Gary Peters

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, it is my understanding that the next two nominees that I will bring forward have been cleared, and I would certainly urge my colleagues to support their confirmation. The first is Michael Kubayanda, nominated to serve a second term on the Postal Regulatory Commission. Mr. Kubayanda joined the Commission in January of 2019 after he was unanimously confirmed by the Senate during the last administration. Earlier this month, his nomination was reported from committee by a bipartisan vote. I will say that he brings insight and expertise from decades of experience in both government and the private sector. During his tenure as Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Kubayanda has demonstrated his commitment to working in a bipartisan manner to make the Postal Service more effective and accountable. I would urge my colleagues to join me in supporting his nomination. Next, Mr. President, I would ask my colleagues to join me in confirming Erik Hooks to be Deputy Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA. The Deputy Administrator helps lead FEMA's work preparing for and responding to disasters, ranging from hurricanes to historic flooding and wildfires, to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Hooks has more than 30 years of public safety experience, including serving as secretary of public safety and homeland security advisor for the State of North Carolina, where his responsibilities included overseeing the State's emergency management agency. I would urge my colleagues to join me in swiftly confirming Mr. Hooks to this important role as well. So, Mr. President, I would ask unanimous consent that the Senate consider the following nominations en bloc: Calendar No. 558 and Calendar No. 555; 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; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 100th anniversary of the city of Royal Oak, MI. Situated in Oakland County, Royal Oak is a city endowed with natural beauty and rich traditions, built on a strong agricultural base and populated with dedicated citizens and entrepreneurs. The vibrant history of Royal Oak began in 1819, when it was explored by Michigan Governor Lewis Cass as part of his survey of the land that now comprises Oakland County. In contrast to the surrounding marshes, Royal Oak sat on lush, high ground. Near the intersection of the modern Crooks and Rochester Roads, Cass and his companions found an imposing oak tree that brought to mind the tale of England's King Charles II, who was said to have taken refuge under a grand oak tree from enemy forces. For this reason, Cass and his fellow explorers christened the tree the ``Royal Oak,'' and the city received its name. Early settlers in the area were principally farmers focused on clearing the land in order to build homes and plant crops. The introduction of the railroad into Metro Detroit and Michigan's Bay area soon brought with it an increase in Royal Oak's manufacturing ventures, including logging, milling, textile production, and more. The economic growth of the area soon began attracting settlers from across the country, including the city's first manufacturer, Orson Starr, who became known for his production of cowbells. The boom in Michigan's automotive manufacturing in the early twentieth century continued to bolster Royal's Oak's economic and population growth, and by 1921, the city claimed over 6,000 residents and voted to be officially incorporated as a city. Today, Royal Oak is a diverse and vibrant city of over 57,000 residents who enjoy its beautiful parks, historic downtown, and thriving neighborhoods. Located in the Detroit metropolitan area, Royal Oak is home to a number of well-known local attractions, including the Detroit Zoo, the Royal Oak Music Theatre, and the historic Royal Oak Farmer's Market which has been in operation since 1927. The variety of shops, restaurants, and entertainment offered by downtown Royal Oak attracts both local residents and visitors from across the State of Michigan alike. With its rich history, spirited downtown, and natural beauty, Royal Oak is recognized as one of the top places to live in the State of Michigan. The City of Royal Oak has been an integral part of the State of Michigan and our great Nation for over 100 years. As a Michigander and a resident of southeast Michigan, I am honored to ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating this significant milestone for the city, as well as its residents, elected officials, and businesses. I wish the city continued growth and prosperity in the years ahead.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, there are no words that can capture the terror and the tragedy of the horrific events that unfolded at Oxford High School on Tuesday afternoon. In a matter of minutes, a routine school day was twisted into scenes of chaos, shattering the safe environment that Oxford High students and teachers and families trusted in. This shocking event will change their lives forever. Our heart breaks for every Michigander in America who continues to be affected by this tragedy and so many others like it. It was a scene that has become all too familiar in America. A gunman opened fire inside a public school, taking four young lives and wounding seven other people. Four students went to school that morning with bright, exciting futures ahead. They never made it home. Hana St. Juliana, the youngest victim, was only 14 years old. A freshman who was a promising athlete on the volleyball and basketball teams, her teammates remember her as having a kind heart, a silly personality, and an absolute passion for sports. Her father remembers her as the happiest kid, who had a full life ahead of her before it was tragically cut short. Madisyn Baldwin, a 17-year-old senior and the oldest of three siblings, was preparing to graduate this spring. An aspiring artist and talented student, she recently celebrated acceptances to several colleges, including some under a full-ride scholarship. She will always be remembered by her family and friends as a kind, smart, and loving girl. Tate Myre was 16 years old, No. 42 on the football team. Tate was a star student athlete and was recently honored with an all-region award from the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association. He had already started college recruitment visits and was looking forward to many more until the unthinkable happened. His friends, his family, and his fellow students remember him as someone who always put his full heart into everything that he did. And Justin Shilling, a 17-year-old senior, was cocaptain of the school's bowling team. His coworkers called him an exemplary employee, a devoted friend and coworker, and simply an absolute pleasure to be with. As we mourn Hana, Madisyn, Tate, and Justin, we must also remember the victims who were injured during this attack. At this very moment, dedicated doctors and nurses are working around the clock to ensure that the wounded can swiftly recover. We are all thinking of them and wishing them well, along with those who were wounded, treated, and have now been discharged from the hospital. As a parent, I just simply cannot imagine the grief and anguish that these families are forced to endure and the unimaginable pain that these parents are feeling in knowing that they can never--never ever-- hold their loving child again. I am grateful for the brave first responders who quickly responded to this harrowing scene. Thanks to their swift and brave actions, the suspect was apprehended within minutes, preventing even more unspeakable carnage from unfolding. There is no question that the heroic actions of first responders, law enforcement officials, and emergency medical technicians saved lives on Tuesday. We cannot thank enough these brave men and women for all that they do each and every day to keep our communities safe. For the students and the educators who lived through this horrific act, I can only imagine the trauma and the fear that they will spend the rest of their lives with. Children who should have been focused on their math homework or on their reading assignments spent terrifying moments fighting to survive and keeping one another safe. Reportedly, as bullets pierced classroom doors, students grabbed scissors and calculators, anything they thought they could use, to defend themselves. Parents--many of whom received text messages from their children saying there was a shooting and that they loved them--frantically searched for their children in a parking lot in the aftermath, praying that they would be reunited. The panic, the fear, and the helplessness of being trapped in this nightmare scenario is something that no child, no teacher, and no parent should ever, ever have to face. Now these survivors need our support as they work to process and heal from the shocking and horrific ordeal. To the Oxford High School community, please know there are millions of Americans who are lifting you up and who share in your sorrow. In the days and weeks ahead, we may learn more about the heroic actions that students and teachers and first responders took to stop this tragedy from being even worse, but the most heartbreaking fact is that this should have never ever happened in the first place. A school should be a safe place. I was struck by the words of so many students who said that they had been training for a day like this since elementary school. These students and their teachers had participated in active shooter drills. They knew to lock and barricade doors, to hide, to stay silent, and to run. They had heard about other school shootings wherein the assailants had tried to trick or lure students into their sights, and they stood strong until they knew they would be safe. While I am so grateful that these lessons, undoubtedly, saved many, many lives this week, I am also heartbroken that our children and our educators have to bear this burden. There is no easy answer, but it is clear that we must take action. Far too many communities have been devastated by these attacks, and we cannot wait for yet another community to suffer without having tough conversations on what actions Congress should take. The unsettling reality is that our children's lives are at risk when they enter a classroom, and that is something that we simply cannot tolerate. I know the Members of this body have different policy views, but surely we can agree that a school should be a safe place. Surely we can agree to listen to the students in every single one of our States who say that they live in fear that they could be killed at their desks, and we could agree to have a serious discussion of what needs to change. There is no single solution that would have prevented this tragedy, like so many others, but let's have a serious discussion about what needs to change to ensure that warnings reach the right officials and that those officials know what actions to take. Let's have a serious discussion about gun safety issues, background checks, reasonable limits on high-capacity magazines, and closing loopholes that allow dangerous weapons to get into the wrong hands. And let's have a serious discussion about what our schools, our teachers, and our students need to stay safe. Whether it is more access to counselors, strong threat assessments, or more resources, we have to find common ground that will keep our schools safe. We cannot stand by when we know that it is only a matter of time before the next school, the next community, is shattered. For Hana, for Tate, for Justin, for Madisyn, for the students, teachers, and families of Oxford High School, and for every student, teacher, and family in the United States, we must act. The time is now. I yield the floor.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Reserving the right to object.

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, in an ideal world we would not need a vaccine mandate. In the ideal world the vast majority of people who can get vaccinated would heed the advice of scientists and of public health officials and take the very simple step to get vaccinated so that we can get this pandemic under control. But, unfortunately, our reality is very different. We have been working to contain this virus and manage this unprecedented health crisis for nearly 2 years now. It has cost us more than 765,000 American lives, and millions of other Americans have been infected and may face lifelong health challenges as a result. It doesn't have to be this way. We have safe, effective, and lifesaving vaccines that are now, thankfully, available to a significant number of Americans. Vaccines are our best tool to finally get this pandemic under control, and requiring the folks who are able to get vaccinated is just simply common sense. We are all tired of this pandemic, and we all want it to end. We are tired of wearing masks because some folks refuse to get vaccinated. We are tired of wondering if we could unknowingly be exposing our vulnerable family members who are taking every precaution. We are tired of waiting for enough people to get vaccinated so that our schools and our businesses and our daily lives can just get back to normal. And we are tired of emergency rooms and healthcare workers getting overrun by COVID cases from people who are not vaccinated, when we already have the best tool to prevent the spread in the first place. Our frontline healthcare workers are being crushed by the consistently high number of cases, and public health experts are predicting that yet another spike will likely hit this winter unless people get vaccinated. In my home State of Michigan, the number of unvaccinated patients hospitalized with COVID is once again climbing. A headline from today noted that Michigan has just reached a new pandemic record with the highest COVID case average in the Nation and that deaths across the State continue to rise. Emergency rooms are packed, and in some areas patients are forced to wait for hours or for days to be admitted. There is one key factor that is driving this horrific scenario: 88 percent of the cases, 88 percent of the hospitalizations, and 88 percent of the tragic deaths were all people who were unvaccinated. We can put an end to this nightmare by getting more Americans vaccinated. You know, we require so many preventive measures to keep ourselves and others safe. We wear seatbelts in our cars. We require hardhats on construction sites. We get vaccinated to protect ourselves against a whole number of health risks. And we do it because we know it saves lives and it keeps people healthy. The answer is simple: Get vaccinated. Mr. President, I object.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Objection.

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I reserve the right to object. This bill would be a step backwards in our country's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Across this country, we have seen over 45 million cases of COVID-19 and almost 750,000 deaths. Communities--and particularly communities of color--have been hit hard by this virus. But, luckily, we have a safe and effective way to help prevent the spread of the virus: vaccines. So far, almost 60 percent of U.S. population has been fully vaccinated. However, the virus continues to spread. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classified over 70 percent of our counties are having high transmission rates. Conversely, less than 2 percent are classified as low transmission. In order for us to beat this virus, we need to reach higher levels of vaccine rates and put a stop to community spread. This bill would bar executive agencies from being able to mandate that individuals receive the COVID-19 vaccine or even mandate that an individual agree to undergo periodic testing for COVID-19 in lieu of a vaccine. The science is clear: Vaccines are safe, they are effective, and they save lives. Rather than wasting time on partisan bills that make our country less safe, we should be finding ways to ensure an equitable recovery for all of our communities and preparing for the next public health emergency. I object.

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise in support of the nomination of Robert L. Santos to be the Director of the Census Bureau. Mr. Santos is uniquely qualified to lead the Census Bureau as it carries out its important work serving as the leading source of quality data about the Nation's people and economy. He brings over 40 years of experience in both the public and private sectors as a manager and expert in the field of survey design and statistical research. Throughout his career, Mr. Santos has interacted closely with the Census Bureau as a researcher, a stakeholder, and an expert adviser, serving on the Census Advisory Committee and National Academies panels on Federal statistics. He has a deep understanding of the Census Bureau, its data, and its stakeholders. Throughout the nomination process, Mr. Santos has demonstrated a firm commitment to upholding the Bureau's mission of producing the essential high-quality data that our communities, our businesses, and people all across our Nation rely on. As the Census Bureau completes the 2020 census, plans for the 2030 census, and administers the Bureau's crucial demographic surveys, it is absolutely critical for the Agency to have a qualified Senate-confirmed leader at the helm. I would urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the confirmation of Robert Santos as Census Bureau Director. Vote on Santos Nomination

Mr. PETERS. I ask for the yeas and nays. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The clerk will call the roll.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be discharged and the Senate now proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 1510.

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

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 410 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. I ask unanimous consent that 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.

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 436, submitted earlier today.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be discharged and the Senate now proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 2093.

Mr. PETERS. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time.

Mr. PETERS. I know of no further debate on the bill.

Mr. PETERS. I further ask that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that 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. PETERS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of the following nomination: Executive Calendar No. 501, Maj. Gen. John D. Caine, to be Lieutenant General, and that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session and be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that all postcloture time on the Harris, Coleman, Prieto, and Nayak nominations be considered expired; further, that at 11 a.m., tomorrow, Wednesday, November 3, the Senate vote on confirmation of the Harris and Coleman nominations, and, at 5:15 p.m., on confirmation of the Prieto and Nayak nominations, all in the order listed; and, finally, if any nominations are confirmed during Wednesday's session, that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's actions.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, for the information of Senators, there will be two rollcall votes at 11 a.m., 1 rollcall vote at 2:15 p.m., and at least two rollcall votes at 5:15 p.m.

Mr. PETERS

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