Executive Session

Floor Speech

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Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, today is Peace Officers Memorial Day, when we honor the men and women of law enforcement.

During Police Week, thousands of officers from across the Nation and the world travel here to Washington to remember their fallen comrades and rededicate themselves to protecting our communities. I welcome them, particularly the peace officers from the State of Kentucky. I look forward to visiting later today with members of the Louisville Metro Police Department. We owe them and the departments across the Commonwealth our heartfelt thanks for keeping the Bluegrass State safe and secure.

I also wish to pay tribute today to members of Kentucky's law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf.

Since Police Week last year, three of the Commonwealth's finest have fallen in the line of duty. Officer Scotty Hamilton, a 12-year veteran of the Pikeville Police Department, was fatally shot while on duty. The Hopkinsville Police Department lost Officer Phillip Meacham, who was killed while off duty by someone who was impersonating a police officer. Officer Rodney Smith, of the Hickman Police Department, drowned while on patrol when his vehicle was washed into the water during this spring's severe flooding. All of these men left behind spouses, children, and a Commonwealth indebted to them for their service.

We also remember Sergeant David Ray Gibbs, of the Kentucky State Police, who was killed in a car crash in 2015 while he was on the way to his grandmother's funeral. Sergeant Gibbs's name was added this year to the National Police Memorial--a fitting tribute to a fine officer. His sacrifice and that of each of these heroes will not be forgotten.

Finally, as we warmly welcome law enforcement from across the country, I would also like to especially thank the men and women of the U.S. Capitol Police. Each day, their vigilance protects Members of Congress, our staffs, and visitors from around the world. After the terrible events at the baseball park in Alexandria last June, we are all reminded of just how lucky we are to have them. Judicial Nominations

Madam President, on another matter, yesterday, the Senate voted to confirm two more of President Trump's fine circuit court nominees, Michael Scudder and Amy St. Eve--both of Illinois, both exceedingly qualified, and both carrying the bipartisan support of the Judiciary Committee.

Michael Scudder carries an impressive legal record, with extensive experience in both private practice and public service, and the American Bar Association's highest rating. Judge Amy St. Eve shares the ABA's unqualified confidence. She has compiled a 17-year record in the Northern District of Illinois. That is why the Senate confirmed these highly qualified nominees to serve on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals with a bipartisan majority.

Today, our progress will continue. We will vote to confirm John Nalbandian, of Kentucky, to serve on the Sixth Circuit and Joel Carson, of New Mexico, to serve on the Tenth Circuit.

Judge Carson has had a distinguished tenure as a U.S. magistrate judge. His peers say his ``integrity, fairness, and respect for the dignity of others are top notch.'' A bipartisan group of New Mexico lawyers has expressed confidence ``he will be an excellent addition to the Tenth Circuit.'' The Judiciary Committee agreed and reported Judge Carson's nomination to the full Senate in a bipartisan fashion.

We will also vote on John Nalbandian, who is from my home State of Kentucky, who has been nominated to serve on the Sixth Circuit. Mr. Nalbandian has earned respect from across the political spectrum as a top appellate advocate. He is known for his fairness, collegiality, and legal ability. In 2007, Mr. Nalbandian was appointed to be a special justice on the Kentucky Supreme Court. He later sat on the selection panel for magistrate judges in the State's Eastern District. More recently, President Obama nominated him to serve on the board of the State Justice Institute. He was confirmed by a voice vote.

In addition to well-regarded work in private practice, Mr. Nalbandian has also dedicated himself to community causes, such as economic development in Northern Kentucky and greater local representation for minority attorneys. To that end, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association has joined the multitude of supporters of his nomination. They note that if confirmed, Mr. Nalbandian will be just the seventh active Asian Pacific American Federal appellate judge nationwide.

John Nalbandian has the impressive credentials, the preparation, the broad support--every indication that he will be a worthy and capable judge.

We should confirm both of these nominees without delay. Economic Growth

Madam President, less than 16 months into the Republican government, our policies are helping to create a sea change in the economic climate in our country. The Washington Post recently reported on new data from the National Federation of Independent Business. Forty-three percent of small business owners say they are already investing in new equipment. More than half of manufacturing firms and construction firms expect demand to keep growing, and the percentage of small businesses that has raised worker compensation is the highest it has been since 2000.

For years, Democratic policies, like high taxes and runaway regulations, have put a headwind in the faces of American job creators. Now, historic tax reform, regulatory relief, and the rest of our opportunity agenda mean the wind is once again at their backs.

Republicans understand that American workers don't win when American businesses lose. Our economy is not a zero-sum game. If we want middle- class families to thrive, we need the American businesses that compete to employ them and pay them to thrive as well. Sure enough, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the amount employers spent on worker pay and benefits grew more in 2017 than it did in any calendar year under President Obama.

More prosperity, more opportunity, and more raises and bonuses for working families are just the start of what the American people can accomplish when Republicans get Washington out of the way.

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