[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 11, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S971-S972]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       BUSINESS BEFORE THE SENATE

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, with the impeachment trial behind us, 
the Senate can now get back to the business of the American people.
  As the President laid out in his bold speech last Tuesday, the state 
of our Union is strong. Over the past 3 years, a combination of major 
Republican policy victories and important bipartisan achievements have 
helped to create a historic economic moment for working Americans and 
middle-class families.
  Unemployment remains right around its lowest point in half a century. 
The percentage of Americans aged 25 to 54 who have jobs is the highest 
it has been in 20 years. The market for American workers is hot, and it 
is pulling people off of the sidelines. As the New York Times recently 
explained, ``Employers are hiring candidates with disabilities, 
criminal records and other barriers to employment, and are offering 
perks to attract workers.'' No wonder the percentage of Americans who 
say they are financially better off now than they were a year ago just 
hit a 44-year high.
  We have finally seen a drop in opioid deaths. In my home State of 
Kentucky, we recently saw the largest decrease in fatal drug overdoses 
in a decade. We are rebuilding and modernizing the world's greatest 
military, and we are continuing to renew our Federal judiciary with 
thoroughly qualified men and women who understand that a judge's job is 
to interpret our laws and our Constitution as they were actually 
written.
  There is plenty more for the Senate to do to keep up this momentum 
for the American people, so we are glad to get back to business.
  We will start this week by confirming more of President Trump's well-
qualified nominees to lifetime judicial appointments. The first up is 
Judge Andrew Brasher, of Alabama, to serve on the Eleventh Circuit. 
Judge Brasher currently serves on the U.S. District Court for the 
Middle District of Alabama. He is a Harvard Law graduate who previously 
clerked on the Eleventh Circuit, excelled in private practice, and 
found his way into public service as solicitor general for his home 
State. In that role, he was recognized by the National Association of 
Attorneys General for his legal writing, and his nomination earned a 
unanimous ``well-qualified'' rating from the ABA.

[[Page S972]]

  I look forward to confirming Judge Brasher to his next post this 
afternoon.

                          ____________________