mr. mcconnell: i want to thank our colleague from nebraska and our guest this morning for reminding us of the wonderful story of boys town. we were discussing the movie in the late 1930's starring spencer tracy and mickey rooney and to learn what's happened to boys town since then. so thank you so much, senator fischer and our guest for bringing us up to date on the latest on boys town. mr. president, i understand there's a bill at the desk due a second reading. the presiding officer: the clerk will read the title of the bill for the second time. the clerk: s. 2199, a bill to authorize appropriations for border infrastructure, construct, and so forth and for other purposes. mr. mcconnell: in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule 14, i would object to further proceedings. the presiding officer: objection having been heard, the bill will be placed on the calendar. mr. mcconnell: so, mr. president, in addition to our important work on tax reform and to fund...

consent the quorum be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: thank you, mr. president. first, i'd like to talk today about year-end business. congressional negotiators are making good headway on the budget deal that would meet our commitments to our military and also our urgent priorities here at home. i hope this progress continues this week. unfortunately, the progress here in congress is in stark contrast to the rhetoric coming from the white house. president trump suggested yesterday again that, quote, a shutdown to happen, unquote. if a shutdown happens as the president seemed to be rooting for earlier in his tweet this year, it will fall on his shoulders. his party controls the senate, the house, and the presidency. nobody here wants to see a shutdown. we democrats are not interested in one. that's why we're working with our republican colleagues in good faith to resolve all of the issues we have to solve before the end of the year, and it is in...