[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 198 (Monday, December 17, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7627-S7628]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             SENATE AGENDA

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, on another matter, in recent days I 
have

[[Page S7628]]

spoken about the Senate's agenda for the remainder of the 115th 
Congress. As was the case at this time last week, there are important 
items that have yet to be addressed, but thanks to the bipartisan 
progress made last week, we are significantly closer to the finish 
line.
  Together, guided by Chairman Blunt and Senator Klobuchar, the Senate 
met the need to revise how Congress handles claims of sexual 
harassment, workplace discrimination, and other workplace violations.
  Under the leadership of Chairman Roberts and Senator Stabenow, we 
cleared the conference report for the 2018 farm bill, sending my 
industrial hemp legislation and other critical provisions for America's 
farming communities to the President's desk to become law.
  To cap off a year of historic progress on judicial nominations, the 
Senate voted to confirm the 30th Federal circuit judge of this Congress 
and this administration.
  Now we will turn our attention to the remaining priorities in 
completing the American people's business. Last week, I announced that 
at the request of the President and following improvements that were 
secured by several Members, the Senate will take up criminal justice 
legislation here on the floor. Later this afternoon, we will vote on 
advancing that legislation.
  I know the proponents of this bill spent a great deal of time and 
energy drafting their proposal. At the same time, there are a number of 
Members with outstanding concerns they feel are still unresolved. So if 
cloture is invoked later today, the Senate will be considering 
amendments before we vote on final passage later this week.
  Of course, the most high-profile items still before us are border 
security and government funding. We need to make a substantial 
investment in the integrity of our border and in the safety of American 
families. We need to close out the year's appropriations process and 
reach a bipartisan agreement to supply the 25 percent of the Federal 
Government for which we haven't already passed funding legislation. I 
hope the same bipartisan, collaborative spirit that has carried us this 
far will enable the Senate and the House to complete this business 
without undue delay.

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