[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 192 (Wednesday, December 5, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S7300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NOMINATION OF BERNARD L. McNAMEE

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, on a completely different matter, the 
Senate is resuming our work this afternoon. Later today, we will vote 
to advance the nomination of Bernard McNamee, the President's choice to 
serve on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
  This is an impressive nominee who has the right qualifications for 
this important job. In his career as a well-regarded lawyer on energy 
issues, he has represented clients and gained expertise all across the 
energy sector. He has helped clients build solar projects and natural 
gas facilities and get renewable energy standards approved. In his own 
words, he said: ``I have not just talked about fuel diversity and `all 
of the above' energy policies; I have worked to help make them a 
reality.''
  Mr. McNamee has worked as an energy policy expert at the Department 
of Energy, as well as right here in the Senate. FERC plays a pivotal 
role in ensuring our energy security and enabling prosperity. Among 
other responsibilities, the Commission is responsible for permitting 
important infrastructure investments such as pipelines and export 
terminals. Continuing with a deadlocked and understaffed Commission 
could threaten the status of these investments and the jobs that 
revolve around them. Therefore, we need to confirm Mr. McNamee 
promptly.
  His obvious qualifications and his commitment to fairness and 
impartiality earned him a bipartisan vote out of the Energy and Natural 
Resources Committee last month with a favorable recommendation. I hope 
the same common sense will prevail today so we can move this nominee 
forward with the bipartisan vote he well deserves.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Toomey). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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