mr. president, through the chair, i'm happy to yield to the chairman. i understand senator inhofe wants to -- i think speak to this issue. mr. menendez: he doesn't want to speak to this issue. okay. i'm happy to yield to the chairman or i'm ready to go, whichever way you want. mr. corker: i might -- we'll both speak very briefly. why don't you go ahead and then i'll go. the presiding officer: the senator from new jersey. mr. menendez: mr. president, i rise today to speak to senate resolution 54, legislation brought forward by senators lee, sanders, murphy, and others more than eight months ago. the past two years have reminded us time and time again of the urgent responsibility of the congress to perform real checks and balances and to steadfastly defend our american values both at home and abroad. i thank them for their continued efforts throughout this intervening months to shed light on the devastating humanitarian crisis in yemen and to make sure this body fulfills its oversight duties. over the last three and a half years the tragic humanitarian crisis in yemen has continued

mr. chairman for your comments and for holding this very important hearing. sen. inhofe: i will interrupt the ranking member, because we have a habit we are forming -- have a way of disappearing at awkward times. the president asked the committee to consider a list of pending military nominations. all of these nominations have been before the committee for the requested amount of time. is there a motion to confirm? is there a second? ?ll the members say aye motion carries. senator reid? sen. reed: thank you. thank you and all of your colleagues for the excelled in a effort you have given to the country. i would note that one of your colleagues got a good job, senator kyle is here with us today. thank you for your efforts, senator kyle. this commission was established by the defense authorization act to provide an independent evaluation of the national defense strategy. congress required the commission strategic andand military risk associated with the strategy. after exhaustive review, the report was released earlier this month. while today's hearing is an opportunity to

mr. chairman, thank you. lastly i want to make one note and it's something senator inhofe and i have discussed a lot. our members are all allowed to ask questions. i just want to make a comment on the space force. i commend president trump for thinking about space in a more assertive and organized way, but i think the witnesses won't be surprised what i have been saying about this idea is that first, and it is appropriate for this committee, we must focus on the readiness of the existing military services which i think everybody recognizes has plummeted over the last several years, so that they are fully ready to do what the president and the american people expect of them. while i understand that the desire to talk about the space force today might be pressing, i believe that the chairman of the full committee intends to address this topic. as kind of a full committee issue as well at some point. again, i want to thank the witnesses. your prepared statements will be entered into the record and we respectfully request that you keep your opening remarks in the vicinity of five minutes. secretary wilso

mr. inhofe: mr. president? i ask unanimous consent that the quorum call in progress shall vitiated. the presiding officer:, would. the senator from oklahoma, without objection. mr. inhofe: mr. president, a few weeks ago there was a media attention on the caravan from central america coming up through mexico and making their way to the united states intending to declare asylum or cross the border illegally. this is kind of interesting because people don't realize that we have within our laws the ability, if a person declares asylum, that it has to be acted on. it has been a matter of routine and we've heard all about people declaring asylum, getting a court date and not showing up for court. we know that that happens and it's really a no-brainer. but nonetheless it has been going on and on and on. the law does prescribe that anyone coming to this country to seek asylum willing -- will be coming to the country through other countries then they should first go to whatever other country they go through b

mr. inhofe if he were present and voting, he would have voted yea. he is absent due to a family emergency. mr. flake:ful i were permitted to vote, i would vote nay. i therefore withdraw my vote. the presiding officer: the senator has that right. vote: vote: v.p. the vice president: on this vote the yeas are 49, the nays are 49. the senate being equally divided, the vice president votes in the affirmative and the motion is agreed to. the vice president: the clerk will report the nomination. the clerk: the judiciary, jonathan a.kobes of south dakota to be united states circuit judge for the eighth circuit. a senator: madam president. the presiding officer: the senator from colorado. mr. gardner: i come to the floor to talk about an important conservation program, the land and water conservation fund. this is one of the crown jewels of our nation's conservation efforts. the preservation, protection, and conservation of our public lands is something we take great pride in in our western country. in fact all four corners of our state and this great country