mr. hoeven: mr. president, i rise to speak in records to the appropriations bill that is now before the senate. i would, however, like to defer to the minority member -- the ranking minority member on the senate ag appropriations committee for his comments due to time constraints, and then i would reserve the rest of my time following his comments. the presiding officer: the senator from oregon. mr. merkley: mr. president, thank you. a huge thanks to my colleague and for -- not just for deferring to me to make comments, which i'm going to make very brief, but also for the leadership of the subcommittee, the bipartisan work. it's the way the senate should work. let's just expand that spirit to the entire chamber and we'll make a lot of progress. this bill makes funding for important rural development programs including housing, including rural broadband very essential all across america. it provides assistance with farm ownership and farm operating loans because access to credit to farmers is critical

mr. hoeven: this legislation has to start in the house. we need the house to move forward and there is a he no question the bipartisan sup -- there's no question the bipartisan support is there, in the senate and the bipartisan support is there in the house as well. it's just a matter of bringing the legislation to the floor and getting it passed. the benefits of this agreement are very clear. it will increase exports, expand consumer choice, raise wages and boost innovation throughout north america, especially here in the united states. as analyst -- analysis, excuse me, by the international trade commission found usmca will raise g.d.p. by nearly $63 billion and create 176,000 jobs in the united states. so it's clear. you know, we need to move forward. the agreement will secure and expand market access for our ag products for an ag state like mine. it will grow our manufacturing base for manufacturing states like ohio. the good senator here to my right. it will provide important modernizations for our technology sector, for states like t

mr. hoeven: i'd like to thank the senator from arkansas for his work and also our other colleagues, both those who have already spoken, the good senator from montana who is going to speak right after me. this really has been an effort on a bipartisan basis to make a difference. and i appreciate all of my colleagues who are here today and who have done so much to advance this work. as well as the senator from kansas who i believe will be speaking here in just a minute. so, mr. president, i join my colleagues today to discuss our nation's effort to battle the opioid abuse epidemic. it's taken far too many lives and affecting communities both large and small. our first responders, law enforcement officers, health care professionals and medical facilities are fighting this crisis on the front lines. that's why we worked to advance a comprehensive approach that assists these key players and empowers states and localities to combat this public health emergency. last year congress passed and the president signed into law bipartisan legislation, the support act to help families and communities i

hoeven amendment number 1214, and portman amendment number 1235. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection, so ordered. ms. collins: mr.resident, i ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule 22, following the disposition of the jones amendment, the postcloture time on amendment number 948 expire, the pending mcconnell amendment be withdrawn, and amendment number 948 as amended be agreed to. further, that the cloture motion on h.r. 3055 be withdrawn, the bill be read a third time, and there be two minutes of debate equally divided and that following the use or yielding back of that time, the senate vote on passage of the bill as amended with a 60 affirmative vote threshold required for passage. finally, i ask that the cloture motion -- that the cloture vote on the motion to proceed to h.r. 2740 occur at 1:45 p.m. on thursday. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. collins: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the senate be in a period of morning business with senators being permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. collins: mr. president, i un

mr. hoeven: i ask unanimous consent that following leader remarks on tuesday, october 22, the time until noon be equally with divided between the two leaders or designees. i further ask that all postcloture time on treaties calendar 5, 116-1, expire tomorrow at noon and the senate vote on ratification of the treaty. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. hoeven: unanimous consent -- i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to legislative session and be in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak up to ten minutes each. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. hoeven: i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the consideration of senate resolution 368, submitted earlier today. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: senate resolution 368, to authorize the records on the permanent subcommittee on investigations on the committee of homeland security and governmental affairs. the presiding officer:the presie objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection, the senate will proceed. mr. hoeven: i ask unanimous consent