mr. heller: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from nevada. mr. heller: mr. president, i rise today to reiterate my strong opposition to the house of representatives' effort to restart licensing activities at yucca mountain and in particular the nuclear waste policy amendment act, which passed the house just a few hours ago. this bill, which is a complete and total waste of taxpayers' dollars, is dead on arrival in the united states senate. not only will i place a hold on the bill now that has passed the house, i will also object to the motion to proceed to the bill. and this vote today proves my point -- that i am the only person in washington, d.c., standing between a pristine, beautiful nevada or a nevada dripping with nuclear waste. just as i've said? the past, i'll continue -- just as i've said in the past, i'll continue to serve sasse a roadblock to make -- serve as a roadblock to make nevada a dump. despite the house's repeated attempts to revive the failed project, i have been able to ensure that not a single dollar has been appropriated to restart li

mr. heller: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from nevada. mr. heller: mr. president, i rise today to reiterate my strong opposition to the house of representatives' effort to restart licensing activities at yucca mountain and in particular the nuclear waste policy amendment act, which passed the house just a few hours ago. this bill, which is a complete and total waste of taxpayers' dollars, is dead on arrival in the united states senate. not only will i place a hold on the bill now that has passed the house, i will also object to the motion to proceed to the bill. and this vote today proves my point -- that i am

i hereby appoint the honorable dean heller, a senator from the state of nevada, to perform the duties of the chair. signed: orrin g. hatch, president pro tempore. mr. mcconnell: mr. president? the presiding officer: majority leader. mr. mcconnell: i move to proceed to executive session to consider calendar number 847, gina haspel. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all those in favor say aye. those opposed no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the motion is agreed to. the clerk will report the nomination. the clerk: nomination, central intelligence agency, gina haspel of kentucky to be director. mr. mcconnell: i send a cloture motion to the desk. the presiding officer: the clerk will report the cloture motion. 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 gina haspel of kentucky to be director of the central intelligence agency signed by 17 senators as follows. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent the reading of the names be waived. the presiding officer: without objectio

mr. heller: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from nevada. mr. heller: mr. president, i rise today to reiterate my strong opposition to the house of representatives' effort to restart licensing activities at yucca mountain and in particular the nuclear waste policy amendment act, which passed the house just a few hours ago. this bill, which is a complete and total waste of taxpayers' dollars, is dead on arrival in the united states senate. not only will i place a hold on the bill now that has passed the house, i will also object to the motion to proceed to the bill. and this vote today proves my point -- that i am the only person in washington, d.c., standing between a pristine, beautiful nevada or a nevada dripping with nuclear waste. just as i've said? the past, i'll continue -- just as i've said in the past, i'll continue to serve sasse a roadblock to make -- serve as a roadblock to make nevada a dump. despite the house's repeated attempts to revive the failed project, i have been able to ensure that not a single dollar has been appropriated to restart li