[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 86 (Thursday, May 24, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2889-S2890]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                         Senate Accomplishments

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, we are in the midst of quite a 
productive week in the Senate. Yesterday, this body did its part in 
fulfilling an important promise to our Nation's veterans. We passed the 
VA MISSION Act by a wide, bipartisan margin.
  Having already passed the House, this truly landmark bill will now 
head to the White House where the President will soon sign it into law.
  It will bring more options and greater flexibility to veterans who 
have spent years driving long distances to the nearest VA care 
facility, only to face long lines and waiting lists when they got 
there.
  It will bring more peace of mind for veterans of all eras and their 
families who have faced uncertainty and limitations as their needs for 
care have evolved.
  This legislation continues, expands, and improves the successful 
Veterans Choice Program that has already helped millions of veterans 
nationwide, including more than 23,000 Kentuckians last year alone.
  Thanks to the stalwart leadership of Chairman Isakson and the 
Veterans' Affairs Committee, the hard-and-fast time and distance 
thresholds that kept too many veterans out of the Choice Program will 
soon be gone.
  The providers we trust to provide top-notch care for our heroes will 
have clearer guidelines for prescribing opioids and more tools to 
attract and retain experienced professionals.
  I have heard from Kentucky veterans exactly what this bill will mean 
to them. One wrote: ``Kentucky disabled veterans greatly appreciate 
Congress is finally taking action to correct deficiencies in the 
Caregiver Program.''
  Another explained that the legislation ``strikes the right balance to 
make sure we strengthen the VA system and provide veterans with the 
best care possible.''
  I thank my friend Chairman Isakson once more on this achievement. I 
am proud the Senate stepped up to the plate and showed America's 
veterans that, on our watch, a promise made is a promise kept.
  What is more, we have already confirmed two executive branch nominees 
and will process two more before the end of the week. First up is 
Jelena McWilliams, President Trump's well-

[[Page S2890]]

qualified pick to chair the FDIC Board of Directors.
  This week, we have also seen an impressive proposal to reform the way 
Congress handles workplace claims, especially claims of harassment. The 
Democratic leader and I strongly support this proposal, as do our 
colleagues Senator Blunt and Senator Klobuchar.
  All this comes in addition to two major Senate-passed bills that 
passed the House this week and are now heading to the President's desk 
to become law: the legislation championed by our colleague Senator 
Johnson, which will give terminally ill patients the right to try 
experimental drugs that are still making their way through the full FDA 
approval process, and the mainstreaming of Dodd-Frank regulations for 
small lenders and community banks, thanks to the leadership of Senator 
Crapo. This legislation will help secure access to credit for middle-
class families and small businesses, and the President will sign it 
just a few hours from now.
  There is also important activity underway at the committee level. 
Chairman Barrasso is leading the Environment and Public Works Committee 
through consideration of measures to improve and expand America's 
waterways infrastructure. Chairman Shelby and the Appropriations 
Committee today have already begun their work on the annual funding 
bills. Following the committee's robust discussions, I look forward to 
bringing the appropriations bills they craft to the Senate floor. 
Earlier this week, the Armed Services Committee began considering this 
year's Defense authorization bill. They have a solid foundation on 
which to build, thanks to the historic agreement reached earlier this 
year that delivered the highest year-on-year increase in funding for 
our Armed Forces in 15 years.
  One bill after another, one confirmation after another, the Senate 
continues to produce major accomplishments that will directly improve 
the lives of the American people.