the presiding officer: the judiciary, joan louise larsen of michigan to be united states circuit judge for the sixth circuit. a senator: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from maryland. mr. van hollen: thank you, mr. president. and i agree with my colleague from georgia that we need to simplify our tax code. we need real tax reform. we've seen a lot of junk built up in the tax code over many years, put there by special interests who seek special deals for themselves, deals that are not enjoyed by the american public. we should do tax reform. what we should not do is increase our national debt and our national deficits. and we all noi that -- know thae budget plan that passed this senate and just recently passed the house has written right into it an increase in the national debt of $1.5 trillion over the next ten years. in other words, it's engineered right into that bill. so i hope our colleagues who really do care about reducing our national debt will make sure that as we discuss this tax proposal, that we not increase our national debt. we should of course eliminate

joan louise larsen of michigan to be ukraine circuit judge for the sixth circuit. mr. mcconnell: i send a 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 joan louise larsen. michigan to be united states circuit judge for the sixth circuit signed id by 17 senators. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent the reading of the names be waived. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i move to proceed to legislative session. the presiding officer: question is on the motion. all those in favor, say aye. those opposed, say no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the motion is agreed to. mr. mcconnell: i move to proceed to executive session to consider calendar number 432, allison he'd. the presiding officer: question is on the motion to proceed. all those in favor, say aye. those opposed, say no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have i

the question is, is it the sense of the senate that debate on the nomination of joan louise larsen of michigan to be the united states circuit judge for the sixth circuit, shall be brought to a close? the yeas and nays are mandatory under the rule. the clerk will call the roll. vote: