[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 186 (Tuesday, November 27, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7103-S7104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                         Business Of The Senate

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the Senate returned from our 
Thanksgiving recess and got back to work.
  Since the election earlier this month, there has been plenty of 
prognostication about what the new Congress will bring, but I would 
rather focus on the one we are still involved in, and this Congress has 
more business to complete before the end of the year. Even after two 
historic years of accomplishments for the American people, there are 
still important items left to check off our list.
  Yesterday evening, we voted to advance the nomination of Stephen 
Vaden, the President's choice, to serve as general counsel for the 
Department of Agriculture.
  Mr. Vaden has strong legal credentials, both public and private 
sector experience, degrees from Vanderbilt and Yale, and he comes with 
an upbringing in agriculture. He grew up on his family's farm in Union 
City, TN--and according to the Tennessee Farm Bureau, it shows. As my 
friend Senator Alexander referenced yesterday, that organization wrote 
that Vaden has ``a passion for agriculture that can't be taught, but 
that is necessary for the job'' of general counsel.
  It is hardly surprising, then, that this nominee received bipartisan 
support at the committee level, including the support of the ranking 
member.
  What is surprising? The fact that since clearing the committee, Mr. 
Vaden's nomination has languished for 351 days, waiting for Senate 
Democrats to end their obstruction--long, even by the standards of this 
Congress. So I hope that each of my colleagues will join me in turning 
the page and voting to confirm Mr. Vaden later today.
  Following the Vaden nomination, we will turn to consideration of 
Karen Kelley to serve as Deputy Secretary of Commerce. She is a 
graduate of Villanova. She has built a 35-year record of expertise in 
investment, management, and financial strategy.
  She currently serves as Undersecretary--a position to which she was 
unanimously confirmed by the Senate--and oversees the Department's 
statistical programs through the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of 
Economic Analysis. Ms. Kelley is already acting in the role to which 
she has been nominated.
  Through this service, Ms. Kelley has earned the respect and esteem of 
her colleagues at the Department. Secretary Ross has said he is 
thankful to have such a qualified individual fill the position.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in voting to advance her nomination 
today with a strong bipartisan vote.
  As we look over the record of this 115th Congress, a number of 
accomplishments were made possible with significant bipartisan 
support--from landmark opioid legislation to major improvements in 
veterans' medical care and services, to our tremendous progress on 
appropriations and a lot more.

[[Page S7104]]

  Our remaining work will require more of that bipartisan spirit when 
it comes to closing out appropriations, confirming more nominees, and 
other subjects as well. So let's continue the momentum and keep moving 
forward.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.