[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 8, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S48-S49]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             CLOTURE MOTION

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk on 
the motion to proceed.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The cloture motion having been presented under 
rule XXII, the Chair directs the clerk to read the motion.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

                             Cloture Motion

       We, the undersigned Senators, in accordance with the 
     provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, 
     do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the motion to 
     proceed to Calendar No. 1, S.1, a bill to make improvements 
     to certain defense and security assistance provisions and to 
     authorize the appropriation of funds to Israel, to 
     reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Act 
     of 2015, and to halt the wholesale slaughter of the Syrian 
     people, and for other purposes.
         Mitch McConnell, John Hoeven, Roger F. Wicker, John 
           Cornyn, Rick Scott, Mitt Romney, Cory Gardner, Marco 
           Rubio, John Thune, Chuck Grassley, Todd Young, John 
           Barrasso, Deb Fischer, Lindsey Graham, Johnny Isakson, 
           James E. Risch, John Boozman.

  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum call 
be waived.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator from Louisiana.


   Remembering the Victims of the I-75 Collision near Gainesville, FL

  Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, I rise to speak in memory of five 
children from Louisiana, my home State, who were tragically killed in 
an awful car wreck last Thursday in Florida--Jeremiah Warren, 14; Joel 
Cloud, 14; Cara Descant, 13; Brieanna Descant, 10; and Cierra Bordelon, 
9 years old--all from Marksville, LA, a small town of less than 6,000 
people.
  All of the children were members of the Avoyelles House of Mercy 
Church family. They were traveling together in a van with four other 
children and three women from the House of Mercy Church while on their 
way to Disney World. A tractor-trailer that was traveling in the 
opposite direction hit a car that crossed the highway, hit their van 
and another 18-wheeler, and created a ball of fire. The drivers in the 
two tractor-trailers died as well--Steve Holland of Florida and Douglas 
Bolkema of New Mexico. We include them in our prayers.
  Losing five children is such a devastating tragedy for the Marksville 
community. One can hardly imagine the grief and shock that grips 
everyone who knew them--their neighbors, friends, family, and fellow 
church members.
  Pastor Eric Descant said: ``I cried so much this morning that my 
tears felt like lava running out of a volcano.'' His granddaughters 
Brieanna and Cara died in the crash. His wife, Karen, is still 
hospitalized.
  During a Monday night vigil at Marksville High's stadium, Pastor 
Descant spoke to the crowd over the PA system by phone from Florida. He 
said: ``I never knew a heart could break so much and still work.''
  He also delivered an important reminder that even in the midst of 
such immense heartache and loss, ``God will get the glory out of it.''
  He added: Don't stop. Keep praying.
  I know so many around Louisiana and the country are doing just that.
  We are also praying for the full recovery of those who were injured 
and who are still hospitalized: Karen Descant, Robyn Rattay, Amy 
Joffrion and her 14-year-old son Noah, Ali Laborde and her 11-year-old 
daughter Chelsea, and two other children, 9-year-old Trinity Woodward 
and 9-year-old Chance Bernard.
  We are sincerely grateful to the people in Florida who assisted the 
victims and their families--the first responders, law enforcement, 
everyone at Health Shands Hospital, North Florida Regional Medical 
Center, and the Pentecostals of Gainesville.
  To those around the country who have heard about this tragedy and 
have donated money through GoFundMe, thank you for your generosity, 
support, and prayers.
  To my fellow Louisianans, I remind you of what Scripture says in 
Psalm 34: ``The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the 
crushed in spirit.''

[[Page S49]]

  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Louisiana.

                          ____________________