[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 187 (Monday, November 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S5466]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          Military Promotions

  Madam President, on military holds, it has now been 9 months since 
Senator Tuberville began his reckless hold on hundreds of military 
promotions. Frankly, patience on both sides--both sides of the aisle--
is wearing very, very thin.
  Every day Senator Tuberville continues his reckless blockades of 
military promotions, America's national security pays the price. Our 
military readiness pays the price. Military families--spouses who need 
to start new jobs and children who need to start new schools--pay the 
price.
  It is the responsibility of Senate Republican colleagues to importune 
Senator Tuberville to stand down, let these military nominees go 
through, and tell him to start putting his hard-right political demands 
ahead of America's national security.
  I know some Republicans have been trying to work with Senator 
Tuberville over the past week to find some last-ditch solution, but he 
seems to remain ironclad in his stubbornness. So, tomorrow, the Senate 
Rules Committee--led by Senator Klobuchar--will mark up a resolution 
allowing the Senate to quickly confirm the promotions currently blocked 
by Senator Tuberville. I thank my colleague and chair of the Armed 
Services Committee, Senator Reed, for his work on this resolution.
  If Senator Tuberville continues his blanket holds on military 
nominations--if he won't even listen to Members on his own side of the 
aisle--I will bring Senator Reed's resolution to the floor for a vote 
as soon as possible; that way we can end Senator Tuberville's farce and 
quickly confirm the over 350 military promotions--people who have 
served their country long and well--we can finally move them to their 
rightful promotions.
  I yield the floor.
  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. McCONNELL. Madam 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order for the quorum call be rescinded.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.