Catherine Cortez Masto

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 4119, introduced earlier today.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand adjourned under the previous order.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I want to take a moment to recognize and thank COL Katherine ``Kat'' Miller for her years of service to the people of Nevada. She leaves behind a powerful legacy of public service and dedication to our military and Nevada's veterans. Kat Miller grew up in Reno, NV, and after graduating from Reno High School embarked on a 34-year career in the Army and Nevada National Guard. Among her many contributions to our Nation's Armed Forces are her service on four continents and deployments to Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. Kat was something of a trailblazer serving in multiple leadership positions and commanding thousands of staff as a military police brigade commander in the U.S. and Afghanistan and as the commander of the Department of Defense's largest correctional organization. After retirement from the Army, she taught at the University of Maryland and the University of Nevada, Reno before becoming the director of the Nevada Department of Veterans Services-- NDVS--in 2013. Nevada has benefited immensely from Kat's directorship of the NDVS. Under her watch, the NDVS made huge strides for our State's veterans. Notably, NDVS assisted the Governor and Nevada mayors in their efforts to reduce suicide among veterans and their families, created nine programs to support unique or at-risk veteran populations, trained hundreds of healthcare providers in understanding how dementia and the aging process affect the care of veterans, and created a program to help employers recruit and retain veterans. Kat also successfully led the NDVS in applying for over $70 million in Federal grants for veterans' programs, including for nursing home creation and improvements, cemetery expansions, disabled veterans sports programs, rural transportation initiatives, and telehealth equipment. Under Kat's directorship, the NDVS received five national awards for these innovative veterans support programs: the Nevada Veterans Advocate Program, the Nevada Veterans Legislative Program, the ``Ask a VSO'' Program, Operation Mission Ready, and the Patriot Employer Program. Furthermore, last year, Kat was appointed to the Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Rural Health Advisory Committee to help identify barriers to access to healthcare in rural areas and recommend solutions to the Veterans Affairs secretary. The list of Kat's achievements and contributions to the State of Nevada and the U.S. Army goes on and on. I have no doubt that Kat's legacy of service will continue to leave a powerful impact on the lives of many veterans in Nevada for years to come. She has my deep thanks.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to a distinguished lawyer, educator, and loving husband, father, and grandfather, Ralph Bennie ``Ben'' Graham, Jr. Ben passed away on February 3, 2022. He leaves behind a powerful legacy of public service and dedication to Nevada's criminal justice system and legal community. A Washington State native, Ben moved to Las Vegas in 1977 and worked as a prosecutor at the Clark County District Attorney's Office. After 31 years, Ben retired as chief deputy district attorney. Throughout this time, Ben also represented the Nevada District Attorneys' Association, the Nevada Supreme Court, and the Administrative Office of the Courts in the Nevada Legislature. In these roles, he lobbied to improve Nevada's criminal laws and the State's judicial system. Outside the courtroom, Ben taught courses on criminal justice at UNLV's William S. Boyd School of Law and the Community College of Southern Nevada, providing invaluable lessons for our Nation's next generation of lawyers. Throughout his career, Ben placed a great focus on the well-being of members of Nevada's legal community. In 1986, he cofounded Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, LCL, a confidential program dedicated to helping members of the Nevada bar recover from substance abuse issues. In large part due to Ben's mentorship, countless attorneys were able to obtain the assistance they needed to heal and move forward in their legal careers. Ben received numerous awards in recognition of his service with the program. Nevada has benefited immensely from Ben's commitment to the legal profession and community. Earlier this year, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak recognized Ben's contributions to the State by proclaiming February 17, 2022, as ``a day in honor of Ben Graham.'' Many in the Nevada Legislature remember Ben for his kindness and generosity, as exemplified through his famous chocolate chip cookies, which he annually gifted to colleagues and friends. Whether it was through his baking skills or charitable efforts, Ben improved the lives of those who knew him in the Silver State. I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering Ben for his significant impact in Nevada. I celebrate Ben's legacy, and I extend my deepest condolences to his wife, Elana; his children; grandchildren; and his family and friends during this difficult time.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I ask that the Senate proceed to executive session and vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 684, the nomination of Cristina Silva, under the previous order.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Madam President, this week, the Senate considers two outstanding nominees to the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. They have my full support and the support of Senator Rosen, and I urge the Senate to confirm them. Nevada's Federal bench has had vacancies since 2016 and 2018, so the need is urgent. Senator Rosen and I have carefully reviewed the records of the President's nominees, Judge Cristina Silva and Professor Anne Traum, in cooperation with the bipartisan judicial commissions in our State. Both of these women have the skill, the dedication, and knowledge of the law to serve Nevadans and the Nation as district court judges. Judge Cristina Silva held leadership positions at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada, where she became the first woman and Latina to serve as chief of the criminal division and worked on the investigation into the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas. Since 2019, she has been a judge on the Eighth Judicial District Court in Las Vegas. Nevada has benefited immensely from Judge Silva's public service, and I am confident she will continue that service on the Federal bench. Professor Anne Traum has served as an attorney for civil courts in the U.S. Attorney's Office, as an assistant Federal public defender, and as a practitioner who has argued more than 30 cases before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. She currently teaches at UNLV's William S. Boyd School of Law, where she directs the law school's appellate clinic in working on cases before the Ninth Circuit and the Nevada Supreme Court. Professor Traum's record, as both a practitioner and as an academic, will make her a strong addition to the U.S. District Court. These two nominees have received the support of many in Nevada's legal community, including former Republican Governor Brian Sandoval, a former Federal judge himself. They have demonstrated their commitment to justice, the law, and to their community. They represent the best of Nevada, and I will vote for them enthusiastically, and I ask and call on my colleagues to do the same. I yield the floor.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 551, submitted earlier today.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. I know of no further debate on the resolution.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. I ask unanimous consent that the preamble be agreed to and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 193, S. 120.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. I further ask unanimous consent that the committee- reported substitute be withdrawn; that the substitute amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to; and that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. I know of no further debate on the bill.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 3 p.m. on Monday, March 21; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; that upon the conclusion of morning business, the Senate resume consideration of the motion to proceed to Calendar No. 282, H.R. 4521, America COMPETES Act; further, that the cloture motion filed during today's session ripen at 5:30 p.m.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it stand adjourned under the previous order.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations en bloc: Calendar Nos. 794, 795, 796, and 797; that the Senate vote on the nominations en bloc, without intervening action or debate; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate resume legislative session.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Finally, I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum calls for the cloture motions filed today, March 3, be waived.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session for a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs be discharged and the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 2771.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.