S1522 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 15, 2021 There was no real negotiation. The of our past, and it offers hope for a bet- ceded me knows DEB HAALAND from Ojibwa has two choices: Accept the ter future. years of experience. Tom Udall, who terms, or face annihilation. So the two I am honored to support DEB served here for years, a close friend to chiefs, whose English names were Buf- HAALAND to serve as U.S. Secretary of all of us, has known DEB HAALAND for- falo and Flat Mouth, signed the treaty the Interior. ever. ´ and hoped that they had salvaged some Mr. LUJAN. I yield the floor. I remember asking Tom Udall: What future for their people. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- does she bring to the U.S. Department It was one of more than 500 treaties ator from Delaware. of the Interior? I will never forget what that Indian nations signed with the Mr. CARPER. Madam President, I Tom said. He said: She will bring a U.S. Government between 1778 and 1871. rise today to support the historic nom- good heart. She will bring a good mind. Like every one of those 500-plus trea- ination of DEB HAALAND to be Sec- She has the heart of a servant. She is ties, the 1855 treaty with the Ojibwa retary of the Interior. someone who is humble, not haughty. Nation was violated by the U.S. Gov- If confirmed, Congresswoman She will provide the leadership that is ernment. HAALAND will be the first Native Amer- needed at the Department of the Inte- The part of our government most re- ican Cabinet Secretary. And how fit- rior after the years that we have been sponsible for carrying out treaty obli- ting it would be at the Department of through. gations and maintaining government- the Interior. After all, American Indi- She will put together a good team, to-government relations with Tribal ans and Alaska Natives were the first and when her team does well, she will nations was—and still is—the U.S. De- stewards of this land. I know Rep- give them the credit, and when her partment of the Interior. That is part resentative HAALAND will carry on that team falls short, she will take the commitment as Interior Secretary. of what makes the vote we will take blame. This nomination is important for all today so historic and important. Those of us in the State of Delaware States, especially the State of Dela- It has taken too long—244 years—for are proud to be the ‘‘First State.’’ We ware, which I am privileged to rep- a Native American to be included in a have two wonderful National Wildlife resent in the U.S. Senate. The First President’s Cabinet. Refuges. We have a national park, one State, as we are known, may be small, DEB HALLAND is a leader of honor, in- of the newest ones in the country, that but the Department of the Interior’s tegrity and vision, and I commend really helps tell the story of the settle- presence there is not. We are proud of President Biden for nominating her to ment of our country from the early our two National Wildlife Refugees and this important post. As Secretary of days of colonial settlements, right up one of America’s newest national the Interior, she will oversee the de- to the ratification of the Constitution. parks, the First State National Histor- partment that manages America’s na- The Constitution lays out what is ex- ical Park, which helps tell the story of pected of us serving here and in the ad- tional parks and vast public lands. She the founding of our Nation leading up ministration and also what is expected also will lead the Bureau primarily re- to the ratification of the U.S. Constitu- of Cabinet Secretaries, and it is seen in sponsible for maintaining relations be- tion. the, really the forward, if you will, the tween the U.S Government and the As I’ve gotten to know DEB HAALAND beginning, of the Constitution, where nearly 600 federally recognized, sov- this year convinced that she is the it says: ‘‘We the People of the United ereign Tribes within our national bor- right person to lead the Department of States, in Order to form a more perfect ders. the Interior. We are at a critical junc- Union. . . . ’’ Her nomination has the strong back- ture in our quest to protect our public We can do better than what we are ing of more than 500 national and re- lands, wildlife, and environment for fu- doing. We can do better than what we gional Tribal leaders, civil rights orga- ture generations. She has spent her ca- are doing with respect to protecting nizations, and environmental and con- reer fighting for these things. As Inte- our National heritage, our wildlife, our servation groups. She received bipar- rior Secretary, I know she will con- migratory birds. We can do better in tisan support in the Senate Committee tinue that fight with compassion and all of this. She will bring that commit- on Environment and Natural Re- integrity. And, as Chairman of the Sen- ment to doing better. sources. ate Committee on the Environment I will just close with this. I don’t be- She is a thoughtful and inclusive and Public Works, I look forward to lieve we have ever had, in the history leader who will search for balanced so- working with her and the team she will of our country, a Native American who lutions on energy, climate, and natural lead on restoring protections for mi- has been nominated to serve as a Cabi- resource policy. I also hope—and ex- gratory birds and our nation’s most net Secretary. I think she is the first, pect—that she will correct mistakes imperiled wildlife. and we are from the ‘‘First State,’’ the previous administration made in If confirmed, DEB HAALAND will also Delaware. The idea that she will be the removing protections for vast amounts take the bold steps needed to addres first Native American, how appro- of lands, including large portions of greatest threat we face—the climate priate, how appropriate. When you Bears Ears and the Grand Staircase- crisis. I believe that under her leader- think about it, who were the original Escalante National Monuments in ship, we will see offshore wind turbines stewards of this land, our air and our Utah. These natural and cultural treas- in federal waters from Massachusetts water, the birds and the animals and ures are part of our shared national in- to North Carolina, dramatically reduc- fish that all live here and populate this heritance and must be protected. Deb ing carbon emissions. land of ours? Native Americans were Haaland understands that. With that thought in mind, I look the first stewards. Native Alaskans In 2018, she became one of the first forward to working with her on ad- were the first stewards. And it is only two indigenous women ever elected to vancing the Biden administration’s re- appropriate that, finally, we picked one Congress. She is a 35th-generation New newable energy agenda. DEB has of them. We chose one of them. Mexican and an enrolled member of the pledged to listen and work with all of She has been nominated by the Presi- Laguna Pueblo, a Tribe of people who us in her efforts to do so. dent, gone through her confirmation have lived on the land that is now New Put simply, DEB HAALAND is what we hearing, and we have a chance, today, Mexico for 900 years. want in our leaders. She is humble, not to complete the process by confirming Defending this Nation is in her blood. haughty, with the heart of a true pub- the nomination of DEB HAALAND to be Her father was a marine who received lic servant. She works to unite, not di- the Secretary of the Interior. I hope we the Silver Star for his service in Viet- vide to build bridges, not walls. will do that, and I thank you very nam and is buried in Arlington Na- So, I strongly support her nomina- much for allowing me to give these re- tional Cemetery. Her mother is a Navy tion and encourage all my colleagues marks. veteran who worked for a quarter cen- to do the same confirming. DEB I yield the floor. tury at the Bureau of Indian Edu- HAALAND will do great things for the VOTE ON HAALAND NOMINATION cation, an Interior Department Agen- American people. Let’s make it hap- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. cy. pen. LUJA´ N). The question is, Will the Sen- This historic nomination is an impor- Madam President, let me just speak ate advise and consent to the Haaland tant step towards healing a deep wound from my heart. My friend who just pre- nomination?

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:29 Mar 16, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A15MR6.003 S15MRPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE March 15, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1523 Ms. BALDWIN. I call for the yeas and The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without CLOTURE MOTION nays. objection, it is so ordered. We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a CONFIRMATION OF DEBRA ANNE HAALAND ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the sufficient second? Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, just a Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby There appears to be a sufficient sec- word about the history-making nomi- move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- nation of Executive Calendar No. 37, Xavier ond. nation that was just approved by the The clerk will call the roll. Becerra, of California, to be Secretary of Senate. We have now made history Health and Human Services. The legislative clerk called the roll. twice in the last few minutes. We have Charles E. Schumer, Chris Van Hollen, Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the made history twice because we have Michael F. Bennet, Jack Reed, Tammy Senator from Colorado (Mr. BENNET), nominated the first Native American Duckworth, Sheldon Whitehouse, Jeff the Senator from Colorado (Mr. Secretary of the Interior and the first Merkley, Christopher A. Coons, Rich- HICKENLOOPER), and the Senator from Native American Cabinet official in ard Blumenthal, Patrick J. Leahy, Hawaii (Ms. HIRONO) are necessarily ab- American history. Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith, Brian Schatz, Ron Wyden, Robert Menendez, sent. The confirmation of DEB HAALAND is Mr. THUNE. The following Senators Richard J. Durbin, Martin Heinrich, amazing. It is a huge step forward, and Maria Cantwell. are necessarily absent: the Senator now it creates a government that more from Wyoming (Mr. BARRASSO), the embodies the full richness and diver- f Senator from Tennessee (Mr. sity of this country. We have known HAGERTY), the Senator from Wyoming for so long the Native American com- (Ms. LUMMIS), the Senator from Kansas munity was treated badly, and we have LEGISLATIVE SESSION (Mr. MARSHALL), the Senator from a long way to go but we have begun Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I Florida (Mr. RUBIO), and the Senator with the ARP. And now with the ap- move to proceed to legislative session. from Pennsylvania (Mr. TOOMEY). proval of DEB HAALAND to be the Sec- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Further, if present and voting, the retary of the Interior, we are moving question is on agreeing to the motion. Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. forward, and she will do a great job as The motion was agreed to. TOOMEY) would have voted ‘‘nay,’’ the Interior Secretary. She represents a Senator from Kansas (Mr. MARSHALL) turnaround because the Trump admin- f would have voted ‘‘nay,’’ and the Sen- istration did more to undermine the re- ator from Florida (Mr. RUBIO) would lationship between the Federal Govern- EXECUTIVE SESSION have voted ‘‘nay.’’ ment and Tribes than has been done in The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there a long time. DEB HAALAND will reverse any other Senators in the Chamber de- that and move much further along. So siring to vote or to change their vote? we are proud of what the Senate has EXECUTIVE CALENDAR The result was announced—yeas 51, done. Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I nays 40, as follows: UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENT—EXECUTIVE move to proceed to executive session to [Rollcall Vote No. 119 Ex.] CALENDAR consider Calendar No. 17. YEAS—51 Now, Mr. President, I ask unanimous The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Baldwin Heinrich Reed consent that the motion to reconsider Blumenthal Kaine Rosen be considered made and laid upon the question is on agreeing to the motion. Booker Kelly Sanders table and the President be immediately The motion was agreed to. Brown King Schatz The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Cantwell Klobuchar Schumer notified of the Senate’s action. Cardin Leahy Shaheen The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without clerk will report the nomination. Carper Luja´ n Sinema objection, it is so ordered. The senior assistant legislative clerk Casey Manchin Smith read the nomination of Martin Joseph Collins Markey Stabenow f Coons Menendez Sullivan Walsh, of Massachusetts, to be Sec- Cortez Masto Merkley Tester LEGISLATIVE SESSION retary of Labor. Duckworth Murkowski Van Hollen Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I CLOTURE MOTION Durbin Murphy Warner move to proceed to legislative session. Feinstein Murray Warnock Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I send Gillibrand Ossoff Warren The PRESIDING OFFICER. The a cloture motion to the desk. Graham Padilla Whitehouse question is on agreeing to the motion. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- Hassan Peters Wyden The motion was agreed to. ture motion having been presented NAYS—40 f under rule XXII, the Chair directs the Blackburn Fischer Risch EXECUTIVE SESSION clerk to read the motion. Blunt Grassley Romney Boozman Hawley Rounds The senior assistant legislative clerk Braun Hoeven Sasse read as follows: Burr Hyde-Smith EXECUTIVE CALENDAR Scott (FL) CLOTURE MOTION Capito Inhofe Scott (SC) Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I Cassidy Johnson Shelby We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- Cornyn Kennedy Thune move to proceed to executive session to ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the Cotton Lankford Tillis consider Calendar No. 37. Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby Cramer Lee Tuberville The PRESIDING OFFICER. The move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- Crapo McConnell Wicker Cruz Moran question is on agreeing to the motion. nation of Executive Calendar No. 17, Martin Daines Paul Young The motion was agreed to. Joseph Walsh, of Massachusetts, to be Sec- Ernst Portman The PRESIDING OFFICER. The retary of Labor. Charles E. Schumer, Patty Murray, Rich- NOT VOTING—9 clerk will report the nomination. The senior assistant legislative clerk ard Blumenthal, Christopher A. Coons, Barrasso Hickenlooper Marshall Sheldon Whitehouse, Jeff Merkley, Bennet Hirono Rubio read the nomination of Xavier Becerra, Brian Schatz, Amy Klobuchar, Ben- Hagerty Lummis Toomey of California, to be Secretary of Health jamin L. Cardin, Cory A. Booker, Ed- The nomination was confirmed. and Human Services. ward J. Markey, Angus S. King, Jr., Mr. SCHUMER. I suggest the absence CLOTURE MOTION Robert P. Casey, Jr., Chris Van Hollen, of a quorum. Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I send Sherrod Brown, Kirsten E. Gillibrand, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The a cloture motion to the desk. Tim Kaine, Tammy Baldwin. clerk will call the roll. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous con- The bill clerk proceeded to call the ture motion having been presented sent that the mandatory quorum calls roll. under rule XXII, the Chair directs the for the cloture motions filed today, Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask clerk to read the motion. March 15, be waived. unanimous consent that the order for The senior assistant legislative clerk The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without the quorum call be rescinded. read as follows: objection, it is so ordered.

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