E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 117 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 167 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2021 No. 14 Senate The Senate met at 3 p.m. and was NOMINATION OF JANET LOUISE ministration’s announcement today called to order by the President pro YELLEN that the Treasury Department plans to tempore (Mr. LEAHY). Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, speed up the plans to add the portrait f this week, the Senate will continue of Harriet Tubman to the $20 bill. This is an issue I have long championed and PRAYER confirming President Biden’s highly qualified and history-making nomi- something that should have been done The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- nees. a long time ago. I feel particularly fered the following prayer: In a few hours we will hold a vote on strong about it since Harriet Tubman Let us pray. Janet Yellen to serve as the next Sec- was an Auburn, NY, resident, and our Almighty God, the rock of our salva- retary of the Treasury. Janet Yellen, of office worked for years to successfully tion, teach us to live as contemplative course, is no stranger to this Chamber. make her home in Upstate New York a activists, reflecting Your sacred guid- She has been confirmed by the Senate national historic monument. ance and obeying Your commands. no fewer than four times and was re- I am glad the Biden administration is Remind our lawmakers that You di- ported favorably to the floor by a reversing the Trump administration’s rect the steps of good people, leading unanimous vote of the Finance Com- foot-dragging. It is the kind of thing the faithful to the destination You mittee on Friday. they did—no excuse, no reason, just have chosen. Lord, stir the hearts of The bipartisan support of Ms. didn’t do it. But now the Biden admin- our Senators until they possess a holi- Yellen’s multiple nominations reflects istration is reversing the Trump ad- ness that strives to carve tunnels of her breathtaking range of experience ministration’s foot-dragging and will hope through mountains of despair. and just how well suited she is to man- press forward with plans to circulate We offer You our hearts, mighty God, new currency celebrating Harriet Tub- for we trust Your prevailing and loving age the economic challenges of our time. Ms. Yellen, I am proud to report, man’s life and legacy. providence. After Ms. Yellen’s confirmation to- We pray in Your great Name. Amen. is a native of working-class Brooklyn, the daughter of a schoolteacher and night, the Senate will continue to proc- f physician, raised during the Great De- ess nominations to President Biden’s PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE pression. She went to Fort Hamilton Cabinet for the Secretaries of State, Homeland Security, and Transpor- The President pro tempore led the High School, one of James Madison High School’s rivals. A graduate of tation. With cooperation, the Senate Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: could complete both confirmations this I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the Brown and Yale, Ms. Yellen has taught economics at some of the world’s most week. Again, those are the Secretaries United States of America, and to the Repub- of State, Homeland Security, and lic for which it stands, one nation under God, prestigious universities. Of course, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Janet Yellen is best known for her ten- Transportation, in addition to Treas- ury this evening. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The ure as Chair of the Federal Reserve, I remind my colleagues that Presi- Senator from Hawaii. overseeing a period of falling unem- dent Trump had his Secretary of Home- Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, I suggest ployment and steady economic recov- land Security installed on Inaugura- the absence of a quorum. ery from the global financial crisis. tion Day. We cannot allow our national The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Few people possess the experience security and our domestic security to clerk will call the roll. and expertise that Ms. Yellen would be compromised in any way by the pro- The bill clerk proceeded to call the bring to the Treasury, particularly longed delay of Mr. Mayorkas’ nomina- roll. during this moment of economic crisis. tion. Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I At the Treasury Department, there are long hallways on the third floor where ask unanimous consent that the order f for the quorum call be rescinded. the portraits of all 77 Treasury Secre- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. taries hang—all of them men, all the IMPEACHMENT HIRONO). Without objection, it is so or- way back to Alexander Hamilton, the dered. first Secretary. I am thrilled today to Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, as f vote to confirm the first woman to ever I announced on Friday, the Republican hold the position of Treasury Secretary leader and I have come to an initial RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY and someday add her portrait to that agreement about the timing of the im- LEADER hallway. peachment trial of Donald Trump. This The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- On that note, I would add it was a evening, managers appointed by the jority leader is recognized. great pleasure to read the Biden ad- House of Representatives will deliver ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S113 . VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:57 Jan 26, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25JA6.000 S25JAPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE S114 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 25, 2021 to the Senate the Article of Impeach- from future office. The theory that the God and their own conscience: Is ment and will read the article here in Senate cannot try former officials former President Trump guilty of in- the well of this Chamber. would amount to a constitutional get- citing an insurrection against the Tomorrow, Senators will be sworn in out-of-jail-free card for any President United States? as judges and jurors in the impending who commits an impeachable offense. I yield the floor. trial, and the Senate will issue a sum- Now, it is certainly appropriate for I suggest the absence of a quorum. mons to former President Trump. After the Senate to take the resignation of The PRESIDING OFFICER. The that, both the House managers and the an official into account. After all, the clerk will call the roll. former President’s counsel will have a House decided not to impeach Richard The bill clerk proceeded to call the period of time to draft their legal Nixon because, in that sense, Nixon roll. briefs, just as they did in previous took some responsibility for his ac- Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, trials. Once the briefs are drafted, pres- tions. But to state the obvious, Presi- I ask unanimous consent that the order entations by the parties will commence dent Trump did not resign. He has not for the quorum call be rescinded. the week of February 8. demonstrated remorse. He has not even The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without I want to thank the Republican lead- acknowledged his role in the events of objection, it is so ordered. er for working with us to reach this January 6, and he has never disavowed f agreement, which we believe is fair to the lies that were fed to the American RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY both sides and will enable the Senate people by him about who actually won LEADER to conduct a timely and fair trial on the election. the Article of Impeachment. The Just to put a final nail into the coffin The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Re- schedule will also allow us to continue of this ridiculous theory, I remind my publican leader is recognized. the important work of the people, in- colleagues, if a President is convicted f cluding confirming more members of on an Article of Impeachment, the Sen- CORONAVIRUS President Biden’s Cabinet. ate holds a separate vote on whether to I want to be very clear about that bar them from future office. Once a Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, last point. The Senate will conduct a President is convicted of an impeach- our Nation has spent nearly a year timely and fair trial. ment charge, they are removed from locked in this terrible battle with I want to be very clear about that be- office. In other words, they become a COVID–19. This virus that spread from cause some of my Republican col- former official. If we are to believe China around the world has taken more leagues have latched on to a fringe that the Senate can’t hold former offi- than 400,000 American lives. It has ef- legal theory that the Senate does not cials to account, then the Senate could fectively cost many children an entire have the constitutional power to hold never proceed to that second vote of school year. It made us slam the the trial because Donald Trump is no disqualification, which is provided for brakes on one of the best job markets longer in office. This argument has in the Constitution, even for a sitting in modern history and threw millions been roundly debunked by constitu- President. of families into financial chaos. tional scholars from the left, right, and In saying this, I am expressing the But thanks to a lot of hard work in center. It defies precedent, historic view of legal scholars across the polit- 2020, the dawn of 2021 has brought a practice, and basic common sense.