samuel dale brownback of kansas to be ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom. the presiding officer: the senator from rhode island. mr. whitehouse: i ask unanimous consent to speak as if in morning business for up to 15 minutes. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. whitehouse: thank you, mr. president. i begin today by adding a rhode island voice to the chorus of coastal communities around the country standing against president trump's reckless and unwelcome choice to try to allow oil and gas drilling off of nearly all u.s. coasts. the rhode island ocean economy is worth over $2 billion and it employs more than 40,000 people. for whatever potential gain of fossil fuel corporations, offshore drilling introduces all sorts of hazards to our fishing industry and the people who work in tourism and recreation along the narragansett bay. remember how devastating the 2010 b.p. oil spill was in the gu o mexico? this is what a spill that size would look like off of new england. the administration has tossed aside a five-year plan that underwent multiple revision

the clerk: nomination, department of state, samuel dale brownback of kansas to be ambassador at large for international religious freedom. mr. mcconnell: i send a cloture motion to the desk. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: cloture motion, we the undersigned senators in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the nomination of samuel dale brownback to be ambassador at large for international religious freedom signed by 17 senators as follows. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent the reading of the names be waived. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the mandatory quorum calls for the cloture motions be waived. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the legislative session for 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 unanimous consent that when the senate complete