entire american military justice system. good order and discipline are critical and time-honored traits of the united states military, not only to enable military readiness and effectiveness but also to make sure military men and women remain firmly tethered to our moral ethics and principles in the most demanding wartime environments. few have argued that the president has the authority to pardon but that is a false defense. the issue is that the president's intervention in these cases and the damaging messages sends the world -- to the world, our adversaries and most importantly our men and women in uniform. the commander in chief's actions should make us safer and stronger in the world, but president trump's actions do not. the cases in which the president intervenes are far outside of the form. the president's pardon authority has traditionally been reserved for nonviolent infractions including draft division and dis

serious. i'm aware of no other instances where a president has intervened to grant clemency for violent crimes committed while in uniform, especially for war crimes including murder. especially concerning is the president's decision to intervene in a case prior to it even going to trial, an action i believe is an insult to our entire system of military justice. the president gain inter -- again interviewed to stop a navy interview process that could have resulted in the removal of a service member des seat the -- despite the fact that the person was posing with dead isis fighters. regrettably, president trump has repeatedly advocated for a return to torture, stating that we should, quote, take out the families of terrorists and expressing his view on standing

up to military conduct by saying you have to play the game the way they are playing the game. the president's statements are reminiscent of former vice president cheney's embrace of the dark side of counterterrorism. it is the use of torturous interrogation program. president trump tweeted in october, quote, we train our boys to be killing machines and prosecute them when they kill. no, mr. president, the united states military does not prosecute its own for carrying out lawful missions in service to our nation, we do not train our troops to kill indiscriminately. we do not train them to attack noncombatants, we do not train them to violate the rule of law and geneva convention because we want our troops to be protected by those same standards. to think or say otherwise goes

against discipline, the selfless service of so many and the history of our military. as former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, general dempsey wrote in may, absence of justice of u.s. service members accused of war crimes signals to our troops and allies we don't take the law of armed conflict seriously, bad message, bad precedent. abdication of moral responsibility, risk to us. and i couldn't agree more. so to claim that the president's intervention in these cases has somehow improved the morale of the military and given them more confidence on the battlefield, on the contrary. president trump's disregard risks undermining the confidence of our service members in the rule of law, especially those courageous enough to bring allegations of war crimes to light and testify against their

teammates. by substituting his judgment by that for commanders and military juries, the president may increase the risk to our united states personnel overseas. when we do not hold our military personnel to appropriate standards of conduct, it makes it more likely that they will face similar abuses on the battlefield and less likely that we will be able to hold our enemies accountable. former senator john mccain once said, and there is no one with the credibility, no one with the service and sacrifice that could say it any better or more authentically than john mccain, and here's what he said, this is a moral debate. it is about who we are. i don't mourn the loss of any terrorist's life, what i do mourn is what we lose is when by official policy or official

neglect, we forget the best sense of ourselves. to the violence, the chaos, the heartache of war, through deprivation and cruelty and loss, we are always americans, indifferent, stronger, and better than those who were destroy us. the words of john mccain. i believe the president's actions minimize the honorable service of all u.s. service members that have served with discipline and distinction since 9/11 and have answered our nation's call throughout the history of this country. and with that, mr. president, i will yeald the floor. -- i will yield the floor and note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call:

quorum call:

quorum call:

quorum call:

the presiding officer: the senator from nebraska. mrs. fischer: mr. president, i would ask that the quorum call be vitiated. the presiding officer: without objection. mrs. fischer: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the legislative session and be in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each. the presiding officer: without objection. mrs. fischer: i ask unanimous consent that the senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following senate resolutions which were submitted earlier today. s. res. 437, 438, 439, 440, and 441. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measures en bloc?

without objection, the senate will proceed. mrs. fischer: i ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table all en bloc. the presiding officer: without objection. mrs. fischer: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that if the senate receives h.r. 4566 and the text is identical to the text of s. 2592 as introduced, the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of h.r. 4566, the bill be considered read a third time and the senate vote on passage of the bill. finally, if passed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. the presiding officer: without objection. mrs. fischer: i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar number 199, s. 2193. the presiding officer: the clerk

will report. the clerk: calendar number 199, s. 2193, a bill to require the administrator of general services to issue guidance to clarify that federal ainches may pay -- agencies may pay by charge card for the charging of federal electric motor vehicles and for other purposes. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection, the senate will proceed. mrs. fischer: i ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported amendments be agreed to, 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. mrs. fischer: i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar number 148, s. 1430. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 148, s. 1430, a bill to amend title 5 united states code to prevent fraud by representative payees. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection.

mrs. fischer: i ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported amendments be agreed to, the lankford amendment at the desking be agreed to and 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. mrs. fischer: i ask unanimous consent that the committee on veterans' affairs be discharged from further consideration of s. 900 and the senate proceed to its immediate consideration. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: s. 900, a bill to designate the community based outpatient clinic of the department of veterans affairs in bozeman, montana as the travis w. atkins department of veterans affairs clinic. the presiding officer: is there objection to go proceeding to the measure? without objection, the committee is discharged and the senate will proceed. mrs. fischer: i ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed, and that the motion to

reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mrs. fischer: i ask unanimous consent that the committee on veterans' affairs be discharged from further consideration of h.r. 2334 and the senate proceed to its immediate consideration. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: h.r. 2334, an act to designate the department of veterans affairs community based outpatient clinic in odessa, texas as the wilson and young medal of honor v.a. clinic. the presiding officer: without objection, will proceed to the measure. mrs. fischer: i ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion be considered, made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mrs. fischer: i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the following calendar bills en bloc. calendar numbers 247 and 293

through 303. the presiding officer: is there objection toking proceeding to the measure en bloc -- to proceeding to the measure en bloc? without objection the senate will proceed. mrs. fischer: i ask unanimous consent that the bills be considered read a third time and passed and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table all en bloc. the presiding officer: without objection. mrs. fischer: i ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the upcoming adjournment of the senate the president of the senate and the senator pro tempore and the majority and minority leaders be authorized to make appointments to commissions, committees, boards, conferences, or interparliamentary conferences authorized by law by concurrent action of the two houses or by order of the senate. the presiding officer: without objection. mrs. fischer: i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the immediate consideration

of calendar number 36, s. 333. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 36, s. 333, a bill to authorize the secretary of homeland security to work with cybersecurity consortia for training and for other purposes. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection, the senate will proceed. mrs. fischer: i ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mrs. fischer: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar number 194, s. 1846. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 194, s. 1846, a bill to amend the homeland security act of 2002 to provide for engagements with state, local, tribal and territorial governments and for other purposes.

the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection, the senate will proceed. mrs. fischer: i further ask that the committee-reported amendment be withdrawn, the peters substitute amendment which is at the desk be considered and 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 with no intervening action or debate. the presiding officer: without objection. mrs. fischer: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the foreign relations committee be discharged from further consideration and the senate now proceed to s. res. 435. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: senate resolution 435 reaffirming the importance of the general security of military information agreement between

the republic of korea and japan and for other purposes. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection, the committee is discharged and the senate will proceed to the measure. mrs. fischer: i ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mrs. fischer: i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of calendar 510 through 517 and all nominations on the secretary's desk in the air force, army, marine corps, navy, foreign service and coast guard, 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. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection, so ordered. mrs. fischer: i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following nominations, executive calendar 485, 537, 539. the presiding officer: without objection the senate will proceed to the nominations en bloc. the clerk will report. the clerk: department of state robert anthony dixon of the district of columbia to be united states marshal for the superior court of the district of columbia. department of justice, thomas michael o'connor of texas to be united states marshal for the southern district of texas. department of justice ralph

sozio of new york to be united states marshal for the southern district of new york. mrs. fischer: 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 relating to the nominations be printed in the record. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection. the question on the nominations en bloc. all in favor say aye. all opposed, no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the nominations are confirmed. mrs. fischer: i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the consideration of the following nomination, executive calendar 420. the presiding officer: the clerk will report.

the clerk: national indian gaming commission, e. sequoyah simermeyer of maryland to be chairman of the national indian gaming commission. mrs. fischer: 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 relating to the nominations be printed in the record. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection,so ordered. the question is on the nomination. all those in favor say aye. all opposed, no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the nomination is confirmed. mrs. fischer: i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following nominations, executive calendar 482, 483 and

484. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the nominations en bloc? without objection, the clerk will report. the clerk: the judiciary, joshua a. deahl of the district of columbia to be an associate judge of the district of columbia court of appeals. deborah j. israel of the district of columbia to be an associate judge of the superior court of the district of columbia. andrea l. hertzfeld of the district of columbia to be an associate judge of the superior court of the district of columbia. mrs. fischer: 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 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 in favor say aye. all opposed, no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the nominations are confirmed. mrs. fischer: i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the consideration of the following nominations. executive calendar 129. the presiding officer: without objection, the clerk will report. the clerk: department of labor john lauri iii illinois to be assistant secretary for veterans employments and training. mrs. fischer: 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 relating to the nominations be printed in the record. the presiding officer: without objection. the question somebody on the

nomination. all in favor say aye. all opposed, no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the nomination is confirm. mrs. fischer: i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following nominations, executive 456, 493, 495. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection. the clerk will report the nominations en bloc. the clerk: department of transportation, john e. kramer, of florida to be chief financial officer. department of commerce, ian paul staff to be director general of the united states and foreign commercial service. federal maritime commission, carl windsor to be a

commissioner. mrs. fischer: i ask unanimous consent that the senate vote en bloc, 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 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 in favor say aye. all opposed, no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the nominations are confirmed en bloc.

mrs. fischer: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to legislative session and be in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each. the presiding officer: without objection.

mrs. fischer: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that when the senate completes its business today, it adjourn to then convene for pro forma sessions only with no business being conducted on the following dates and timesern that following -- and times and that following each pro forma session, friday, november 22 at 9:30 a.m., tuesday, november 26, 7:00 a.m., friday, november 29 at 9:30 a.m. i further ask that when the senate adjourns on friday, november 29, it next convene on 3:00 p.m., monday, december 2,

than following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, morning business be closed, and the senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the brouillette nomination with postcloture expiring at 5:30 p.m. if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, and the president be immediately notified of the senate's action. finally, notwithstanding the provisions of rule 22, the cloture motions filed during today's session, ripen after disposition of the brouillette nomination. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection. mrs. fischer: 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

9:30 a.m. tomorrow.