Floor Statements

Mr. President, I rise once again in support of Jen Easterly's nomination to be Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, commonly referred to as CISA.

Yesterday, I came to the floor to urge my colleagues to swiftly confirm Ms. Easterly to lead CISA so she can get to work in strengthening our Nation's response to the recent onslaught of online attacks that have literally wrought havoc to our critical infrastructure, businesses, and even government.

With her more than three decades of service in the public and private sectors and her critical role in crafting vital cyber security recommendations as a member of the Cyber Solarium

Commission, Ms. Easterly is more than qualified to lead this critical Agency. Her leadership is needed now more than ever, after the damage and the chaos that recent cyber attacks have caused. We urgently need a qualified and Senate-confirmed leader in place before the next major breach, which could be even worse.

Yesterday, when I called on the Senate to immediately confirm this critical nominee, the Senator from Florida objected, not because he opposes Ms. Easterly's confirmation, and, in fact, he actually helped advance her nomination out of my committee just last week. Instead, he blocked the swift confirmation of this critical cyber security leader because he wants to extract a completely unrelated political concession from the Biden administration.

As we now know, Vice President Harris has announced that she will travel to El Paso tomorrow, along with Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas, to assess the situation on the southern border. The Biden administration and Secretary Mayorkas have worked hard to address our border challenges, and, as a result, we have seen a reduction in the number of unaccompanied children who are in DHS custody.

But this nomination is not about the border, as much as my Republican colleagues try to conflate these issues. This nomination is about cyber security. This nomination is keeping American families safe and our economy secure. That is what this nomination is all about. My Republican colleagues are continuing to stall the confirmation of Ms. Easterly at a time when we desperately need strong cyber security leadership.

The Senate is preparing to adjourn for Independence Day, which is a major travel weekend. As we have seen from recent cyber attacks, our transportation networks are vulnerable. Criminal organizations and foreign adversaries will continue their efforts to compromise our networks. We must be prepared for attacks that could disrupt trains or flights over the holiday weekend.

We must confirm Ms. Easterly as the CISA Director now, not in 2 weeks and not in 2 months. We must have a qualified Senate-confirmed leader in place to help us address these attacks.

If our Republican colleagues won't consent, they risk weakening and slowing our cyber defenses at a time when attacks could cause serious disruptions. These attacks risk the lives and livelihoods of countless Americans. Safeguarding against them should not be a partisan issue. Putting in place highly qualified cyber leadership should not hinge on whether Republicans in the Senate approve of the Vice President's travel schedule.

I urge the Senator from Florida to withdraw his objections so that we can do our job, confirm Ms. Easterly today, and help protect the American people from this grave national security threat.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 176, Jen Easterly, of New York, to be the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Department of Homeland Security, and the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, I rise today in support of two critical nominations: Jen Easterly's nomination to be the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency--commonly referred to as CISA--within the Department of Homeland Security, as well as Robin Carnahan to be the Administrator of the General Services Administration, or GSA.

Our country is under attack. Nation-state actors and criminal organizations are relentlessly targeting our government, critical infrastructure, and key industries to infiltrate networks, steal information, conduct espionage, and demand ransom payments.

These cyber attacks pose a serious threat to our national security. As we saw from the SolarWinds hack, as well as the Colonial Pipeline and JBS ransomware attacks, cyber criminals are constantly looking to exploit cyber security vulnerabilities and find the weakest link. We must be vigilant about preventing these attacks, and we need a strong, coordinated approach from across the Federal Government to better secure America's networks. That means the Senate needs to confirm qualified cyber security nominees so that they can get to work immediately.

CISA is the lead domestic Agency for cyber security in the Federal Government. It is responsible for ensuring that Federal Departments and Agencies--our private sector critical infrastructure partners--and the American people have the resources to detect, to withstand, and to respond to cyber attacks. GSA provides a wide range of support to Agencies across the government. One of GSA's key functions is to provide funding and expertise to help Agencies both modernize and secure their IT systems and their networks. We need Senate-confirmed leadership at the top of these critical Agencies, and we need it today.

Ms. Easterly has served for over three decades in the Federal Government and the private sector.

Since 2017, Ms. Easterly has led the operations center for Morgan Stanley's cyber defense strategy. She was also a critical member of the Cyber Solarium Commission, which has made 80 recommendations for cyber deterrence, 25 of which have already become law.

Prior to joining the private sector, Ms. Easterly served as the Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism, the Deputy for Counterterrorism at the National Security Agency, and was instrumental in the design and creation of the U.S. Cyber Command.

On top of all of these incredible accomplishments, Ms. Easterly is a two-time recipient of the Bronze Star and retired from the U.S. Army after more than 20 years of service in intelligence in cyber operations.

Ms. Easterly is more than qualified for this position, and this body needs to confirm her nomination today to lead CISA.

Every day that this body delays confirming critical leaders like Ms. Easterly and Ms. Carnahan leaves our Federal system and our Nation vulnerable to cyber attacks. We have already seen the damage and the chaos from these attacks. The Colonial Pipeline attack disrupted the lives of millions of Americans, created fuel shortages, and saddled customers with high gas prices for weeks. The next major breach could be even worse.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting Ms. Easterly's nomination to lead CISA and to take on the vital mission of strengthening our defenses and fighting back against the persistent cyber attacks that threaten our Nation each and every day. Cyber security and strengthening our Federal networks are not partisan issues. Cyber attacks put each and every one of us at risk.

I would hope my colleagues will allow these nominees to be confirmed today so they can keep us safe.

With that, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 176, Jen Easterly, of New York, to be Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Department of Homeland Security, and the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, I would like to discuss Ms. Carnahan's qualifications further before asking for consent on her confirmation.

Ms. Carnahan has an extensive career spanning Federal and State government, as well as the private sector. During the Obama administration, she founded and led the State and Local Practice at 18F, a technology consultancy within GSA. In this role, Ms. Carnahan worked with State and local government agencies to improve and modernize their digital services. Prior to her tenure at 18F, Miss Carnahan served as Missouri's secretary of state, where she focused on modernizing IT infrastructure to improve service for hundreds of thousands of customers.

Ms. Carnahan is a nationally recognized government technology leader and in 2017 was named one of the Federal Government's Top Women in Tech.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting Ms. Carnahan's nomination to lead GSA.

From modernizing and securing Federal networks to strengthening supply chain security, GSA plays a critical role in bolstering our national security.

With that, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the following nomination: Calendar 175.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate and, if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all without intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to the nomination; that any statements related to the nomination be printed in the Record; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, I rise to support Kiran Ahuja's nomination to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management, or OPM. Ms. Ahuja is a proven leader who has the experience and commitment needed to restore confidence in OPM and provide a vision for the future of the Federal workforce.

OPM is an independent agency that supports more than 2 million Federal employees who serve all across the government. Both OPM and the Federal workforce have faced unprecedented challenges in recent years, from attempts to dismantle the agency, to a record-setting government shutdown, to the coronavirus pandemic. And unfortunately, these challenges were made worse due to the lack of consistent and committed leadership at OPM. Our dedicated public servants are on the frontline every day, responding to the ongoing pandemic, protecting our national security, and delivering vital services to the American people each and every day. The dedicated men and women who serve at OPM and throughout the civil service deserve a qualified, experienced leader who is committed to supporting the people who make government work.

Ms. Ahuja's career includes over two decades of management experience, including running nonprofit organizations, leading the White House initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders during the Obama administration, and serving as Chief of Staff at OPM.

Throughout this confirmation process, Ms. Ahuja has demonstrated that she understands the mission of OPM and the experience of safeguarding the nonpartisan civil service. She has committed to working closely and transparently with Congress to strengthen and to modernize the Federal workforce.

I am confident that Ms. Ahuja is the right person to lead OPM at this pivotal time. She will provide the strategic vision and the management needed to reinvigorate the Federal workforce.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the confirmation of Kiran Ahuja for Director of OPM.

Madam President, I rise in support of Kiran Ahuja and her nomination to be the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, or the OPM. OPM needs an experienced, qualified leader who is committed to the Federal workforce and is invested in their future.

Ms. Ahuja is that leader. She understands the unique challenges facing OPM, and she has the management experience and vision needed to restore and strengthen the workforce. I am confident that Ms. Ahuja is the right person to lead OPM at this pivotal time. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the confirmation of Kiran Ahuja for Director of OPM.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Madam President, due to a family medical emergency, I was unable to attend today's vote on Executive Calendar #123--Tommy P. Beaudreau, of Alaska, to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior. Had I been able to attend, I would have voted ``aye'' on confirmation.

Madam President, due to a family medical emergency, I was unable to attend today's votes on motion to invoke cloture and confirmation of Executive Calendar #157, John K. Tien, of Georgia, to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security. Had I been able to attend, I would have voted ``aye'' on the motion and ``aye'' on confirmation.

Mr. President, due to a family medical emergency, I was unable to attend today's votes on motion to invoke cloture and confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 148, Radhika Fox, of California, to be an Assistant

Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Had I been able to attend, I would have voted yea on the motion and yea on confirmation.

Mr. President, due to a family medical emergency, I was unable to attend today's votes on motion to invoke cloture and confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 173, Lydia Kay Griggsby, of Maryland, to be United States District Judge for the District of Maryland. Had I been able to attend, I would have voted yea on cloture and confirmation.

Mr. President, due to a family medical emergency, I was unable to attend today's vote on the motion to invoke cloture of Executive Calendar No. 123, Tommy P. Beaudreau, of Alaska, to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior. Had I been able to attend, I would have voted yea on the motion.

Mr. President, due to a family medical emergency, I was unable to attend today's vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 119, Lina M. Khan, to be a Federal Trade Commissioner. Had I been able to attend, I would have voted yea on confirmation.

Mr. President, the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol remains a dark stain on our Nation's history. Americans deserve to have all of the facts about that day, and a fair, balanced, and independent Commission will give us those answers.

This Commission would complement the current investigations into this deadly attack, including my Homeland Security Committee's own investigations in conjunction with the Rules Committee.

After the devastating September 11 terrorist attacks, Congress came together to create a bipartisan independent Commission. January 6 marks a singular event in our Nation's history, similar to what we experienced on 9/11, and there is simply no logical reason to oppose its creation.

The brave law enforcement officers who stopped this attack and every American who watched in realtime as our free and fair democratic process was attacked deserve answers and accountability for the actions that occurred on January 6.

I urge my colleagues to support this Commission and get the American people the answers that they deserve.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, as we emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, we have a real opportunity to revitalize American manufacturing and harness American leadership in scientific and technological advancement. Today I urge my colleagues to support critical, bipartisan legislation that will do just that.

The United States Innovation and Competition Act will help keep our country on the cutting edge of technology, strengthen American competitiveness on a global stage, and protect our national security.

International competitors like the Chinese Government are aggressively investing in manufacturing, science, and technology in an attempt to gain a competitive advantage over the United States, and we cannot let that happen. In order to maintain our edge, we must make serious investments in domestic research and development, technology, and manufacturing.

We know that a strong manufacturing sector is the backbone of any economy. I have long believed that you cannot be a great country if you don't make things. This bill contains a number of provisions to help revitalize and strengthen American manufacturing.

A provision in this bill that Senator Stabenow and I led will provide $2 billion in new funding for the domestic production of mature semiconductor technologies that are absolutely critical to the automotive industry and other manufacturers all across our country. This provision is essential because our reliance on overseas semiconductor manufacturing is a threat to our economy and to our national security.

We are currently experiencing a semiconductor shortage that is causing massive supply chain disruptions and has idled plants in Michigan and other States across our country, forcing auto manufacturers to shut down factories and lay off workers. This is a completely unacceptable situation, and we must immediately work to address this challenge.

Boosting manufacturing in Michigan and across the Nation requires a comprehensive Federal strategy to help companies grow our domestic manufacturing base. That is why I authored a provision in this legislation to reactivate the Manufacturing Advisory Council and worked to increase funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, a program that helps small- and medium-sized manufacturers grow their companies and create jobs. Together, these policies will help strengthen our manufacturing sector, advance our economic competitiveness, and create good-paying jobs.

The United States Innovation and Competition Act also helps ensure that when we are spending American taxpayer dollars, we are investing in American manufacturers and creating American jobs.

As chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I was proud of our committee's efforts to include several bipartisan provisions in this package that will strengthen ``Buy American'' requirements. These provisions, including one based on a bill Senator Stabenow and I introduced, will ensure that American taxpayer dollars are being used to buy American-made products and close loopholes that have allowed the use of Chinese- and Russian-made steel rather than using U.S. steel. Growing good-paying jobs in America must always be our focus, and passing this bill will do just that.

This package also includes a provision to secure our supply chain and address the serious national security risks posed by our overreliance on companies in China and other countries for medical supplies.

During the pandemic, we saw firsthand how our country's overreliance on foreign manufacturers for critical supplies, such as personal protective equipment, left us unprepared to combat the pandemic and cost American lives.

This bill takes important steps to address that, thanks to a provision I worked on with Senator Portman to encourage investments that will expand domestic production of personal protective equipment here in the United States.

These provisions and so many more will help us unleash American innovation, lock in our competitive advantage, and grow our economy, but that alone is not enough. We must also protect our advantage. That is why our committee worked to include critical provisions in this legislation to strengthen cyber security and protect against increasingly sophisticated efforts by adversarial governments and criminal organizations to steal our research and intellectual property.

Cyber attacks pose a significant threat to our national security, and cyber attacks have significant real-world consequences. We saw this with the recent Colonial Pipeline attack. This bill includes provisions I authored to strengthen the Federal Government's capabilities to prevent and respond to a significant cyber incident, creates a fund that can help entities recover from serious breaches, and strengthens our Federal cyber workforce, therefore ensuring our workers have the skills and knowledge to build a competitive advantage and secure our networks from these attacks.

From spurring advancements in artificial intelligence to securing taxpayer-funded research and intellectual property from adversaries who try to steal it, this legislation takes significant steps to help ensure American companies and workers will continue to lead the way in developing the technologies and economy of the future.

The process we followed to write this legislation shows that when we work together in a bipartisan manner, we can tackle the biggest challenges facing our Nation. I am grateful to my colleagues for all of their hard work, and I look forward to continuing to partner with our House counterparts to get these important provisions signed into law.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, this measure undermines Federal Agencies' efforts to protect workers, consumers, our environment, and public health. When Federal Agencies create regulations, they must look at the full range of costs and benefits, including the impact on employers, workers, and vulnerable groups.

This measure shuts out most of these voices. It is designed to push Congress to repeal regulations without considering the concerns of workers who rely on Federal safety standards or communities whose water has been polluted by lead.

If Congress is concerned about a regulation, we already have tools to make the needed changes--either passing a law or using procedures like the Congressional Review Act. We need to move forward on bipartisan policies that will improve our Nation's competitiveness, not measures that will endanger our constituents and our communities. I urge my colleagues to vote no on amendment 1929.

Vote on Amendment No. 1929

Mr. President, I rise to speak in opposition to the Johnson amendment.

The amendment would force the continued payment of government contractors to build an ill-conceived border wall.

Most of these funds were never intended for this purpose. More than $10 billion was redirected from the Department of Defense. These funds were intended for military missions and functions, such as schools for military families and National Guard equipment.

The Biden administration is conducting a comprehensive review of these contracts, led by the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security. These decisions will be guided by what is best for our national security, not well-connected government contractors profiting off of hard-earned taxpayer dollars.

We need to move forward with smart, bipartisan investments to improve border security that secure both our southern and our northern borders, not look backwards at the former administration's boondoggle.

I urge a ``no'' vote.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor the memory of a devoted veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, VADM John Currier, who passed away in March of 2020. I would like to take the time today to reflect on his service, courage, and tenacity as the hangar at the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City is dedicated in his honor.

Born and raised in Westbrook, ME, Vice Admiral Currier began his career in service as a police officer. Further expanding his devotion to serve, Vice Admiral Currier commissioned from Officer Candidate School as a naval aviator in 1976. He was first assigned to U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, where a few years later, his skills and commitment to protect were tested.

On a snowy late October evening in 1980, the Coast Guard received a distress call from the TERRY T., a burning and sinking fishing vessel in 30 foot seas. Winds were gusting over 60 knots and visibility was cut to three-quarters of a mile from heavy rain, according to reports. Currier, unfaltering in his duty to be Semper Paratus, was able to maneuver his aircraft into position based only on voice commands by the hoist operator. He had rescued eight of the crew when two men were swept off the deck and were in the water. He was able to fly the aircraft into position in order to get the rescue basket beneath the drowning crew members and brought them on board.

Vice Admiral Currier was awarded the Harmon International Aviation Trophy, but his accolades and awards for rescue missions do not stop there. The Alaska Air Command SAR Pilot of the Year Award, American Helicopter Society, Fredrick L. Feinberg Award, and the Naval Helicopter Association SAR Aircrew of the Year, all have been awarded to Vice Admiral Currier for various hazardous rescue missions throughout his career.

During his career, Vice Admiral Currier stood the watch at six Coast Guard air stations, from Alaska to Florida. He was designated as an aeronautical engineer in 1982, and after a few years in Alaska, Vice Admiral Currier was assigned to Air Station Traverse City in 1985.

Other assignments have included deputy program manager for the Coast Guard and Navy HH-60H/J joint helicopter acquisition at the Naval Air Systems Command, and chief of SAR operations and directory of auxiliary for the Ninth Coast Guard District. Vice Admiral Currier then served as commanding officer of Air Stations Detroit and then Miami, which was then the world's busiest air-sea search and rescue unit. An alumnus of the University of Southern Maine, he held a master's in business administration from Embry-Riddle University. He was a 1996 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Air War College and held a level III acquisition program manager certification.

Subsequently, he was assigned as Pacific area chief of operations, then area chief of staff, and was appointed commander of the 13th District, which covers the Pacific Northwest. He assumed the duties of the Coast Guard's chief of staff in 2009, later transitioning that position to the service's first deputy Commandant for Mission Support. Vice Admiral Currier assumed duties as the 28th Vice Commandant in May 2012, during which time he was awarded the title of Ancient Albatross of the Coast Guard, until his retirement in May of 2014.

Vice Admiral Currier was a devoted military man and was supported by an incredible spouse--his wife of 45 years, Mary Jane Currier. They were known for their hospitality and for throwing spectacular parties for fellow Coast Guard members, family, and friends. Mary Jane and John had two sons, Benjamin and Andrew. John was a devoted father who spent countless hours coaching Little League and teaching his two sons woodworking and auto mechanics. In his retirement, Vice Admiral Currier and Mary Jane enjoyed boating on Lake Michigan with their four grandchildren.

Mr. President, I ask you and my fellow colleagues to join me in celebrating the life and service of Vice Admiral John Currier. As we remember Vice Admiral Currier's life, I have no doubt his surviving wife, children, and family have found comfort in the precious moments they shared and in the love he showed them. With the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City hangar now dedicated in his memory, I hope those who had the honor of serving beside Vice Admiral Currier remember his legacy when they enter it and that future Coast Guardsman are inspired by his devoted and honorable career.

Mr. President, I rise in support of the President's nominees to serve on the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors. I would like to thank Senator Portman for working with me to swiftly advance the nominations of Ron Stroman, Amber McReynolds, and Anton Hajjar to fill the remaining vacancies on the Postal Service Board of Governors.

Today, we are voting on the nominations of Mr. Stroman and Ms. McReynolds, and I expect to take up Mr. Hajjar's nomination soon.

The Board of Governors is an independent, bipartisan body that provides leadership, strategic vision, and oversight of the U.S. Postal Service--one of the oldest and most trusted American institutions.

For nearly 250 years, the Postal Service has served communities all across our Nation. Countless Americans rely on the Postal Service to deliver critical medications and financial documents, to run their small businesses, to cast their ballots, to stay connected with family, and so much more.

But the Postal Service continues to face enormous challenges. From longstanding financial constraints to the impacts of the ongoing pandemic, the Postal Service has struggled to provide timely delivery and plan for its future.

Our dedicated postal workers have shown time and again that they can get the job done when they are given the right tools and measures. The Board of Governors will be responsible for guiding the Postal Service through its current challenges and working with Congress to ensure that Americans can rely on the Postal Service to deliver their mail each and every day.

Mr. Stroman, Ms. McReynolds, and Mr. Hajjar are each highly qualified to serve as Governors. They are all accomplished leaders who bring diverse experiences and backgrounds that are currently not represented on the Board.

Most importantly, they each understand the public service mission of the Postal Service and are committed to improving and preserving reliable delivery service for Americans all across our country.

Ron Stroman is a lifelong public servant who served as Deputy Postmaster General for nearly 10 years. He has a deep operational knowledge of the Postal Service and an extensive record of working across the aisle on postal issues.

Amber McReynolds is the chief executive of the nonpartisan, nonprofit National Vote at Home Institute and a former senior local government official for Denver, CO. She is a proven leader who drives innovation and understands how the Postal Service impacts both State and local governments.

Anton Hajjar is an accomplished lawyer who understands the unique challenges faced by the Postal Service's large and diverse workforce. He has worked extensively in labor-management relations, including forging compromises between Postal Service workers and management. And prior to his decades of legal experience, as a high school student he spent a summer as a substitute letter carrier.

Each of these nominees will each bring a fresh perspective to the Board, and I look forward to working with them to strengthen this vital public service for years to come.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting each of these highly qualified nominees to serve as Governors of the U.S. Postal Service.

I yield