Past; you are our hope for the years to come. Thank you for leading us beside the still waters of your wisdom and through the Green Pastures of your peace. Empower our senators for the task of this day. May they put right before expediency, others before self, principle before partisanship, and you before all else. Lord, keep our lawmakers under the canopy of your care, sustaining them with your grace amid all sunshine and shadow. And, lord, thank you that america still stands with lamp held aloft as a beacon of freedom for our world. We pray in your sacred name. Amen. The president pro tempore please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Mr. Mcconnell mr. President . The presiding officer the majority leader. Mr. Mcconnell p later this morning the senate will have an opportunity to pass the f.