Patty Murray

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. I ask unanimous consent to speak as if in morning business for 5 minutes.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of Native American Heritage Month. As a Senator from Washington State, I am proud to represent 29 federally recognized Tribes. In Washington, we understand the importance of the sovereignty of Tribal Governments. And anyone who knows me knows, I believe a commitment is more than just words. It is about action. At the start of this year, when we passed the American Rescue Plan to get America up and running again, it was the single largest Federal investment in Tribes ever--more than $32 billion for Tribal Nations. Since then, I have spoken to many Tribal leaders in Washington State about what this has meant for our Tribal communities. A housing grant to the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe helped provide homes for an additional 25 families. The Lummi Nation created new opportunities for education and job retraining. The American Rescue Plan helped the Tulalip keep Tulalip-owned businesses, who have been struggling since the pandemic, afloat. Action on our commitment has helped Tribal members in my home State stay housed, get back to work, keep their small businesses open, and continues to make a difference in a thousand different ways. Now, these outcomes weren't inevitable. They happened because of intentional and specific policy decisions this Congress made to support Tribal Nations. So if we are serious about showing a real commitment to Tribal communities during Native American Heritage Month, then we need to continue to prioritize Tribal communities in all of our policymaking. Infrastructure in Indian Country--everything from roads to bridges, to broadband--has been underfunded for too long. The bipartisan infrastructure bill, which is now signed into law, will make $13 billion in direct investments in Indian Country, with tens of billions more in Federal grants and future funding opportunities. This will mean clean drinking water, access to high-speed internet, transit to connect communities, and more. Now we have another opportunity to show our commitment to Tribal communities with the Build Back Better Act. Just like everywhere else in this country, childcare is a crisis for Native communities. Right now, about one out of every four Native Americans in this country is experiencing poverty. That is higher than any other group. So when 1 in 10 Native American parents have to quit or change their job because they can't find or afford childcare, we are making a tough situation worse. My childcare proposal in Build Back Better is going to cut the cost of childcare by thousands for Tribal families--with many paying nothing at all for childcare--and it is going to help get more slots open everywhere we need them, so parents won't be stuck on waiting lists for months on end. It is our government's duty to make investments like this one in Indian Country because if we really believe in Tribal sovereignty and acknowledging the role our government has played in centuries of persecution Native peoples in this country have faced, we must also take action to create real opportunity for people; action on quality, affordable childcare, housing, home care, and more. Build Back Better is going to make a big difference for Native communities, but there is more we need to do to address the specific needs of Native communities. We have to build on President Biden's Executive action to address the epidemic of missing or murdered indigenous peoples, especially to protect Native women and girls. We must reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act and strengthen that legislation to empower Tribal Nations to hold perpetrators of crimes committed on Tribal lands accountable. And living up to our commitments is also about representation and a seat at the table. I was overjoyed to strongly support the confirmation of Deb Haaland, who is already blazing a trail as a historic Secretary of the Interior and a powerful voice for Tribal interests. I was proud to recommend Lauren King, a citizen of the Muscogee Nation and a Tribal law expert to serve a lifetime appointment as a Federal court judge in Washington State--the first Native American Federal judge in my State's history and just the sixth ever in American history. And I am glad to see more than 50 Native Americans serving in key political positions throughout the Biden administration. I look forward to seeing many more. So, on this Native American Heritage Month, let's resolve to build on the important work this Congress has done so far to support our Native communities. As a voice for Washington State Tribes in the U.S. Senate, I will always advocate for Indian Country and fight to ensure the Federal Government lives up to its sacred commitment to indigenous people across the country. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the vote that was scheduled to start at 2:30 begin immediately.

Mrs. MURRAY. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I have 5 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I come to the floor today because it is time to make daylight saving time permanent. This Sunday, millions of Americans are going to once again roll their clocks back, and in no time, next spring, they will have to roll their clocks forward. For what reason? I don't know a single person who loves to go through the trouble of figuring out whether their microwave or their oven has the hour right or anyone who looks forward to the Sun setting earlier and earlier every winter. But beyond convenience, this really is a matter of health and safety. Studies have shown that our switch to standard time can increase rates of seasonal depression, as well as heart problems and the risk of stroke. Researchers also believe that if we made daylight saving time permanent, there would be fewer car accidents and evening robberies thanks to a more regular schedule and an extra hour of Sun. There are studies that indicate permanent daylight saving time could offset reduced economic activity that we see during standard time and even would lead to greater energy savings. The people in my home State of Washington know this. That is why we have already passed legislation to switch to permanent daylight saving time. And it is not just Washington; States across the country--Florida and California and Maine and many more--have now passed legislation in their States or resolutions to make daylight saving time year-round. But they are powerless to enact the overwhelming will of the people until they get Federal approval. To put it simply, Americans want more sunshine and less depression. That is actually why I am very proud to cosponsor the bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act of 2021, which would extend Daylight Saving Time permanently so Americans can enjoy having sunlight during their most productive hour of the day and never have to worry about changing their clocks again. Congress has to be part of the solution. Here is a bipartisan issue that we can and we should all get behind. Now, I am working very hard to support the passage of this bill however possible. But this is something my constituents are truly fed up with, so I am also pressing the Department of Transportation to explore every avenue available to them to at least let States--like mine, whose voters overwhelmingly want permanent Daylight Saving Time-- have it. (Ms. CORTEZ MASTO assumed the Chair.) Madam President, in this country, when people have demanded changes to daylight saving rules or if it benefits the country, like saving daylight during World War I or the oil embargo in the 1970s, we have simply just changed the rules. No one wants dark afternoons during the winter or to lose an extra hour of sleep every spring. And I can assure you that every parent that has to deal with a child every time we change the clock and it upsets their routines will be behind this. For goodness' sake, voters across the country have shown that they support this; research shows that it is good for public health; and studies actually demonstrate real economic and energy saving benefits. So, Madam President, I urge that we pass the Sunshine Protection Act and finally make Daylight Saving Time permanent. Thank you. I yield the floor.

Mrs. MURRAY

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

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as if in morning business.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, first of all, I come to the floor to call for the confirmation of Rajesh Nayak to serve as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Policy. Over the past year and a half, our working families across the country have really struggled through the most unequal economic crisis in recent history. COVID put a glaring spotlight on many of the problems workers were already facing before this pandemic and has worsened longstanding inequities, making life harder for women, workers of color and workers with disabilities, and others. If we are going to build back stronger and fairer from this pandemic, then our Federal Agencies must be fully staffed with highly qualified people who will help us tackle the many challenges hurting workers, retirees, and their families. Mr. Nayak already has an impressive track record of doing just that. Mr. Nayak served as a senior adviser to Secretary Walsh at the Department, and also previously served in the Solicitor's office as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Deputy Chief of Staff. In those roles, he has worked on a broad portfolio of issues important to workers across the country, including workforce development, worker protection, counter-trafficking, overtime pay, health and safety, retirement security, and more. He has also worked twice at the National Employment Law Project, including most recently as deputy CEO. As an advocate and a policymaker, he has shown time and again his commitment to empowering workers, supporting families, and advancing equity. And I have no doubt that, if confirmed as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Policy, he will continue working in the best interests of workers and their families, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in voting in support of his nomination.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that all remaining time on the motion to discharge be yielded back.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I do have good news for my colleague and everyone looking for information about the safety of vaccines: The CDC already collects and publicly releases data like what this bill proposes. So anyone who is curious about whether they should get a COVID-19 vaccination can go to the CDC website right now at cdc.gov. And some more good news: The data overwhelmingly shows these vaccines meet FDA's rigorous standards of safety and effectiveness. So now that that has been cleared up, I hope instead of wasting any more time on bills like this--bills which threaten to undermine public confidence in vaccines and trust in our public health experts by ignoring the thorough work they already do to provide clear, scientific data--we can instead focus on what we can all do to finally end this pandemic, which has now killed over 730,000 people and counting, and rebuild our country stronger and fairer. I object.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to print the following letter in the Congressional Record.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I rise today to commend the confirmation of Tana Lin--a trailblazing civil rights lawyer and former public defender--to serve as U.S. District Court judge for the Western District of Washington in the Seattle courthouse. Ms. Lin has led a tremendous career fighting for civil and human rights, and I am very proud to have recommended her to President Biden. There are many reasons to be excited about Tana Lin's confirmation. One of them that is extremely important to me is she will be the first- ever public defender serving as U.S. District Court judge in Washington State, and that really matters. It matters when we put a former public defender and civil rights lawyer on the Federal bench. It matters quite a bit, I think, when a Federal judge has represented clients who couldn't afford to hire their own lawyer. It matters that Ms. Lin has represented Washington State farmworkers dealing with wage theft. It matters that Ms. Lin stood up for refugees and immigrants against unconstitutional Executive actions, and that she had successfully challenged discriminatory hiring practices, and has a long career of standing shoulder to shoulder with working people at every turn in her career. Ms. Lin's legal qualifications are excellent. She graduated from Cornell University and New York University School of Law, working multiple jobs during both college and law school. She began her career as a public defender in the District of Columbia. She went on to work at the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice, and later the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She spent multiple years at the Michigan Poverty Law Program until she finally moved to Seattle. In Washington State, Ms. Lin currently serves as president of the Board of Directors of the American Civil Liberties Union, and also works in private practice where she fights for the rights of employees and consumers. She is deeply involved in our local community, mentoring the next generation of lawyers and dedicating her time to a range of pro bono projects in the region. Ms. Lin's legal experience is unquestionable, but I also believe it is important that judges who sit on our Federal bench are reflective of the communities that they serve. Our State is home to more than 1 million immigrants and nearly 1 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and Ms. Lin, who emigrated here with her family from Taiwan at the age of 3, will proudly serve as Washington State's first-ever Asian-American judge to sit on the Federal bench. That is a big deal. Ms. Lin will bring integrity, independence, and compassion to the Seattle courthouse. Americans deserve a justice system that will uphold the rights of everyone, not just the wealthy and well-connected. Let's build a more fair court system and let's do that by appointing more public defenders and more civil rights lawyers like Ms. Lin as Federal judges.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, reserving the right to object, once again, I am here to oppose a bill that would undermine our efforts to end this pandemic. There are already State laws that address parental consent for vaccines, but this bill would trample on those laws and the rights of young adults across the country who are currently able to get vaccinated. This bill does not take into account the rights of children who are experiencing homelessness but want to get vaccinated nor does it consider children who are emancipated and want to get vaccinated, and it could make getting vaccinated even harder for children who can currently make that decision for themselves under their States' laws. We are trying to safely open schools, protect our communities, and end this pandemic that has killed over 700,000 people. Making it harder for anyone to get vaccinated and protect themselves is not helpful. Therefore, I object.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Thank you, Madam President. It is good to see you here today.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. I come to the floor today to support strongly the confirmation of Catherine Lhamon to serve as Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education. She is extremely qualified for this role. In fact, she has served in it before. In 2013, Ms. Lhamon was confirmed to the same role by voice vote. During her past tenure, she demonstrated her commitment to students across the country as she worked to combat sexual assault on college campuses, protect transgender students, reduce the use of seclusion and restraint, reduce disparities in school discipline based on a student's race or disability, and enforce civil rights laws to protect students. Unfortunately, the previous administration took major steps backwards when it came to supporting and protecting students--for example, by significantly reducing efforts to enforce civil rights protections and rescinding important policies to address campus sexual assault. Now, as we know, the pandemic has also done serious damage and worsened deep-seated inequities for students whose families earn low incomes, students of color, English learners, and students with disabilities. We have a lot of work ahead to fix this and help our schools rebuild stronger and fairer, which is why I am especially glad to see Secretary Cardona and President Biden working so hard to right the wrongs of the last administration and support our schools through this pandemic. I know Ms. Lhamon will be a critical, capable partner in those efforts because not only did she tackle many of these challenges in her past service as Assistant Secretary, but even after her service in the Obama administration, Ms. Lhamon continued fighting for civil rights through her time as the Chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, her work litigating civil rights cases with the National Center for Youth Law, and as legal affairs secretary to the Governor of California. She currently serves the Biden administration as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director to the Domestic Policy Council for Racial Justice and Equity. Ms. Lhamon is a highly qualified nominee. She has a long track record that proves she is a champion for students through and through, and that is exactly what our students need. I am thrilled to have her returning to the Education Department's Office of Civil Rights. I urge all of our colleagues to join me in voting for her confirmation. Thank you. I yield the floor.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I rise today in defense of the most sacred right we have in this country, and that is the right to vote. This right is fundamental to our democracy. It is the right to make your voice heard in our government. But this right is under attack by ultraconservative State lawmakers who are restricting access to our ballot boxes--the same people who continue to cast unserious, faceless and dangerous doubts on the results of the 2020 election. I am not being hyperbolic when I say, if these attacks succeed, there will be grave consequences for our democratic system not just in those States, but throughout our country. So as I have said time and again, we must pass strong Federal voting rights protections into law, because doing so is essential to making sure that our democracy stays a democracy. Democrats are rightfully exploring every potential avenue to ensure Americans' fundamental right to vote is not restricted. We are voting on legislation this week--the Freedom to Vote Act--that has been the result of extended negotiations and discussions. And I appreciate all my colleagues who are working to craft a bill all of us can agree to, one that ensures that voters have equal access to the ballot box; that promotes best practices for voter registration and administration; and protects our elections from the very real threat of interference, both foreign and domestic. This is a reasonable bill by any stretch of the imagination. And I challenge anyone to tell me what could be more controversial about making election day a public holiday or ensuring everyone has the opportunity to vote early, making sure everyone can request a vote-by- mail ballot. These are simple measures to ensure that every American's voice can be heard. And I am glad that this bill includes protections so it will help give power back to the people in our government, making sure people pick their representatives rather than representatives picking their voters; by stopping special interest money from drowning out Americans' voices and votes; and by protecting and securing each American citizen's right to cast their ballot. Again, nothing in this bill should be controversial if you care about the health of our democracy. So I hope our Republican colleagues will join us in supporting it, because I strongly believe protecting every American's right to vote should not be a partisan issue. And my Republican colleagues will have a chance this week to inspire confidence in our elections and make sure they are secure by voting for this commonsense legislation. But if there are some who want to stand between voters and their due right to the ballot box, we cannot, as public servants, simply throw up our hands and say: Oh, well, we tried. So Republicans choose to look the other way on implementing Federal voting rights protections because voter suppression tactics might benefit them politically. Democrats must use every legislative tool needed to get the Freedom to Vote Act to President Biden's desk, including an exemption to the filibuster, because, as I have said, of all the critical things we will vote on this Congress--and many are so important to our workers and families--this is the most important. It is about the future of our democracy. And if our Republican colleagues are not willing to stand up for our democracy, we can't let them hide behind Senate rules and block Democrats from doing so on our own. The stakes are really simply too high to fail. One way or another, this Senate has to pass the Freedom to Vote Act. I yield the floor.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, first, before I object, I would like to thank the Senator for his consideration. I really do appreciate that. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, here we go again. Even after 700,000 deaths and rising, Republicans are coming up with new ideas to undermine our vaccination efforts and make it harder for us to safely reopen our country; and in this case, even make it harder for us to respond to future pandemics. Requiring basic precautions to keep people safe when traveling is nothing new in this country, nor are immunization requirements, for that matter. And let's be clear and remember, the vaccine requirements President Biden has enacted so far include tailored exemptions for legitimate religious and medical conditions that have long been standard, and the emergency temporary standard he has envisioned would allow testing as an alternative. Therefore, I would call on my Republican colleagues to remember this is a pandemic; it is not a political football. We need to treat it as a public health crisis. And, therefore, I do object.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, unfortunately, even though the Senate has had multiple exposures now to nonsense ideas like this bill, they keep coming back. Now, Agencies like the CDC and NIH are already looking closely at data on COVID infection and natural immunity. They have been since the earliest days of this pandemic. In an August ``Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report,'' CDC assessed data from Kentucky and found that out of a group of people who had been infected with COVID before, those who were unvaccinated were twice as likely to get COVID again than the people who were vaccinated. In other words, being unvaccinated puts you at higher risk of being reinfected, period. Getting vaccinated is a necessary step to protect you but also to protect those around you. We are in the middle of the deadliest pandemic in American history. It has now killed 700,000 people and counting. If we are going to end this thing, if we are going to reopen our economy, if we are going to save lives, we need to get everyone vaccinated when they are eligible. We don't need politicians suggesting they know more than those experts and ignoring the data. We don't need bills meant to weaken one of our strongest tools to get this thing behind us, like the ones that Republicans have repeatedly been pressing for. Workplace safety standards are nothing new in this country. Immunization requirements are nothing new in this country. And let's be clear. The vaccine requirements President Biden has enacted so far include tailored exemptions for legitimate religious and medical considerations that have long been standard. The emergency temporary standard he has envisioned would allow testing as an alternative. People are dying every day. Families are scared, and they are tired, and they are angry that even as they try so hard to do the right thing so we can end this crisis, their hard work is being undermined. So can the Republicans stop the theatrics and stop wasting our time? Can they stop pretending they know more than the experts about this disease? Is that too much to ask? It isn't, and I object.