Foreign Relations Committee will come to order. We have a number of distinguished nominees here today and we welcome them. We also have a number of very distinguished introducers. We welcome you and thank you for coming to our committee. In order for you to be able to go ahead and do other Business Today we will defer relative to making Opening Statements and let you go ahead and do what you need to do. We look forward to those comments and we realize youll like to go elsewhere. I know senator mcconnel is coming today. Why dont we start in the order of seniority. We appreciate so much you being here. We welcome you all. Thank you for being here today. If you will, begin. Thank you mr. Chairman and Ranking Member of the committee. It is a pleasure to be back here. Sit the second time in less than a couple of weeks. Its not often i darken the door but as long as a president keeps nominating texans i promise to keep coming back often. She is truly someone that needs no introduction but i
You a question about senator john mccain who had a serious diagnosis this week. In 2008, you are cochair of his indiana president ial campaign which give you special perspective on senator mccain. What is the impact of his absence on the policy agenda for republicans in congress . Rep. Messer john mccain is an american hero. There are times he says things i agree with another times he says things i do not agree with. No one ever questions his patriotism, his dignity, whether he is somebody who loves his country. He has literally given blood, sweat, and tears to the cause. First we think about john mccain and his health. Beyond that, it creates further challenges in the senate. Im sure we will talk about this quite a bit in the next 25 minutes. Right now, we are not where we want to be. As Republican Leaders. There has been a lot done for the last six months but its difficult to get major items through the senate if you dont have a full team over there. How problematic will it be for re
Susan our guest of this weeks newsmakers is congressman luke messer of indiana. He is part of the House Leadership Team and chairman of the Republican Policy Committee. We have him with us for the next 25 minutes. Let me introduce you to reporters who ask you questions. Shivone. James arkin covers congress for real clear politics. We start out and i want to ask you a question about senator john mccain who had a serious diagnosis this week. In 2008, you are cochair of his indiana president ial campaign which give you special perspective on senator ccain. What is the impact of his absence on the policy agenda for republicans in congress . Rep. Messer john mccain is an american hero. There are times he says things i agree with another times he says things i do not agree with. No one ever questions his patriotism, his dignity, whether he is somebody who loves his country. He has literally given blood, sweat, and tears to the cause. First we think about john mccain and his health. Beyond th
Leaders are not allowing lengthy debate. Later this week theyll take up a bill funding defense related programs, also for energy, water, legislative branch, v. A. , military construction. Votes later. Live coverage now here on cspan. The speaker pro tempore the house will be in order. The prayer will be offered by our chaplain, father conroy. Chaplain conroy let us pray. Lord our god, thank you for giving us another day. As they are returning to the capitol, please be with the members of this peoples house and all their undertakings today. You know them through and through. You know how they relate with one another and know them as the American People do as the 115th congress of the United States. Lord, help them to know you. As ultimate truth, send your spirit upon them that you might find a dwelling place among them so that all your people can place trust in them as leaders as well as their representatives. May all that is done this day be amen. Ur greater glory the speaker pro tempo
Welcome to newsmakers. Returning this week is stephen law, president and ceo of the Senate Leadership fund. Their goal is to support Senate Majority leader Mitch Mcconnell and retain republican majority in the United States senate. Thank you for coming back. It is a timely week. This week on tuesday is the special election to fill Jeff Sessions seat in alabama and we will talk about that and also about the seeming feud between the president of the United States and the Senate Majority leader. Lots on our agenda. Let me introduce the two reporters who will be asking questions. Erica warner is the chief congressional reporter for the associated press. Thank you for coming back this week. Erica my pleasure. Al weaver joins us for the first time. He is a political reporter for the washington examiner. Erica, why dont you start . Erica steve, i think we have to kickoff with asking about the trumpmcconnell feud. What did you think about seeing the president lay into your former boss when you