Mr. Balash was considered by those of us on the Energy Committee at a hearing in early September. He was reported out 2 weeks later with strong bipartisan support. He has done everything that Members on both sides of the aisle have asked…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent for 2 more minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Madam President, I am here with my colleague from the State of Alaska, Senator Sullivan. We have heard his comments, his very strong support of the nomination of Joe Balash to be the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that following the disposition of the Balash nomination, the Senate proceed to the consideration of Executive Calendar No. 167, as under the previous order. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection…

Madam President, today I am gratified to be finally debating and voting on the nomination of Joe Balash to be the U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Lands and Minerals. I have been coming to the floor, as have a lot of my…

Mr. President, every week I have been coming down to the floor to talk a little bit about my great State, about the wonders of its natural landscape--a land that everybody should see for themselves--and we talk about special people. I know…

Mr. President, I have 8 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the…

Mr. President, I came to the floor a half hour ago talking about a very well-qualified candidate for the Assistant Secretary of Interior for Lands and Minerals, Joe Balash, whom I happen to know very well. He was my former chief of staff…

Mr. President, I also want to express appreciation to a number of my colleagues and, again, Senator Portman is certainly one of them. We had an important night the other night with regard to the critical passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs…

Mr. President, I wish to first compliment my colleague from Ohio, Senator Portman, on his leadership on so many different fronts in the U.S. Senate. His leadership is nowhere more important than what he has been doing on the opioid…

Mr. President, I strongly oppose this motion to strike. This is our opportunity to provide jobs, to create revenues and resources, and to protect an environment that as Alaskans we know how to protect. We are seeking with this energy title…

As to the issue on economic growth, I have been coming down to the floor in my relatively short time here and talking about growth, growth, growth, growth. I have not in 3 years--3 years--heard my colleagues on the other side of the aisle…

Mr. President, I appreciate the fact that I am able to follow my colleague from South Carolina, who has, I think, described and encapsulated in pretty simple terms this proposal before us. This tax proposal is good for the country. It is…

Mr. President, I want to compliment my good friend from South Carolina who came down here and talked about what this is all about. I couldn't agree with him more. This is about families. This is about American families. He has these poster…

Do you believe that the new normal is 1.5 percent, like CBO, like the Obama administration said--GDP growth of 1.5 percent for the entire future? Is that what you believe?

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order for Senator Nelson and Senator Baldwin or their designee to each offer a motion to commit, which are at the desk, and that no amendments to the instructions be in order. I further…

Mr. President, today I wish to discuss a bill that has been worked on for years. H.R. 228 will help tribes streamline what are called 477 programs. Recently, a question was raised about the Head Start program and its possible inclusion in…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a letter from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO, dated November 15, 2017. The letter provides notice that the Eastern Interior Resource Management…