[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 187 (Wednesday, November 28, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7147-S7148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              NOMINATIONS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, there is a lot more work to do. That 
has been our message after returning from the Thanksgiving holiday. The 
Senate is staying focused on wrapping up this year's remaining 
priorities: getting more of the President's team in place, confirming 
well-qualified nominees to our Federal courts, and attending to the 
pressing legislative business the American people need and expect us to 
handle.
  Yesterday, the nomination of Stephen Vaden to serve as general 
counsel at the Department of Agriculture was confirmed with bipartisan 
support, and the motion to advance the nomination of Karen Kelley for 
Deputy Secretary of Commerce was cleared by an even wider margin.
  But these important steps haven't always come easily. As I mentioned 
yesterday, between the day the Vaden nomination was favorably reported 
by our colleagues on the Agriculture Committee and yesterday's 
confirmation vote, 351 days elapsed--351 days on the Executive 
Calendar.
  These stories are similar for so many of the President's well-
qualified nominees: Needless delays, a recordbreaking number of cloture 
votes, and then many go on to clear this Chamber with bipartisan 
support. In some cases that support is nearly unanimous, but my 
Democratic colleagues made this body drag its feet regardless.
  We will press on and continue this week to make progress and put to 
rest the various outstanding items that have to be completed before the 
end of the 115th Congress.
  Today, the Senate will vote to confirm Karen Kelley to serve as 
Deputy Secretary of Commerce. By any metric, Ms. Kelley has the 
experience and economic acumen to continue a record of outstanding 
service in that role--a record she has already begun by serving capably 
in her acting capacity since last year. I hope each of my colleagues 
will join me in voting to confirm her.

[[Page S7148]]

  Then the Senate will turn to consideration of the judicial nominee, 
Thomas Farr, to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of 
North Carolina.
  Mr. Farr is a graduate of Hillsdale College, Emory Law School, and 
Georgetown University. Over a nearly 40-year career in law, he has 
developed expertise in labor relations and constitutional law. The 
American Bar Association's Standing Committee on the Federal 
Judiciary--a body that has frequently been held up by our Democratic 
colleagues as the gold standard--has awarded Mr. Farr its highest 
possible rating, unanimously ``well qualified.''
  Our friend, Senator Burr, has testified that his fellow North 
Carolinian has ``the requisite expertise, character and judgment 
required for the federal bench'' and that ``he will serve in this role 
honorably.''
  I urge all of our colleagues to join me in voting to advance his 
nomination later today.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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