[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 180 (Monday, November 6, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7005-S7006]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Texas Church Mass Shooting

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, for most Americans, a church is a place 
of worship and love, a place where the faithful go to feel mercy and 
compassion, which is why what happened in Texas yesterday is so 
difficult for many to comprehend. Why would an individual do this? 
Families lost so much. Our hearts go out to them in this time of untold 
grief. Our gratitude goes out to the civilians and first responders who 
answer the call when others are in need.
  As we continue to learn the details of yesterday's tragic events, I, 
along with all Members of the Senate, will keep the victims of this 
tragedy and their families in my prayers.
  Mr. President, on a completely different matter, last Monday I said 
the Senate would confirm four excellent judicial nominees by the end of 
the week. That is just what we did--Amy Barrett, confirmed; Joan 
Larsen, confirmed; Allison Eid, confirmed; Stephanos Bibas, confirmed.
  After 8 years of a President who selected judges based upon an 
ideological litmus test designed to find nominees who favor certain 
groups or individuals over others, we now have a President who is 
sending over nominees who will ensure that the judiciary is actually 
living up to the role we expect in our democracy: treating everyone 
equally, giving every litigant a fair shake, applying the law as it is 
actually written, not as the judge wishes it might be. The four circuit 
court nominees the Senate confirmed last week will do just that.
  Democrats have put up a lot of procedural roadblocks to prevent the 
Senate from moving forward all year. We have moved ahead anyway. As a 
result, despite all the obstacles from the other side, we are making 
significant progress.
  Of course, none of this would be possible without the hard work and 
notable leadership of Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, and 
I want to thank him again for everything he has done.
  We are not finished yet. We are going to keep pressing forward on 
judicial nominees. We are going to keep confirming the other nominees 
before us as well.
  This week the Senate will consider some of President Trump's other 
qualified nominees for various positions throughout the Federal 
Government. Each of these individuals will help lead their agencies to 
fulfill their particular mission in running the government.
  First, we will advance the nomination of Steven Engel to serve as 
Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel. Mr. Engel 
previously worked in the OLC, having done so under President Bush. He 
also served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General

[[Page S7006]]

and counsel to the Assistant Attorney General. He obviously has a lot 
of experience advising senior policymakers on a wide variety of legal 
issues facing the executive branch. That is good because the role he 
has been nominated to has the responsibility for providing legal advice 
to the executive branch on all constitutional questions and reviewing 
pending legislation for constitutionality.
  I look forward to advancing Mr. Engel's nomination tomorrow so that 
he can begin putting his experience to work for our country as soon as 
possible, and then we will turn to the various other nominees before us 
so they can begin doing the same. Confirming the President's nominees 
is an important part of the Senate's business, and I urge all of our 
colleagues to work together so we can get this done.