buescher of nebraska to be united states district judge for the district of nebraska. a senator: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from texas. mr. cornyn: i have 12 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the senate. they have been approved by the majority and minority leaders. the presiding officer: duly noted. mr. cornyn: mr. president, earlier this week the administration and house democrats reached a bipartisan budget deal to deliver on the president's priorities and prevent a funding crisis this fall. as our armed forces continue their global engagements, this agreement importantly secures the funding necessary to maintain readiness and modernize the force. it provides increased defense spending to recover from a depressed military readiness rates of the previous administration and provides our men and women in uniform with the resources, equipment, and training they need in order to defend our freedoms. i know congress deals with a lot of different topics and all of them by and large are important. but there is nothing more important nor is th

mr. buescher will be one of them. he is a well-qualified nominee and a man who possesses high ethical standards. i have no doubt that brian will honor his family, our state, and our nation with his service on the united states district court for the district of nebraska. i urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote in favor of his nomination. thank you, mr. president. i yield the floor. i would suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: quorum call: quorum call: mr. cotton: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from arkansas. mr. cotton: i ask unanimous consent to end the quorum call. the presiding officer: without objection. the clerk will report the berger nomination. the clerk: nomination, the judiciary. william williams berger -- wendy williams berger of florida to be united states district judge for the middle district of florida. the presiding officer: the motion occurs on the nomination. the question occurs on the nomination. mr. cot

mr. buescher would be an impartial judge. now despite his objective qualifications and all of this praise, our senate democratic colleagues were not satisfied. here was the bombshell that offended some of our colleagues with respect to this nominee. listen to this, madam president. the nominee is a practicing catholic. my goodness! imagine that, madam president. in the united states of america, a person of faith serving in government? really? in particular, some of our democrat colleagues raked him over the coals in committee for his membership in the knights of columbus. shocking! -- shocking that a nominee for federal district court would be a member of the knights of columbus? of course, we all know the knights, the noted worldwide extremist sect of catholics that is about two million men strong money for their love of the kathic faith and for hosting bar beus could and pancake -- barbeques and pancake breakfasts. outrageous. i can't believe i need to repeat it here in the u.s. capitol, but there's nothing about living out