the bill on the calendar under rule 14 i object to my request. the presiding officer: object having been heard the bill will receive its second reading on the next legislative day. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the executive session for the en bloc consideration of the

following nominations: executive calendar 762, 763, and 764. the presiding officer: without objection, the senate will proceed to consideration of the nominations en bloc. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent the senate vote on the nomination. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent the senate vote on the nominations en bloc with no intervening action or debate, that if confirmed the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table en bloc, the president be immediately notified of the senate's action and no further motions be in order and that any statements relating to the nominations be printed in the record. the presiding officer: is there objection? hearing no objection, without objection. the question is on the nominations en bloc. all those in favor say aye. opposed no. the ayes have it. the nominations are confirmed en

bloc. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following nominations: executive calendar 330 and 331. the presiding officer: without objection, the senate will proceed to the consideration of the nomination en bloc. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent the senate vote on the nominations en bloc with no intervening action or debate, that if confirmed the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table en bloc, the president be immediately notified of the senate's action, that no further motions be in order and that any statements relating to the nominations be printed in the record. the presiding officer: is there objection? no objections heard. without objection the question is on the nominations en bloc. all those in favor say aye. opposed no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the nominations be agreed to and

confirmed en bloc. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the consideration of the following nominations: nomination executive calendar 721. the presiding officer: without objection. the clerk will report. the clerk: nomination, department of energy, annemarie white of michigan to be an assistant secretary. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent the senate vote on the nomination with no intervening action or debate, that if confirmed the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table en bloc, the president be immediately notified of the senate's action, that no further motions be in order and that any statements relating to the nominations be printed in the record. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection. the question is on the nomination. all in favor say aye. all opposed no. the ayes have it. the nomination is confirmed. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the consideration of the

following nomination: executive calendar 722. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: nomination, department of energy, brent k. park of tennessee to be deputy administrator for defense nuclear nonproliferation national nuclear security administration. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent the senate vote on the nomination with no intervening action or debate, that if confirmed the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, the president be immediately notified of the senate's action, that no further motions be in order and that any statements relating to the nomination be printed in the record. the presiding officer: is there objection? with no objection the nomination, the question is on the nomination. all those in favor say aye. opposed no. the ayes have it. the nomination is confirmed. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following nominations: executive calendar 723 and 725.

the presiding officer: without objection the senate will proceed to the nomination en bloc. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent the senate vote on the nominations en bloc with no intervening action or debate, that if confirmed the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table en bloc, the president be immediately notified of the senate's action, that no further motions be in order and that any statements relating to the nominations be printed in the record. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection. the question is on the nominations en bloc. all those in favor say aye. opposed no. the ayes have it. the nomination is confirmed en bloc. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following nominations: executive calendar 616, 752, 753, 754, 755, 756, 759, 760, and 761.

the presiding officer: without objection the senate will proceed to the consideration of the nominations en bloc. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent that the senate vote on the nominations en bloc with no intervening action or debate, that if confirmed the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table en bloc, the president be immediately notified of the senate's action, that no further motions be in order and that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the record. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection the question is on the nominations en bloc. all in favor say aye. all those opposed no. the ayes have it. the nominations are confirmed en bloc. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the committee on environment and public works be discharged and the senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of the following nomination: p.n. 1369. the presiding officer: without objection the clerk will report

the nomination. the clerk: nomination, appalachian regional commission, tim thomas of kentucky to be federal cochairman of the appalachian regional commission. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent the senate vote on the nomination with no intervening action or debate and that if confirmed the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, the president be immediately notified of the senate's action, that no further motions be in order and that any statements related to the nomination be printed in the record. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection the question is on the nomination. all those in favor say aye. all those opposed no. the ayes have it. the nomination is confirmed.

mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to executive session for the en bloc consideration of executive calendar 742 through 751 and all nominations on the secretary's desk, that the nominations be confirmed, 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: is there objection? without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the senate be in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask the chair lay before the senate the message to accompany s. 772.

the presiding officer: the chair lays before the senate the following message from the house. the clerk: resolved that the bill from the senate, s. 772 entitled an act to amend the protect act to make indian tribes eligible for amber alert grants do pass with an amendment. mr. mcconnell: i move to concur on the house amendment and ask unanimous consent the motion be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar number 24, s. 269. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 24, s. 269, a bill to provide for the conveyance of certain property to the tenan tribal council, and so forth and for other purposes. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection the senate will proceed. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the bill be considered read a third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be

considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar number 229, s. 607. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 229, s. 607, a bill to establish a business incubators program and so forth. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the substitute amendment at the desk be agreed to and the bill as amended be considered read a third time. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection. mr. mcconnell: i know of no further debate on the bill. the presiding officer: any further debate? the presiding officer: if not all in favor say aye. those opposed nay. the motion is carried. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the bill as amended is passed.

mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar number 248, s. 1116. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 248, s. 1116, a bill to amend the native american business development trade promotion and tourism act of 2000, and so forth. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the committee reported amendments be withdrawn and the hogan substitute amendment at the desk be agreed to and the bill as amended be considered read a third time. is there objection? without objection. mr. mcconnell: i know of no further debate on the bill. the presiding officer: is there any further debate? if not the question is on the passage of the bill as amended.

all in favor say aye. those opposed nay. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the bill as amended is passed. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar 272, s. 1223. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 272, s. 1223, a bill to repeal the klamath tribe judgment fund act. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the committee reported amendment be agreed to that the bill as amended be considered read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to

the immediate consideration of calendar number 295, s. 943. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 295, s. 943, a bill to direct the secretary of the interior to conduct an accurate comprehensive student count, and so forth and for other purposes. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent that the lankford amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to, the committee reported substitute amendment as amended be agreed to, that the bill as amended be considered read a third time. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection. mr. mcconnell: i know of no further debate on the bill. the presiding officer: is there any further debate? if not, the question is on passage of the bill as amended. all in favor say aye. those opposed nay. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the the bill as amended is passed. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous

consent that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar number 342, s. 292. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 342, s. 292, a bill to maximize discovery and accelerate development and availability of promising childhood cancer treatments and for other purposes. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent that the committee reported substitute amendment be agreed to, that the bill as amended be considered read a third time and passed, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar number 343, s. 1091. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar 343,

s. 1091, a bill to establish a federal task force to support grandparents raising grandchildren. the presiding officer: there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to, the bill as amended be considered read a third time and passed and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent that the judiciary committee be discharged from further consideration and the senate now proceed to s. res. 405. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: s. res. 405, designating the third week of march 2018 as national c. ac.f.p. week. the presiding officer: objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection. the committee is discharged. the senate will proceed. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to,

and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: is there objection no without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following senate resolutions which were submitted earlier today. s. res. 445, 446, 447, 448, and 449. the presiding officer: objection to proceeding to the measures en bloc? without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call:

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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: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of h. con. res. 116 which was received from the house. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: h. con. res. 116 providing for a correction in the enrollment of h.r. 1625. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the maw measure? without objection, the senate will proceed to the measure. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent that the amendment at the desk be agreed to, the resolution as amend be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate. the presiding officer: is

there objection? without objection.

the presiding officer: the majority leader. mr. mcconnell: i suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call:

a quorum is not present. mr. mcconnell: mr. president. the presiding officer: the majority leader. mr. mcconnell: i move to instruct the sergeant at arms to request the presence of absent senators, and i ask for the yeas and nays. the presiding officer: is there a sufficient second?

there is. the clerk will call the roll. vote:

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mr. mcconnell: mr. president. the presiding officer: the majority leader. the presiding officer: on this vote, the yeas are 91, the nays are 6. the motion to instruct is agreed to. a quorum is present. mr. mcconnell: mr. president. the presiding officer: the majority leader. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule 22, the senate now vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the house amendment to the senate amendment to h.r. 1625.

further, that if cloture is invoked, all postcloture time be yielded back and senator lee or his designee be recognized to make a budget point of order, that the majority leader or his designee be recognized to make a motion to waive, and that following the disposition of the motion to waive, the senate vote on the motion to concur with further amendment with no other intervening action or debate. the presiding officer: is there objection? mr. corker: reserving the right to object. the presiding officer: the senator from tennessee. mr. corker: the house sent the bill over today a little after 1:00 o'clock. it is 11:56. i know every senator has the right to object, and i know some people have objected to voting. i would just -- we're not going to close. i had called down earlier and asked the secretary if we're not going to vote by 10:00, if we

could just vote at 8:00 in the morning. i mean, this is ridiculous. it's juvenile. this is a juvenile process that we go through every time we do one of these. i would respectfully ask our leader, who has been dealing with a lot today, and i'm glad that he has the job that he has and i don't, and the secretary has the job that she has and i don't, but could you explain to us what has occurred over the last 11 hours that keeps us here voting on a bill that we all know is going to pass, regardless of how we vote on it, that has kept us from just going ahead and voting? could you explain to the body just very quickly what has happened? and could we in the future possibly try to resolve these things at a decent hour or come back the next morning and vote? mr. mcconnell: i would say to my good friend from tennessee -- by the way, i'm very sorry he has decided to leave the senate,

given how much he's obviously enjoyed it today. mr. corker: between the changes that have occurred at the white house in the last several hours and this, it has been an unusual day, i will say, yes, sir. mr. mcconnell: my good friend from tennessee knows that my principal responsibility is begging, pleading, and cajoling. i have been in continuous discussions, shall i say, with several of our members who were legitimately unhappy about one aspect or another, and spent a lot of time thinking over whether or not they wanted to expedite the process. i must say after a long and intense day of such discussions with several of our members who had legitimate concerns, i'm relieved rather than depressed that we might be able to actually finish tonight. mr. corker: well, if i could,

reserving the right to object, i would like for us to have some degree of discussion about this, and in the future either finish our business at a normal time or come back the next morning, but this is -- this is a ridiculous process that we go through where people extort us until we get so tired that we're willing to do whatever it is that they wish for us to do. now, i don't know what the issues were today. for instance, i'd love to have a week debate on an aumf at some point, okay. now, i could hold this vote up on a legitimate issue and say no, we're not going to vote until you agree that we're going to have an aumf debate. i haven't done that. to my knowledge, i have never in my life held a vote up. maybe i did ten years ago and i can't remember. but i just think that, again, we ought to have a little more certainty around here. i appreciate that people have flights in the morning and there

are some codels going out, and so i am not going to object. however, i'm going to discuss with other members whether in the future, if we cannot finish our business at a reasonable hour, let's just come back the next morning and start. with that, i do not object. the pres the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection. the clerk will report the motion to invoke cloture. the clerk: cloture motion. we, the undersigned senators in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate hereby move to bring to a close debate on the motion to concur in the house amendment to the senate amendment to h.r. 1625, signed by 16 senators. the presiding officer: by unanimous consent the mandatory quorum call has been waived. the question is, is it the sense of the senate that debate on the motion concur on the house amendment to the senate amendment to h.r. 1625, an