this is drawn is that we want, that the drafters of this want to send a message of appeasement to iran and this has been tried. it hasn't worked. the last administration bent over backwards to offer appeasement to iran. they were greatly betrayed by it. it was tried with the jcpoa, and it didn't work. the reason it didn't work is we are not dealing with people here who are acting in good faith. what we need to do is we need to send a message of firmness and not weakness, and at the end of the day when we're all done with this, there will be such a message. it needs to be a consistent and uniform message when it comes to messaging to iran, when it comes to messaging on our foreign policy as it relates to iran. but it will not be this law that is before us because it's going to be vetoed. we all know it's going to be vetoed. it takes a two-thirds majority to override that. it's not going to happen. and so the mixed message is there. iran will listen to it and the hard-liners will take it one way, other people will take it the other, and that is not a good situation, but hopefully we'll be able to lay this out in a way that they can read between the lines and get the message that is important. the president took action that people have criticizeed here that was difficult. it was a tough decision. it was a really bad guy, a guy who was worse than osama bin laden. he was the person who was executing iran's maligned policies in the world and in the region. his killing and loss of limb have become legendary in the world today. whenever i see one of our young men and women that are missing an arm or a leg, they owe that to general soleimani. he killed hundreds of people. he was responsible for the i.e.d. program that took the lives of so many and maimed so many of our men and women that were fighting in the middle east. and he got to the point where he was wandering around, really, with impunity and not worried about what he was doing or that anybody was going to take any action against him. let's look at the timeline over the last year. the iranians started by blowing up oil tankers. nothing was done about it. they attacked the saudi oil fields where 100 americans were working. nothing was done about it. they took down a drone of ours over international space. nothing was done about it. finally, they ratcheted up over the fall 13 attacks on u.s. soldiers at u.s. bases in iraq. these were our men and our women that we had asked to go over there and push back against iran's attempted infiltration into iraq. 13 attacks they took. finally, on one of those attacks, somebody was killed. the president laid down a red line that if an american was killed, there was going to be a price to pay. they start -- they finally killed that person. they attacked our embassy in baghdad and attempted to set it on fire. and so eventually, the president made the choice to do what he did, and this was in response to the continual pushing of the envelope from iran and the miscalculations that iran made. this man was traveling. general soleimani was traveling. he had been traveling from place to place, putting in place final plans and coordination for the execution of an attack against the american people. it was imminent. now, you have heard my friends here say oh, no, it wasn't imminent. we listened to the -- we listened to the intelligence. i sit on the intelligence committee. i sat through all of the briefings that were given that were at the secret level and the top secret level that were given to the people here in the body. i also sat through the ones that were given to the intelligence committee which were compartmented and much more granular. there was no doubt that this plan was planning an imminent attack to kill americans. he didn't get the chance. thank you, mr. president. thank you for what you did. now, we've heard the argument here that it wasn't imminent. this person was substantially more imminent danger to the united states of america and to americans than when osama bin laden was, but when the president of the united states, barack obama, took out osama bin laden, we all cheered it. in fact, we passed a resolution here 100-0 commending the president of the united states for what he did. so today, mr. president, you have heard us pass such a resolution thanking you. thank you, mr. president, and farewell, general soleimani. iran, do not miscalculate and read what is happening here as capitulation or weakness or appeasement. it is not. it is a disagreement between this branch of government, the legislative branch, and our second branch of government, the executive branch, as to how we should defend ourselves, but make no mistake about it. we will defend ourselves. in america, we operate under the rule of law. this bill that's in front of us that we are debating today will not become law. it will not be part of the body of law which we live by. it will be vetoed. iran, take note. if you continue on the path that you are on with your maligned activities, it is going to take you to a very bad place. i'd urge a no vote. i understand how this is going to come out. i will be standing here again to sustain the president's veto, and it will be sustained. thank you, mr. president. i yield the floor. a senator: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator for idaho. mr. risch: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the 1:45 vote that was scheduled commence now. the presiding officer: without objection. the clerk will read the joint resolution for the third time. the clerk: senate joint resolution 68, to direct the removal of the united states armed forces from hostilities against the islamic republic of iran that have not been authorized by congress. the presiding officer: the question occurs on the passage of s.j. res. 68 as amended. a senator: mr. president, i ask for the yeas and nays. the presiding officer: is there a sufficient second? there appears to be. the clerk will call the roll. vote: vote: vote: the presiding officer: are there any senators in the chamber wishing to change their vote? if not, the yeas are 55. the nays are 45. the joint resolution as amended is passed. mr. mcconnell: mr. president? the presiding officer: the majority leader. mr. mcconnell: i ask unanimous consent the clerks be allowed to make technical corrections to the engrossing of amendments s. j. res. 68. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i move to proceed toll executive session and consider calendar number 384. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all in favor say aye. those opposed no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the motion is agreed to. the clerk will report the nomination. the clerk: nomination, the judiciary, robert anthony mall loyal of the virgin islands to be judge for the district court of the virgin islands. mr. mcconnell: i send a cloture motion to the desk. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: cloture motion, we the undersigned senators in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the nomination of robert anthony molloy of the virgin islands to be judge for the district court of the virgin islands signed by 17 senators as follows. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent the reading of the names be waived. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i move to proceed to legislative session. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all in favor say aye. those opposed no the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the motion is agreed to. mr. mcconnell: i move to proceed to executive session and consider calendar number 491. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all in favor say aye. those opposed no the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the motion is agreed to. the clerk will report the nomination. the clerk: nomple nation. united states tax court, travis grieves of the district of columbia to be a district judge. mr. mcconnell: i send a cloture motion to the desk. the presiding officer: the cloture motion will report the cloture motion. the clerk: cloture motion, we the undersigned senators i in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate -- the judiciary, sylvia carreno-coll of puerto rico to be united states district for the district of puerto rico. we the undersigned senators in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate do hereby move to bring to a close debate nomination of sylvia carreno-coll of puerto rico to be united states district judge for the district of puerto rico. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent the reading of the names be waived. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i move to proceed to legislative session. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all in favor say aye. those opposed no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the motion is agreed to. mr. mcconnell: i move to proceed to calendar number 420. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all in favor say aye. those opposed no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the motion is agreed to. the clerk will report the nomination -- the bill. the clerk: calendar 420, s. 3275, a bill to amend title 18 united states code to protect pain capable unborn children and to other purposes. mr. mcconnell: i send a cloture motion to the desk. the presiding officer: the clerk will report the cloture motion. the clerk: cloture motion, we the undersigned senators in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the motion to proceed to calendar number 420, s. 3275, a bill to amend title 18 united states code to protect pain capable unborn children and for other purposes signed by 17 senators as follows. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent the reading of the names be waived. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i withdraw the motion to proceed. the presiding officer: the senator has that right. mr. mcconnell: i move to proceed to calendar number 17. the presiding officer: the clerk will report the motion to proceed. the clerk: motion to proceed to calendar number 17, s. 311, a bill to amend title 18 united states code to prohibited health care practitioner from failing to exercise the proper degree of care in the case of a child who survives an abortion or attempted abortion. mr. mcconnell: i send a cloture motion to the desk. the presiding officer: the clerk will report the cloture motion. the clerk: cloture motion, we the undersigned senators in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate do hereby debate on the motion to proceed to calendar number 17, a bill to amend -- health care practitioner from failing to exercise the proper degree of care in the case of a child who survives an abortion or attempted abortion signed by 17 senators as follows. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent the realding -- reading of the names be waived. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i with graw the -- with draw the motion to proceed. i move to proceed to executive session and consider calendar 569. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all in favor say aye. those opposed no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the motion is agreed to. the clerk will report the nomination. the clerk: nomination, department of the interior, katherine macgregor of pennsylvania to be gepty -- deputy secretary of the interior. mr. mcconnell: i send a cloture motion to the desk. the presiding officer: the clerk will report the cloture motion. the clerk: cloture motion, we the undersigned senators in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the nomination of katharine macgregor of pennsylvania to be deputy secretary of the interior signed by 17 senators as follows. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent the reading of the names be waived. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i move to have proceed to legislative session. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all in favor say aye. those opposed no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the motion is agreed to. mr. mcconnell: i move to proceed to executive session to consider calendar number 416. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all in favor say aye. those opposed no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the motion is agreed to. the clerk will report the nomination. the clerk: nomination, united states tax court, travis grieves of the district of columbia to be a district court for the united states tax court. mr. mcconnell: i send a cloture motion to the desk. the presiding officer: the clerk will report the cloture motion. the clerk: cloture motion, we the undersigned senators in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate do hereby move to bring to a close debate debate on the nomination of travis greaves of the district of columbia to be a judge of the united states tax court signed by 17 senators as follows. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent the reading of the names be waived. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent the mandatory quorum calls be waived. the presiding officer: without objection. the motion to proceed to calendar 420 was not agreed to. it was only made. the senator for louisiana. mr. kennedy: [inaudible] -- about 5g. the federal communications commission and swamp creatures. mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator for louisiana. mr. kennedy: thank you, mr. president. i want to talk a few minutes today about 5g, the federal communications commission, and swamp creatures. we've all heard a lot about 5g. 5g is just incredibly fast internet. it'll make possible things like driverless cars, telemedicine, the internet of things. now, i want to caution all of us, mr. chairman. these things are not going to happen overnight. in fact, some parts of our country already have 5g -- and we don't have driverless cars. and the internet of things. and long-distance surgery. these innovations are going to happen over a long period of time. and, in the meantime, there's going to be at that lot of hype from the telecommunications companies. why? because they want to sell you 5g. and they're going to tell you 5g can do all these incredible things. they're going to tell you that 5g can grow hair, that 5g can cure erectile dysfunction, that 5g can do this and it can do that. look, i wanting to on record as saying 5g is going to be extraordinary. but it's not going to happen overnight. and the emergency that some of our telecommunications companies are trying to create is not nearly the emergency that really exists, because they have something they want to sell you. i'm not putting them down. that's free enterprise. how does 5g work? well, it's wireless technology. and i have 5g on my phone and you have 5g on your phone. we communicate, whether it's 5g technology or otherwise, through radio waves. a radio wave goes from my phone to your phone and it carries data. it's called electromagnetic radiation. all it really is s. is radio waves. there are all different kinds of radio waves. depends on the frequency. now, you know who owns those radio waves? the f.c.c. doesn't. the telecommunications companies, which use those radio waves, don't. the federal government doesn't, except in this sense -- you own those radio waves. the american taxpayer owns those radio waves, and they are incredibly valuable. because telecommunications companies line up when the f.c.c. has new radio waves available for them. they line up to bid on those radio waves, which they can use. we call that spectrum. now, there's a certain type of radio wave going through the air, or spectrum, if you will, that is perfect for 5g. it's like goldie locks porridge. it's not too hot, it's not too cold, it's just right. and the telecommunication companies want to use that c-band, we call it, or midrange spectrum. i'm going to call it c-band. they want the f.c.c. to license it to them. well, right now using that spectrum, that c-band -- remember, this is the -- these are the radio waves, the spectrum that are just perfect for 5g. right now, using this c-band spectrum are a number of satellite companies, most of which are foreign-owned. the major satellite companies that are using it right now happen to be domiciled in luxembourg, a wonderful country, wonderful people. you know what they paid to use that spectrum? -- to the american people. nothing. zero. nada. you say, well, how did that happen? kennedy, you just told me that these radio waves are very valuable and the telecommunications are -- companies are lined up to lease them. how did the foreign satellite companies get the c-band for nothing that they're using right now? i don't know. it wasn't this f.c.c. but some f.c.c. just gave it to them. said, here ... use it for free. i wasn't there. i'm not necessarily criticizing them. i'm just telling you, they got it for nothing. but they didn't get a license. they don't have a lease. they have a frizzel to use it. -- they have a privilege to use it. and in the fine print of the document that gives them this privilege, at any time the f.c.c. can take it back. because the foreign satellite companies don't have a property interest. they don't own it, they don't have a lease, they didn't pay anything for it. they just have the privilege to use it until the f.c.c. wants to take it back. now, the foreign satellite companies -- and i'm not criticizing them. god bless them. they're making a lot of money using this spectrum that belongs to the american taxpayer for free. well, this is the way it's been for a while, but now some telecommunications companies, like verizon and others, good companies, they said, we need that c-band, f.c.c. we need that c-band to use for 5g. well, the satellite companies -- i'll call them luxembourg satellite companies, once again, good people in luxembourg, good people. they say, well, we're using the c-band right now. we don't want to give it up to the telecommunications companies. but we'll make you a deal. they went to the f.c.c. the satellite companies said to the f.c.c., we're using the c-band right now, and even though we didn't pay a single solitaire dime for it -- solitary dime for it we know the telecommunications companies want it to implement 5g. so here's what we'll do. you, f.c.c., give us the c-band. give it to us, and we will turn around and make sure that the telecommunication companies get to use it. we'll lease it to them. and the amount of money that the foreign satellite companies would have made was about $70 billion. i call it the bank job robbery. remember that movie came out in 2008, the bank job? it was a 2008 heist movie. it was about the 1971 baker street robbery in london. i call this proposal the bank job robbery. i don't see how the foreign satellite companies made the proposal with a straight face. give us this c-and in belongs to the american people -- give us this c-band that belongs to the american people. just give it to us. we're going to sell it to the telecommunication companies and pocket the $07 billion. and you know what? our f.c.c. almost did it. they were this close. and they said, oh, we got to do this, because we -- we got to get this c-band to the telecommunication companies because it's an emergency and we've got to get 5g tomorrow. and so, let's just give the satellite companies that are using it now, didn't pay a red dime for it, let's give them the spectrum that belongs to the american people and let them sell it to the telecommunications and pocket the $70 billion because our hair i