Grea fort bragg and oth installations and call North Carolina home, eve for a thanks to our colleague for joining us today. Madam president , thanksgiving dinner has become the single most sell grated celebrated meal of theay. With tens ofmericans gathering with family and friends to give thanks for their bleings and of course for one another. Folks, i know that this yr its a lot different. While we sti have so much to be thankful for, the covid1 paemic means folks will be traveling less and might not be celebrating in larger groups. And as a result, many will be separated from their loved ones on this very special day. Bu folks, this is a very familiar feeling for anyon who has ever served in our Nations Armed forces. Protecting our nation. Rom at any given moment, thousands of men and women,oms and dads, brothers and sisters, are stationed arnd the world standing vigilant in the defense of freedom. Those wearing the uniform arent the only ones making a sacrifice either back home there is an empty seat at the family table. Their kids missing their momr dad as my daughter missed me while i was deployed. Pares are missing a child and husbands and wives are missing a spouse. Due to covid many who are stationed in the. S. Cant even travel home to be with their families. My own daughter will not be able to travel over thanksging. Restrictions have been put in place prohibiting nonessential travel t or from many military installations, including cp dodge in my home state of iowa. Bu every day not just thanksgivingan be a sacrifice when serving in the armed forces. Those who enlist are well aware of this, yet i is no deterrent. As a combat veteran withver 23 years ofervice between the Army Reserves and the Iowa Army National guard, i understand what many families are going through, and i have a deep sense of gratitu for the service our men and wom in uniform make for the good of their neighbors. Just last year i visited our iowa troops for thanksgiving in afghanistan. It was good to see them and i know how mh they wereissing their families. They also want to make sure that the people back home remember them, remember tha they are far from home, remember that they are working hard to protect our freedoms. Our Courageous Service mbers they have seen and felt itdom. Firsthand. Many of them live with that price the restf their lives. Far too many who survive combat continue fighting an internal battle wn they return home. Priority to work across thea top aisle to combat suicide and Mental Health struggles among our veterans. My most recent effort would designate a buddy check week to educate veterans on how to conduct pe wellness checks. Its a really simple meare that could go a lg way to support the health and safety of those who have bravely served ouration. During thishanksgiving season we also must continue to show our gratitude for those who are putting their own health and lives at risk by serving on the ont lines in our fight against covid19. Thughout this pandemic there have been over 850 Iowa National ardsmen working to deliver personal ptective equipment, food, and medical supplies all across the state of iowa. Army National Guard for many, many years, i could not be more proud of their tirels and seless efforts. Thats why i have introduced hazardous duty pay for our free natial guards men and women to recognize the work they are doing ding this pandemic and providthem the pay they deserve. I know i speak on behalf of all iowans when i say i am truly ankful for all of those who have ever served our natio in uniform and also to their families. This month we honor a appreciate all the sacrifices our military families make to support loved ones who are serving our nation in uniform. While this thanksgiving might look a little different, lets not forget to be grateful f the freedoms and the blessings we have i this truly great country. May god bless all iowans, including those serving overseas and those caring for strangers during this pandemic. Im thankful for the opportunity to serve you. Madam predent, i yield e floor. A senator madam president . The presiding officer the senator from missouri. Mr. Blunt madam president , first let me thank senator ernst for organizing this opportunity to talkbout our veterans, to talk about those who serve and the oblations that weave to them to talk about tir challenges. Last wee certainly veterans day very much on our minds, but also we ought to be sure that our veterans are on our minds all the tim we have Appropriations Bills we ne to pass that will make a big difference in how Veterans Issues are dealt with. Obviously we need to pass the appropriations bill for the department of veterans affairs. Ever veteran would want us to pass the appropriations bill for the department ofefense. But there are also provisions in other bills that help veterans get back into siety more effectively wn they leave the military. The labor, health and Human Services bilthat i talked about on the floor last week increases assistance for veterans employment programs and it supports veterans wh they move from the military workforce to the civilian workforce. It works to give heless veterans a chance to have a home, have a job, have an whatever barrier is a barrier for them. The opioid dependence, we all know those numbers are backp, those opioid death numbe are back up. Veterans suicides, not one is acceptable. Fundingf verans hot line, Funding Behavioral Health programs, being sure that tehealth may be available for vetens who may not be able to drive all theay to a provider but woulde ableo quickly contact the pson that helps them. Understaing the challenges for homele veterans particularly of posttraumatic stress and otr veterans who sometimes dont developosttraumatic stress until decades aft they serve. Often our veterans, not just in leaving the military but in retirement from whateverhey did next dont realize until that moment how much their service has impacted the way they see this and do things and think about things and are concerned about things. We need to be sure that veterans who have experiences and slls that they take out o the military are able to quickly connect with employers as they transition to civilian life. Every employer, madam president , in fac at least i never talked to an employer who doesnt say we really hire vets. Its a priory where we are to hire vets. But weassed some legislation a few years ago, the hire vets act, which gave theepartment of labor the authority to cognize employers that actually do that, that hire vets, that promote vets, that secretary alex asta was secretary of labor a the time. They took a program that everybody that advised him on this, it would take about three years to set this up. They set it up in about six months, and we began to recognize employers around the country who truly do meet the standa that all employers say they meet and some do. Everybody wants to but its easier to say you do ithan it is too it. Seven missour businesses have received earlier this month the 2020 Hire Vets Medallion Program award. Its c2c in chesterfield, connectry in st. Louis, arnd defense and electronics in arnold, missouri, a. M. E. Construction in coddlesville. Veterans of forei wars in kansasity, an employer at one timeas the world war i merial, the only memorial. On tget solutions in belton. Pog growth in winsville, all received the recognition that they do hire vets and reay do promote vets and really do meet extraordinary standardthat are part of that program. It aims to highlight companies that do jus that. And third, weve worked to make it easier for military spouses to transfer their licenses and skills from one state to another. We included that in the Defense Authorization act passed in july. That Defense Authorization act hasnt pasd the congress yet its passed the senate. Hasnt passe the congress yet. I knowe have every intention of getting that done this year. But whene do, we put provisions inhere that really do allow much greater transfer from one state to another, whether youre a teacher or a nurse or a beautician or a barber or an engineer, architect, whatever you might be transferring, want to transfer as your spouse moves from one assignment to another. It shouldnt take most of the time youre there to finally get qualified to do what you are qualified to do before youot there. Lowering these license barriers for spouses. I think we ought to also do all we can to lower those barriers for veterans themselves. If youve been a medical technician in the air force, it shouldnt be very hard to bece a medical technician wherever youve decided to live after in the military. If you had been a truck driver in the army, it shouldnt be very hard to get a Truck Drivers license once you decide this is where you want to go. If youve been an electrician in the navy, you ought to be able to get your license to be an l electrician electrician pretty quickly when you go where you go after you leave the military. These are the kinds of things we can do. Certainly o deep appreation for veterans, our deep appreciation for their families, honoring the flag that they have done so much for, all thats important. Its an integral part of what we are as a country. But there are things we also do that show veterans wh you did, what you lrned counts, it matters, and were going to recognize that as employers, as coworkers, as members of congress. Thank y, madam president. A senator madam president . The presiding officer i ask consent to complete my remarks. The presidg officer without objection. A senator madam president , in the marine corps, we have a motto semper felis, it means always faithful, always faithful to our nation and the brave patriots who haveonorably served it. Just last week we recognized a day very special to me and i day. K to all americans, veterans on this important occasion we say thank you to our veterans, uniform for their courage and commitment to protecting our freedo and preserving our very way of life. Mr. Young their service of course should be an example to i try and instill this in my chdren. Its something i discuss at School Groups oftentimes, encouraging peoe to think about may spending some time in the military service or finding other ways to serve theirellow americans. Our veterans, they help keep us safe during tim ofreat uncertaintynd unease, something all of us, i think, appreciate aittle bit more ring this trying year. E month of november also marks military family appreciation month. Our military filies dont always get the cdit they deserve but they bear a very special and unique burden on behalf of our country that frankly most of us cannot fully understand they sacrifice their peace of mind, eir welling on behalf of their neighbors, their communities, and their fellow americans, people th have never met. What could be more beautiful th that, because theyelieve in this nation, they believe in this country and the values that undergird it. Even though we cant begin to repay them for these sacrifice they make onur behalf, we can honor them, and we can express our gratitude. So this thanksgiving season, this time for counting our blessings and celebrating how many of them we enjoy, even amid this global payment may we remember all that we are thankful for, eve bit of it, and who we are thankful for as well. Yes, our family members and our neighbors and our close friends, but i personally, im thankful for our active duty service membs. Im thankful for indianas more than 400,000 veterans. Im thankful for their selfless families. Iope that all americans will join me today, this month, this thanksgiving, and every day thereafter and reflect on these men and women,hese fellow americans who sacrificed so much on behalf of all of us. Our country simply would not be the same without them. Itrguably wouldnt exist without famils like this prepared to sacrifice so much. God bless our activ duty Service Members, god bless our vetens, and god bless our military families, and may god continue to bless this great country, the United States of america. Thk you, madam speaker. I yield the for. The presiding officer all postcloture time has expired. The question is on the vaden nomination. Is there a sufficient second . The appears to be. The cle will cal the roll. Vo vote vote are 49. Ding officer the yeas the nomination is confirmed. A senator madam president. The presiding officer majority whip. Mr. Thune i ask unanimous consent that thmotions to reconsider be considered made anlaid un the table and the president be immedialy notified of the senates action. The presiding officer is tre objection . Without objection. Order. Mr. Thune madam president , i ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum call with respect to the Kathryn Kimball mizell nomination beaived. The presiding officer is there objeion . Without objection. The clerk will report the motion to inadvocacy cloture. Invoke cloture. The clerk cloture motion, we, the undersigned senators, in accordance with the provisions of rule 22, do hereby bring a close debate on of kathry kimball mizelle, of florida, to be United States district judge for the middl distrt of florida, signed by 17 senators. The presiding officer can we have order in the senate . By unanimous consent, the mandatory quorumall has been waived. Th question, is it the sense of the senate that debate on the nomination of Kathryn Kimball mizelle, of florida, to be United States district judge for the middle district of florida, shall be brought to a close . The yeas and nays are mandatory undethe rule. The clerk will ll the roll. Vote vote vote vote the presiding officer are there any senators in the chamber wishing to vote or change their vote . If not, the yeas are 49, the ys are 43. The motion is agreed to. The clerk wi report the nomination. E clerk the judiciary, Kathryn Kimball mizelle of florida to be United States district judge for the middle district of florida. Ms. Mcsally mr. President . The presiding oicer the senator from arizona. Ms. Mcsally mr. Resident, i rise to give my final speech on the senate floor with a hrt of gratitude. Servin and fighting for arizona as a u. S senator has been the opportunity of lifetime. Many times in the las two years i had to pinch myself that this middleclass veteran became one of only 1,984 americans to serve in the u. S. Senate and only 677 serve in bh chambers of Congress Since our nation was formed. Like most americans,n my life joney i have overcome adversity which could hav crushed me. By the grace ofod instead gave me purpose to fig for oers. My dad died of heart attack. I learned to treat each day of thisife as a gift. I was reminded of that will when my brother passed away. Though it wasnt from covid this deep grief, is one tooany of u have faced in 2020. Weve been reminded that every moment, every day, every chapter of our lives is truly a gift. As it has been for most chapters of my life, i didnt come here in the traditional or easy way. I want to first thank the governor for the blessing to serve the great state of arizona, especially during these times of unprecedented challenges. Accepting theovernors the worlds most pstigious of body was a high risk endeavor. It was the ultimate expression of one mf i lifes principles. I took on the mission wh my eyes wide open. I gave it all and left it all on the field in my fight for the state. Honor your oath, live up to your calling. Dont walk by a probl and to para phrase john boyd, choose to do something instead of trying to b someby. As i make the trip back home from d. C. To arizona for the last te and close o this nineyear chapter, i do soith gratitude, joy, be no regrets. Hang represented the most optimistic, resilient and gritty people othe face of the earth. While my name is on the door on our office here, this is a team effort. None of what with we achieved without exceptionally talented, selfless and committed staff, many of whom are here today. Im s espionage f my thankful for my team of professionals who embody our core values of integrity, excellence, teamwork and make it happen mindt. I want to thank tse who have been with me all six years in my time in the house and senate,y chief of staff, justin roth, who leads ourmazing team through ick and thin, my legislative director who drove our success and embodies the young brilliant talent, my deputy state director, who built strong arizona and rosa ruiz who has helped so many arizonians left behind by federal ageies. They williamed our williamed our larger team. I want to recognize my deputy chief of staff who brought a wealth of experience, murity and relationships to lea and mentor o arizona team and alona wilson, director of scheduling, really director of everything. Who has maturity beyond her years an i couldnt function without her. This institution could not operate and the people of all 50 states would not be served without intelligent, hardcharging, oen young men and women who chooseo work on the hill in staff positions. They dont do i for the pay and they could make much more working fewer hours in other fields,ut they choose these behind the scenes unglamorous jobs to be keep our Constitutional Republic strong. Im so thank full for team together, as a team, we intervene onehalf of over 7, 800 arizonians, in the last two years alone we secured nearly 7 million of benefits they serve. To my fellow arizonians, it w an honor to be your ice and your fighter on your behalf. We cfted a legistive agenda and fought forreedom, opportunity for americans an arizonians, the very principles on the line. My fell veterans put everyoneas an opportunity to realize the america dream, building our military, standing up to china, securing our beernd transferring the judiciary back t its constitutional role for generaons to come. This include the historic oprtunity to confirm a pioneering justice, Amy Coney Barrett to the supreme court. We worked together in this chamber to quickly deliver relief for this first in a century pandemic. Thks to President Trump, Vice President pence, majority leader mitch mcconnell