Gary Peters

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, Senate Standing Rule XXVI requires each committee to adopt rules to govern the procedure of the committee and to publish those rules in the Congressional Record not later than March 1 of the first year of each Congress. On March 1, 2021, a majority of the members of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs' Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations adopted subcommittee rules of procedure. Consistent with Standing Rule XXVI, today I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a copy of the rules of procedure of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, Senate Standing Rule XXVI requires each committee to adopt rules to govern the procedure of the committee and to publish those rules in the Congressional Record not later than March 1 of the first year of each Congress. On February 26, 2021, a majority of the members of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs' Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Management adopted subcommittee rules of procedure. Consistent with Standing Rule XXVI, today I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a copy of the rules of procedure of the Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Management.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, Senate Standing Rule XXVI requires each committee to adopt rules to govern the procedure of the committee and to publish those rules in the Congressional Record not later than March 1 of the first year of each Congress. On February 26, 2021, a majority of the members of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs' Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight adopted subcommittee rules of procedure. Consistent with Standing Rule XXVI, today I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a copy of the rules of procedure of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I am proud to stand today in support of Jennifer Granholm's nomination to be the next Secretary of Energy. I have known Secretary-designate Granholm for many years, and I served in her administration while she was Governor. There is no question she is uniquely qualified to serve as Secretary of Energy. As the Governor of Michigan, she led our State through an economic crisis. She knows how to deal with multifaceted challenges and has a documented record of strong leadership. During her confirmation hearing, Jennifer Granholm outlined three key missions that she wants to prioritize in her new role: one, strengthening national security, particularly on nuclear nonproliferation through the National Nuclear Security Administration; two, supporting the research and development at scientific research facilities all across our Nation; and, three, utilizing that research to create new, good-paying jobs for Americans. All of these issues are issues that Jennifer Granholm has been focused on throughout her entire career. As Governor, she worked to support groundbreaking research that is conducted at Michigan's world-class institutions--research that is constantly leading to new discoveries that will change the world to create jobs and save lives. As Governor, Jennifer Granholm secured bipartisan support to establish the 21st Century Jobs Fund, which leveraged funding to diversify Michigan's economy, create jobs in clean energy by attracting new business investments, and put Michigan on a better path. Those are the kinds of actions and investments that I look forward to working closely with Secretary-designate Granholm on in the coming months and in the coming years, and it is clear that she also recognizes what must be done to advance our Nation's energy interests, because she has already achieved results in Michigan. If we are going to build back better, we must do so in a sustainable, forward-thinking way that addresses climate change. That is something President Biden's administration is committed to doing, and I know Secretary Granholm is as well. I could not be more excited to say that we will have a fellow Michigander leading the Department of Energy, and I urge all of my colleagues to support her confirmation. I yield the floor.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I have 6 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: Committee on Armed Services The Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, February 25, 2021, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, February 25, 2021, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, February 25, 2021, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, February 25, 2021, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on nominations. Committee on Finance The Committee on Finance is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, February 25, 2021, at 9:45 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Finance The Committee on Finance is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, February 25, 2021, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on a nomination.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a lifelong leader of West Michigan's economic development community, Birgit Klohs, president and CEO of The Right Place in Grand Rapids, MI. Ms. Klohs has made an immense impact on western Michigan over the past 33 years and has helped reshape the region and State's future. Born in West Germany, Ms. Klohs left her home country to attend Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, where she graduated with a bachelors of business administration in finance. While going to school full time, she began her economic development career in service to the Berrien County Economic Development Corporation as an industrial consultant and then eventually moved to the Michigan Department of Commerce where she served as an account executive focusing on western Michigan. Later, as assistant director of the Office for Economic Expansion at Grand Valley State University, Ms. Klohs was asked to join the region's first-ever European foreign investment mission in conjunction with The Right Place. The Right Place, an organization started in 1985 by Grand Rapids area business executives, was concerned that the region was missing out on economic opportunities. That trip involved discussions with a German company that 2 years later broke ground on a new manufacturing plant just north of Grand Rapids, a highlight in Klohs' career dedicated to keeping and growing jobs in the region. Mrs. Klohs applied for the directorship of The Right Place and began leading the organization as president and CEO in 1987. At that time, The Right Place had a small staff serving one county; after Ms. Klohs' dynamic leadership and expertise, it grew into a team of more than 30 professionals serving a six-county region. Throughout her three decades of leadership, The Right Place has assisted thousands of west Michigan companies to invest more than $5 billion and create 48,500 new jobs throughout the region. Ms. Klohs also helped the region, known for its manufacturing heritage, to grow its skill and sophistication in making things, from medical devices to office furniture. In the process, she helped the region grow and increase the job opportunities across many sectors. Those efforts attracted attention worldwide, with ``The Economist'' last year citing Grand Rapids as ``the most successful intensive manufacturing city in America'' and Forbes ranking Grand Rapids No. 2 on its list of the top 15 industrial cities in America. Over her career, Ms. Klohs worked closely with five Michigan Governors to pursue economic development opportunities around the globe. The region is now home to 136 foreign companies, including more than 50 from her homeland of Germany. She is credited with fostering countless public-private ventures that advance the economic prosperity of the region, including the Medical Mile which is the 10th largest life science cluster in the United States, the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center West, and partnerships with Hello West Michigan, the first employer-driven relocation and job information center in the Nation. Most recently, The Right Place recognized that economic prosperity was not being shared by all citizens. That led to the creation of a New Community Transformation Fund to uplift communities of color through capital investment. As the pandemic reared its ugly head throughout 2020, The Right Place quickly pivoted to assist in delivering $10 million in emergency financial aid to 1200 struggling businesses in the Grand Rapids community and harnessed the region's manufacturing ingenuity and supply chains to create and distribute lifesaving personal protective equipment. Ms. Klohs' commitment to the region and State was not limited to The Right Place. Among the boards she chaired or served on are the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Gerald R. Ford Airport Authority, the International Crossing Authority, and the Western Michigan University Board of Trustees, her alma mater. Ms. Birgit Klohs was fond of saying that economic development was ``a team sport.'' After 33 years as captain of one of the Nation's most successful teams, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in congratulating her for her well-earned retirement from The Right Place and to wish Birgit and her family health and happiness in the years ahead.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, Rule XXVI, paragraph 2, of the Standing Rules of the Senate requires each committee to adopt rules to govern the procedure of the committee and to publish those rules in the Congressional Record not later than March 1 of the first year of each Congress. Today, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs adopted committee rules of procedure. Consistent with Standing Rule XXVI, I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the rules of procedure of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be printed in the Congressional Record.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, we need to have a secure border with a strategic mix of personnel, technology, and barriers, and the Biden administration has initiated a comprehensive review of southern border security. But this amendment would force the last administration's misguided, simplistic border wall decisions on President Biden.

Mr. PETERS. We are in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic and recession. The legislation before us must focus on families trying to put food on the table and struggling small businesses, not ensuring well-connected government contractors get rich. The President's decision about our borders will be guided by what is best for our national security and for taxpayers. Right now, we need to focus on the struggling Americans who need our help and not big government contractors. (Chorus of Hear! Hear!) Vote on Amendment No. 542

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I rise today in support of the budget resolution and the American rescue plan proposed by President Biden. It is, without question, a necessary next step in our fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Just last month, roughly 100,000 Americans lost their lives to COVID. To date, we have lost more than 430,000 Americans to this virus. Included in this number is over 15,000 Michiganders. Millions of Americans have become sick as a result of this deadly virus, and far too many people in Michigan and across the country are suffering from the unprecedented economic crisis that this pandemic has caused. Families are struggling to put food on the table and to put a roof over their heads and just to pay bills. The relief package that was passed in December provided important emergency relief, but it didn't go nearly far enough. I had the honor of meeting with President Biden and Vice President Harris today at the White House to discuss the need to work together and to act boldly and quickly to deliver urgently needed support. More than 120 economists are pressing Congress to pass the sweeping relief package, and the danger is not going big but rather failing to meet the urgency of the moment. These 120 economists wrote: ``History shows that what our nation cannot afford is inaction or timidity in the face of what many consider to be the greatest economic disaster since the Great Depression.'' It is clear to me that we must extend unemployment benefits to those who are out of work through no fault of their own. We must pass an additional $1,400 in stimulus payments to individuals. We must provide more food assistance to ensure that no child or family goes hungry because of this crisis, and we must ensure small businesses can stay afloat. We must provide more funding to speed up the distribution of vaccines so that we can get more vaccines in the arms of Americans quickly, safely, and equitably. And we must provide more resources so that schools can reopen safely under the guidance of public health officials and experts. We must deliver relief to communities on the frontlines of COVID- response efforts and make sure that they are not forced to cut essential services for residents or lay off health professionals or teachers or firefighters or law enforcement officials. We must replenish the disaster relief fund, which will help give our cash- strapped State and local governments the resources they need to pay for personal protection equipment, aid in vaccine distribution, and provide additional support services to communities struggling with overwhelming coronavirus cases. We must provide funding to ensure there is strong oversight of how Federal taxpayer dollars are actually being spent on Federal COVID efforts, ensuring that resources and support that Congress has authorized is actually reaching the people who need it the most. One of my top priorities and an issue I hear about every day from Michiganders is the need to extend unemployment benefits. Over 3 million Michiganders have claimed unemployment insurance since the start of this pandemic. That is around one-third of the entire population of Michigan. And, unfortunately, we are not out of the tunnel yet. Over half a million of these claims are still active. It is not just impacting one part of my State. All 83 Michigan counties are experiencing higher levels of joblessness, a disturbing trend that we have seen continue into this year. Michiganders want to work, they want to keep their families safe, and they want to put food on the table. In order to do all of this, we must first get this pandemic under control, while helping families and workers make ends meet. They need and must have our continued help and our support. As the Biden American Rescue Plan recognizes, Federal unemployment assistance programs are essential to bolstering our State programs, and while 1.9 million unemployment claims in Michigan during 2020 have flowed through the State unemployment program, nearly just as many claims, 1.7 million, were made possible by the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program. It is a program that I helped to establish last year in the CARES Act. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance is a lifeline to workers who are self-employed yet had their source of income interrupted by the pandemic, including gig workers and freelance workers and small business owners. I certainly agree with President Biden that we must continue Federal unemployment assistance programs through September of 2021. Implementing this rescue package means we will not abandon millions of workers who otherwise would be ineligible for assistance or whose benefits would have long run out. It would also mean that the level of benefit that they receive is closer to the amount necessary for their families to have some measure of financial stability. In Michigan, far too many families are finding it difficult to feed themselves and their children. Michigan had the sixth highest rate of projected food insecurity in 2020. Nearly 2 million individuals lived in food-insecure households. That means each day almost one in five Michiganders worries about whether or not they or their loved ones are going to get enough to eat that day. The number of Michiganders struggling with hunger has increased by around 600,000 since the start of the pandemic, and, sadly, most of this has been as a result of an uptick in child hunger. Our food banks across Michigan are doing all they can to step up to the challenge, but they are experiencing unprecedented surges in demand as more families seek assistance. Food assistance is one of the top reasons people contact my State's emergency hotline. The Federal Government must do more in providing food assistance to these families. The American Rescue Plan will extend the 15-percent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefit, while maintaining an increase through the coming months and through the summer, a time when childhood hunger is at its highest level due to the lack of school meals. It is a critical backstop against rising food insecurity, and this change will help keep hunger at bay for around 40 million Americans. The rescue plan also supports these efforts by providing a one-time emergency infusion of support for State anti-hunger and nutrition programs. This will ensure that benefits quickly and efficiently get to children and to those families that are in need. According to the nonprofit No Kid Hungry campaign, this funding will amount to around $25 more per person per month for those who are currently struggling. A family of four will get an extra $100 a month. This is an investment we must certainly make. The proposal before us will also invest $3 billion to help women, infants, and children get the food they need. This multiyear investment in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known as WIC, is needed to account for increased enrollment due to growing hunger and to increase outreach to ensure that low- income families have access to high-quality nutritious food and nutritional education. During this dark, challenging winter, we must address the hunger crisis in Michigan and across the country. Another issue that I hear about constantly from Michiganders is the additional support we must provide to our small businesses. Many small businesses--the very backbone of Michigan's economy and the economic driver in many of our local communities--have been forced to shutter or are just barely hanging on. Nationally, small business revenue is down 32 percent, and at least 400,000 firms have permanently closed. Minority-owned small businesses and those in hard-hit industries, like restaurants and hotels and entertainment, have suffered disproportionately. Whether it is a boutique in Plymouth, a family-owned farm in Michigan's fruit belt, or a restaurant in Detroit, these small businesses bring our State character, community, and a sense of place. Congress must do everything we can to assist our small businesses, and we must ensure that COVID-19 small business relief assistance is clearly administered and is easy to access. That is why I fought for a vital increase in small business funding, like the Paycheck Protection Program, which was included in the CARES Act and subsequent legislation that I was proud to help pass. In Michigan, over 128,000 Paycheck Protection Program loans were approved before the program first expired, totaling over $16 billion in funding. And although the PPP brought hope to many during this crisis, it alone was simply not enough. We must continue to expand access to small business grants and loans for our Michigan businesses. The American Rescue Plan is ambitious, but it is achievable and will help our small businesses survive and help rescue the American economy as we work to recover. It will support communities that are struggling in the wake of COVID-19 by providing support for the hardest hit small businesses, especially small businesses owned by entrepreneurs of color, and protecting jobs of the first responders and transit workers and other essential workers whom we depend on each and every day. It will provide grants to more than 1 million of the hardest hit small businesses--flexible, equitably distributed grants that will help small businesses get back on their feet and put the current disaster behind them. Additionally, it will leverage government funds into additional small business lending and investment. By investing in successful State, local, Tribal, and nonprofit small business financing programs, Congress will exponentially generate low- interest loans and venture capital to help our small businesses survive, to create and maintain jobs, and to continue to provide the essential goods and services that our communities depend on. According to an independent analysis conducted by Moody's Analytics, the American Rescue Plan will help create 7.5 million jobs in 2021, double economic growth, and return the United States to full employment a full year faster. Small businesses in Michigan and across the country need this help, and they need it now. Passing the American Rescue Plan will help us get through this economic crisis and come out stronger on the other side. And I know we all look forward to the day when we can visit our small businesses. I know I am excited to see Michiganders going out to eat in Greektown before visiting Comerica Park. They will stroll through downtowns like Birmingham and Grand Rapids. They will drive up north and spend time i small businesses in Traverse City and Marquette, and just maybe swing by a local brewery, or enjoy boating on one of our beautiful Great Lakes. I will never stop fighting to make sure that when the day comes, Michigan's small businesses will be up and running. But as we address the economic impact to this pandemic, we must also use this relief package to address the public health crisis. Since the outset of the pandemic, FEMA has stepped up to assist in response to the COVID-19 crisis by coordinating medical supply acquisition and distribution and assisting State and local governments with funds for response activity, such as overtime pay for public health officials. And now FEMA is taking on an even larger role as we continue this critical phase of response, which is vaccine distribution. When I spoke to the President and Vice President earlier today, I was pleased to hear their vision for using FEMA resources and expertise to provide essential staff, supplies, transportation, and other resources necessary to ensure that every vaccine dose is actually reaching the arm of an American. These activities are all supported through FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund, and we must provide the funding needed to ensure that FEMA can have the maximum flexibility to help our State and local governments and resources needed to deploy COVID-19 vaccines to combat this pandemic. There are so many faces that have been on the frontlines of responding to this unprecedented public health crisis: our healthcare workers, delivery workers, grocery store employees, and so many others who have sacrificed so that we can have the care, the goods, and the services that we need to get by. Essential workers include our dedicated civil servants who work tirelessly to serve the American people in countless ways--from providing medical care to delivering our mail, to safeguarding our national security. We truly appreciate their continued service under incredibly challenging circumstances. To help ensure the health and safety of Federal employees and their communities, we must provide funding to the Emergency Federal Employee Leave Fund. This fund offers emergency paid leave, which ensures workers can stay at home if they are feeling ill, and, by doing so, prevent community spread of COVID-19. This provision will also provide much needed flexibility to our civil servants and their families as they juggle caregiving for children and other family members with their remote public service work. Our Nation's postal workers, who work tirelessly to deliver prescription drugs, essential goods, and even our holiday gifts throughout the pandemic, are facing unique challenges. Federal employees who interact directly with the public, like our hard-working postal employees and letter carriers, need better access to workers' compensation benefits if they contract COVID-19 in the line of duty. The effectiveness of our ongoing response to this pandemic depends on our career Federal workforce, and these two policies are an important step in ensuring the safety of civil servants, their families, and their communities. Finally, we need robust oversight to make sure relief dollars are spent appropriately and are going to families, small businesses, hospitals, and the communities that need them most. When this body considered the CARES Act, I worked across the aisle with Senator Johnson and the House to create two oversight mechanisms to provide transparency and accountability to the American people. First, we created the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, or PRAC. The PRAC is a new entity made up of new inspectors general-- independent industry watchdogs--and charged with overseeing the entire Federal Government coronavirus response and all of the associated spending. We also charged the Government Accountability Office-- Congress's watchdog--to conduct similarly wide-ranging oversight. In just 10 months, these oversight bodies have published reports on issues ranging from vaccine development to the Paycheck Protection Program, and the PRAC has established a website where anyone can go and see exactly where their hard-earned tax dollars are going. We must continue to support both the PRAC and the GAO so they can continue this critical work, keeping Congress and the American people informed, ensuring taxpayer dollars are used responsibly, and helping to restore public trust in our Federal Government during this coronavirus response. So it is clear, we are facing a crisis unlike any other in our Nation's history. We must work together to pass robust and bold COVID relief package. Michiganders and the American people are counting on us to do the right thing, and it is now our time to deliver. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I ask I unanimous consent to complete my remarks.

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I rise in support of confirming Alejandro Mayorkas as Secretary of Homeland Security. I appreciate my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for advancing this critical nomination so that we can finally provide the Department of Homeland Security with a qualified, experienced, and Senate-confirmed leader that they so desperately need. Mr. Mayorkas is a proven leader and has the experience to protect the American people from harm. Throughout his confirmation process, Mr. Mayorkas confirmed his commitment to transparency and working on a bipartisan basis to ensure the Department is able to take on persistent and emerging threats. And right now the threats we face are severe from domestic terrorism, including the rise of White supremacist violence to cyber attacks from foreign adversaries, to tackling a deadly pandemic. DHS continues to face daunting challenges, challenges that have only been made more difficult to address due to the years of chaos during the previous administration. That is why former Homeland Security Secretaries from both Republican and Democratic administrations, other senior Homeland Security officials, and law enforcement organizations have urged the Senate to quickly confirm Mr. Mayorkas--because they know he is well prepared for the difficult task that lies ahead. The Department of Homeland Security needs leadership, and it needs it now. By voting to confirm Mr. Mayorkas, this body can show every American that we are committed to ensuring that they are safe and secure

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise today in support of Pete Buttigieg's nomination to lead the Department of Transportation. Whether it is rebuilding our crumbling roads and bridges, maintaining our leadership in the global mobility race, or improving pipeline safety, there is no shortage of challenges facing our incoming Secretary. As a fellow midwesterner, as a former officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve, I can't think of anyone more equipped to take on this challenge than Pete Buttigieg. He understands the need to revitalize our infrastructure because he has seen it in our neighborhoods and on our roads each and every day when he served as a mayor. He has a unique understanding of how the Department can be a resource to State and to local governments and what can be done to ensure that the Federal Government supports those State and local governments and make sure that need gets addressed most effectively. If we are going to build back better, a partnership at each level of government will be absolutely vital. Having someone at the helm who recognizes that that relationship is so important will be an incredible asset to the Department. I have also had several conversations with Secretary-Designate Buttigieg on the auto industry, which is the very beating heart of our manufacturing economy. And as the industry advances both toward electrification and self-driving technologies, it will be critical that we support these technologies and make sure that they are safely deployed and that they are deployed here in the United States. We have an opportunity to save lives but also to create jobs and empower our domestic auto industry to take the moonshot for artificial intelligence and spur technological innovation, and I am pleased that Secretary-Designate Buttigieg has committed to working with us as we craft legislation that establishes a Federal framework around these new technologies. Finally, I am excited to work with Secretary-Designate Buttigieg on improving pipeline safety, especially around the Great Lakes. We know that line 5, under the Straits of Mackinac, poses a very serious threat to the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes are not only an economic driver and natural resource for our country, they are literally in the DNA of every Michiganian. As a midwesterner and as husband to a Michigan native who was born and raised in Traverse City, Secretary-Designate Buttigieg fully recognizes the need to protect the Great Lakes. I agree with Mayor Pete's belief that, as he says, ``good transportation policy can play no less a role than making possible the American dream.'' I am proud to support Pete Buttigieg's historic nomination, which has already garnered bipartisan support, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote for him.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I have 6 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: Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, at 10:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry is authorized to meet during the Session of the Senate on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, immediately following a floor vote, to conduct a hearing on a nomination. Committee on Armed Services The Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Committee on Armed Services The Committee on Armed Services is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing on a nomination. Committee on Veterans' Affairs The Committee on Veterans' Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing on a nomination. Select Committee on Intelligence The Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a closed briefing.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise in support of Alejandro Mayorkas's nomination to be Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. As recent events have shown, our country is facing dangerous threats to our security and to our national security. Violence and domestic terrorism, spurred on by White supremacist ideology, anti-government sentiment, and conspiracy theories, continue to rise. We saw the tragic and deadly result of that growing threat right here in the Capitol just 3 weeks ago, and just yesterday the Department of Homeland Security issued a counterterrorism bulletin, warning of possible further violence in the coming weeks. Earlier this year, we learned that hackers--likely backed by a foreign adversary--carried out the largest cyber security breach of our Federal Government. We still do not have all of the answers on how they were able to infiltrate our networks or what information they have access to. All this is happening while we are struggling to control a once-in-a- century pandemic that has, tragically, taken over 425,000 American lives so far. The Department of Homeland Security should be leading a forceful response to these complex and significant threats and protecting Americans, but the Department and its more than 240,000 employees need a qualified, experienced, and Senate-confirmed leader at the helm--a leader like Alejandro Mayorkas. Mr. Mayorkas has built an extensive national security record throughout his career in public service. He has been confirmed by the Senate three times, including twice for senior roles at the Department of Homeland Security. Not only did he help lead the Obama administration's successful responses to the Ebola and Zika epidemics, he also played a critical role in protecting the homeland from foreign and domestic terrorism, strengthened our national cyber security, and increased cooperation between the Federal Government and local law enforcement agencies. Not only does he stand ready to lead the Department as it tackles serious and challenging national security threats, Mr. Mayorkas also understands that the Department and its mission have a real effect on people and their families. His own family's journey to the United States--first fleeing Nazi occupation in Eastern Europe and later immigrating to the United States from Cuba--has given him a unique perspective on the very heart of the Department's mission--something that was certainly lost during the previous administration. Mr. Mayorkas is uniquely qualified to make sure the Department of Homeland Security is working to protect people from all backgrounds, all communities, and all walks of life. Mr. Mayorkas has the qualifications, the experience, and the record of accomplishments to provide steady leadership, to help restore trust in the Department, and to safeguard our national security. That is why it is no surprise that his nomination has been endorsed by four former Homeland Security Secretaries and a former Acting Secretary from both Democratic and Republican administrations. He also has the support of a group of more than 30 cyber security experts, 34 former Homeland Security officials, and multiple law enforcement organizations, including the Fraternal Order of Police. Within this body, there are certainly very different views of the role of the Federal Government, but one thing I think we can all agree on as a top priority is keeping Americans safe. It is our No. 1 job, and that is why I am asking my colleagues to join me today in supporting the confirmation of Mr. Mayorkas as Secretary of Homeland Security so that he can quickly begin the important and essential task of working to strengthen our national security and safeguarding all Americans. I ask unanimous consent that the cloture vote begin immediately.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, for over 40 years, inspectors general have acted as independent, nonpartisan watchdogs tasked with preventing and uncovering fraud, waste, and abuse in the Federal Government. Simply put, inspectors general make sure government is doing what it's supposed to do. To accomplish this immense task, inspectors general must be experienced in oversight, trusted by both political parties, and ready to hit the ground running on any audits, investigations, and other reviews of their agencies. Unfortunately, the nominee for inspector general that we considered last week does not meet this basic test. The Department of Transportation is charged with ensuring that America has the safest, most efficient and modern transportation system in the world, so that Americans are able to travel safely and efficiently by road, rail, or air. The Department has an annual budget of over $87 billion and employs over 55,000 personnel, with a footprint in every State. The DOT inspector general must be ready to oversee the full range of these activities, from every dollar that funds our highways to every safety decision issued by DOT regulators. To meet this task, the office employs over 400 personnel, with an annual budget of over $94 million. Eric Soskin, the nominee for DOT inspector general, is not qualified to oversee an agency of this size and scope, or to lead the activities of one of the largest Offices of Inspector General in the Federal Government. Mr. Soskin does not have any experience managing large organizations. He has never worked in an Office of Inspector General, and he does not have experience in many of the basic activities of such an office, like audits or inspections. Although he has legal experience, he has not focused on DOT or transportation issues at any point in his career. While I appreciate Mr. Soskin's service at the Department of Justice and his enthusiasm for the position, he simply lacks the qualifications to ensure DOT is fulfilling its responsibilities. I am most troubled, however, by the increasing politicization of inspectors general by the President and by the majority. Since 1981, this body has confirmed over 150 inspectors general; until last week, all but two of these nominees had been confirmed by unanimous consent, a voice vote, or a unanimous vote. The reason for this is simple: To do their jobs, inspectors general must be trusted by each member of Congress and by every American, regardless of political party. Until this Congress, when an inspector general has faced significant opposition, the Senate either worked through any concerns or declined to advance the nomination. The majority did not force through partisan or unqualified nominees. That is how we have upheld this institution. That is how we have maintained trust in the independence, qualifications, and integrity of inspectors general. This Congress, we held our first party-line vote in 40 years to confirm a deeply partisan inspector general nominee. We have now confirmed yet another inspector general on a party-line vote during a lameduck session, with a nominee who was already rejected by nearly half of the Commerce Committee and as well as on the Senate floor. The inspector general is a position that continues across administrations. It is one with tremendous authority to look at every agency record, to interview any employee, and to carry out criminal investigations. We cannot transform this institution into one of Democratic inspectors general and Republican inspectors general. This is not and cannot become a political position. Inspectors General hold government accountable to the law and to the American people. And it is our responsibility to protect this institution and reject any nomination that will undermine their independent, nonpartisan work.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, 2020 has been a year of immense challenges. We are in the middle of an unprecedented economic and public health crisis. Small businesses have been forced to shutter or are barely staying afloat. Workers are out of jobs through no fault of their own, and folks are stressed about feeding their families and keeping a roof over their heads. Healthcare workers are exhausted-- pressed to their breaking points from treating patients with COVID. But, thankfully, there is light at the end of the tunnel. With the recent FDA vaccine emergency use authorization, Michiganians and Americans are finally starting to receive much needed reinforcements to combat and to control this virus. Although there is light at the end of the tunnel, we know the next 2 or 3 months or more are going to be difficult. We cannot let our guard down. We must continue to wear a mask, practice social distancing, and wash our hands. We all can--and we must--play an important role in defeating this virus, and we can do that if we work together. Working together is the key to get through this pandemic. We know what happens when we work together here in this Chamber. Early on in this pandemic, we worked together to pass the CARES Act, which provided vital resources and support to keep families and workers afloat. We worked together to pass additional aid for small businesses, for testing, for healthcare providers, and for hospitals. And, right now, we need to once again come together and work together to pass another round of help. We have done it before, and we did it when case counts were far lower than they are now. We need to summon the same sense of urgency, and we must come together at the end of this week and pass meaningful bipartisan and comprehensive COVID relief. We must prove to the American people that bipartisan negotiation is not a relic of the past. As I talk to Michiganians each and every day, the message is very clear. They want us to put partisan politics aside and solve the very real challenges confronting our country. Finding common ground and bringing people together has always been my approach to serving Michigan and the people of this Nation. This past year, I am proud to say, we worked together to advance legislation on priorities that not only addressed the pandemic but also tackled issues facing Michiganians and people across this country each and every day. On a bipartisan basis, we have been able to pass legislation out of Congress on a number of topics, whether it has been expanding apprenticeship opportunities for veterans, closing loopholes that pose a threat to our national security, saving taxpayer dollars, protecting the Great Lakes, which is one of our Nation's most precious natural resources, hiring more agricultural inspectors at our Nation's ports of entry, or improving the Department of Veterans Affairs caregiver program. I want to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their partnership with me in advancing these priorities. I know there is no shortage of differences among us, but when we put personal politics aside and focus on addressing the problem at hand, I know we can get results. As we enter this next session of Congress, I am hopeful that we can build on some of the progress we have made. Whether it is supporting small businesses, lowering prescription drug costs, ensuring our Nation remains a global leader in innovation, or getting through this public health and economic crisis, there is much more that can be done in the next Congress when we are all willing to reach across the aisle to find lasting solutions. Two years ago, I delivered George Washington's Farewell Address on the Senate floor. It is an annual tradition here in the Senate. In that address, President Washington warned of the dangers of tribalism and political polarization in our country. We cannot forget President Washington's message, particularly during these uncertain and daunting times. We cannot let polarization prevent us from doing the people's work. Let us build on that spirit of bipartisanship. Let us work together to get things done. Our constituents demand it. This week, we can again work in a bipartisan way to pass a COVID relief bill that makes a difference to everyone suffering from this pandemic. I yield the floor.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I would like to start by giving a quick history lesson, and I will begin with just two numbers. These two numbers speak to how extraordinary it is that we are here today debating and voting on a nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court. The first number is four. Four. That is how many Supreme Court vacancies have arisen after July 1 and before election day in a Presidential election year. Only four times in the history of this country has a Supreme Court vacancy arisen within 4 months of a Presidential election. The next number I think is very important to remember, and that number is zero. Zero. That is how many times these vacancies were filled. In fact, similar to this vacancy, President Lincoln had a Senate majority when a vacancy arose just weeks before election day in 1864. What did he do? He chose to wait. President Lincoln thought nominating a Justice so close to an election would delegitimize our institutions and harm the Republic that he was fighting so hard to preserve. That is the precedent that President Trump and Senate Republicans have disregarded as they quickly plotted to fill the seat just hours, if not minutes, after Justice Ginsburg's passing. In addition to breaking with this historical precedent, Republicans are also jamming through their nomination in the middle of a pandemic that is gripping our country. Instead of prioritizing Michigan first responders, small businesses, workers, teachers, families, and healthcare professionals who are still suffering through the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, Senate Republicans and the President are instead laser-focused on jamming through a Supreme Court nominee for a lifetime appointment. This is more than just political gamesmanship. This nominee will significantly impact the lives of Michiganians and folks all across our country. We know that the Supreme Court is set to shortly consider a case that has far-reaching ramifications for people's healthcare. The Trump administration is arguing in Court that the Affordable Care Act should be overturned in a case that will come before the Supreme Court in November, just 7 days after election day. If the Trump administration gets its way in this lawsuit, we could go back to the days when insurance companies once again call the shots on people's healthcare. Over 4 million Michiganders with preexisting healthcare conditions could be denied coverage. Seniors could be charged more for prescription drugs. Lifetime and annual limits on coverage could make costs unaffordable and, as a result, force families into bankruptcy. Before the passage of the Affordable Care Act, medical debt was the No. 1 reason for personal bankruptcy. People faced financial devastation simply because they got sick. Women could again be charged more for being a woman because a potential pregnancy is a preexisting condition. We have come way too far to be turning the clock backward. For the Trump administration to be pushing this lawsuit is reckless and dangerous, especially during the worst public health and economic crisis in generations. But that is not all that is at stake. A woman's right to make her own healthcare decisions and reproductive freedom is at stake. Workers' rights against corporate special interests are at stake. Environmental justice is at stake. Access to the ballot box is at stake. Attempts to end the corrosive effect of money in campaigns and elections is at stake. And LGBTQ rights are at stake. Those are just some of the many issues that a Supreme Court Justice with a lifetime appointment will be ruling on for decades to come. Judge Amy Coney Barrett's nomination has extremely far-reaching consequences. We are just a few days from election day. Already over 2 million Michiganders have voted, and many more are voting as I speak here today. With all that is at stake, Michiganders deserve a say in who nominates and confirms the next Justice to our Nation's highest Court. And the fact that Michiganders are being denied this opportunity is simply unacceptable. Therefore, I cannot support this nomination process. It should wait until a new President and Senate take office following an election to take place in only a few days. For this reason and many others, I will not be voting for Judge Barrett's confirmation. I will cast a ``no'' vote. Here we are. Instead of bringing folks together to find common ground on coronavirus relief, our country is being forced to go through a divisive Supreme Court nomination process. It simply did not have to be this way. I continue to stand ready to roll up my sleeves and put together a comprehensive, bipartisan, and meaningful COVID relief package. Ask any Michigander what they are worried about today, and you are going to get the same answers from them. They are worried about being able to put food on the table or a roof over their head. They are worried about getting or keeping a job to support their families. They are worried about catching a virus that has killed over 7,000 of their fellow Michiganders and over 220,000 people all across our Nation. They are worried that, if they survive a COVID infection, it will compromise their health for the rest of their lives. They will have a preexisting condition. So I ask: Why isn't this pandemic the Senate's top priority right now? When we passed the CARES Act, we came together. We put politics aside and passed a real comprehensive package that helped keep millions of people stay afloat. We need to summon that spirit again. Michiganders are counting on us. Americans across this country are counting on us. I implore my colleagues to drop what we are doing, and let's come together and pass a meaningful, bipartisan COVID relief package, and let's get that done now. I yield the floor

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, like countless Americans, I am grieving the loss of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. As the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court, and the first Jewish woman to do so, she was a pioneer, a brilliant jurist, and a historical giant who blazed the trail for many. When I reflect on her life's work, I think of her tireless efforts for women; I think of her tireless efforts to end discrimination of any kind; and I think of her tireless work to give a voice to all of those who do not have a voice. She was fiercely committed to ensuring that justice, fairness, and equality would reign across our country. She was loyal not only to the Constitution but to the people whose lives she knew would be affected by her rulings. Within hours of the announcement of her death--as Americans across the country mourned her loss and paid homage to her legacy--some, unfortunately, turned their attention immediately to filling a vacancy and also started to scheme on how to ram through a nominee before election day--only a little over 40 days from now. It is important to remember that our constitutional democracy is built upon a system of checks and balances, with three coequal branches of government. The Supreme Court plays an important role in determining and deciding important questions of law, and it represents a core pillar of our democracy. Its rulings profoundly shape the rights and the lives of Michiganders and all Americans. For example, later this fall, the Court will be taking up a case pushed by the Trump administration to completely eliminate the Affordable Care Act. The Court's ultimate decision will effectively determine the fate of healthcare for millions of Michiganders and Americans. If the Supreme Court strikes down protections in the Affordable Care Act, people with preexisting conditions will be at risk of losing protections provided under the law. Insurance companies will again be able to go back to the days of discriminating against people with preexisting conditions--or even dropping a person's health coverage entirely--at a time when people need healthcare the most. Sadly, being a woman could also again become a preexisting health condition, leading to higher costs and limited options. Insurance companies will, once again, be able to impose annual or lifetime limits for coverage, raising costs and making healthcare unaffordable and inaccessible for many Michiganders. We also know that seniors on Medicare could pay more for prescription drugs. And anyone who has arthritis, diabetes, or cancer--or anyone who gets sick--will see their healthcare costs go up, and far too many people may be forced into financial ruin and bankruptcy if they get sick. In all, 23 million Americans could lose their current health insurance. In sum, I think it is unconscionable that President Trump, along with Senate Republicans, are attempting to undermine critical healthcare in the midst of a once-in-a-century public health crisis. And it is not just healthcare that is on the line when filling this Supreme Court vacancy. Women may lose their right to their reproductive freedom if the seminal decision of Roe v. Wade is overruled; the Court may further erode protections for workers and continue to undermine unions; and the Court may side with large corporate special interests rather than ensure a level playing field for workers. The appointment of a Supreme Court nominee puts an awful lot on the line. Voting rights and the core principle of one person, one vote are on the line. Upholding basic critical civil rights are on the line. Equality for millions of LGBTQ Americans who seek nondiscrimination protections is on the line, and at stake is whether the Court will protect our air and our water. Simply put, the Supreme Court has the final word on how we address the major challenges of our time. In a powerful sense, it is the last line of defense for everyday Americans. With so much on the line, we should not rush a Supreme Court nominee through what should be a deliberative process. Jamming the Supreme Court nomination through now will, without question, further divide our country and disregards the fact that the American people are now voting or soon will be in many States. In fact, later this week, voters in Michigan will begin casting their ballots. Issues before the Court are life-changing, and Americans should have a voice in selecting who will choose the next nominee--a nominee, if confirmed, who will serve for a lifetime. We can certainly wait for the American people to be heard. The selection of a Supreme Court nominee can certainly wait until after Inauguration Day. What cannot wait is to help millions of Michiganders and Americans suffering as a result of the COVID crisis. There is no question that the Senate has an important duty to advise and consent on nominations, but this body must first effectively address the unprecedented public health and economic crisis now confronting this Nation. To do so, we need to come together in a bipartisan manner. I know it is possible. We were able to come together and pass robust, bipartisan coronavirus relief legislation in March and in April, and I remain ready to work in a bipartisan manner again to pass meaningful legislation again. More than 200,000 Americans have lost their lives from this pandemic, including approximately 7,000 in Michigan. The numbers are staggering. Behind these devastating statistics are people--mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, husbands, wives, and children. Tragically, some are projecting that we could see a total of 400,000 Americans die by January. There are steps that Congress must take right now to stem the tide of this pandemic. Not acting now in a bipartisan way to save more lives is an unconscionable betrayal of our duty to protect the American people. We must provide relief to families and workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own and worry every single day about how to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads. We must support small businesses that need Federal funding to stay afloat and to rebuild our economy after we defeat this COVID virus. We must support parents and schools trying to ensure students can learn in a safe environment and keep up with their studies. We must step up for communities across Michigan and the United States that have been on the frontline of coronavirus response efforts. Our communities are facing massive budget challenges that could force deep cuts to essential services or layoffs of teachers and first responders and law enforcement officials. Now is the time for us to rise to the challenge. Americans are losing their lives and their livelihoods to this cruel pandemic. I know we can turn the tide, but it will take political will. It is not too late to save hundreds of thousands of lives and countless jobs, but we must focus on effectively confronting the coronavirus together, and we must do it now. Our focus should not be on rushing to fill a Court vacancy. That can, and should, wait until Michiganders and the American people have had an opportunity for their voices to be heard and a new Presidential term to begin. The COVID crisis is urgent, and it must be our priority first and foremost. Filling a Supreme Court vacancy can certainly wait, with voting already under way and election day only 42 days away. Let's come together in a bipartisan way and together do the right thing. I yield the floor.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I offer remarks to honor the men and women of the American maritime workforce and to thank them for their service. June 5, 2020, marks the 100th anniversary of the enactment of the U.S. Merchant Marine Act of 1920. Commonly referred to as the Jones Act, the act has served over the last century as the foundation of the Great Lakes and domestic shipping industry. This vital maritime law ensures that cargo moving between domestic ports is carried aboard vessels that are American-built, American-owned, and American-flagged, which in turn strengthens and supports U.S. homeland security while driving economic benefits to local communities. Each and every day, 365 days a year, the Jones Act functions to protect our Nation's 95,000 miles of coastline and inland waterways, limiting inland access to foreign vessels and crews while mariners serve as the eyes and ears to strengthen border and homeland security. America's dependence on the Great Lakes and the seas is integral to our economic health and our sovereignty. Nowhere is this more evident than in my own State of Michigan. According to The American Maritime Partnership, Michigan's Great Lakes domestic maritime industry contributes $2.8 billion annually to our State economy, including 12,140 jobs and $703.6 million in worker income. With 37 deep-draft ports, Michigan has more than the 7 other Great Lakes States combined. Over the last 100 years, the men and women of the U.S. maritime workforce have also unfailingly answered the call to duty, providing vital services to support the Nation in times of crisis. Their service was never clearer than during the activation of civilian merchant mariners amidst the Second World War. These men and women moved critical supplies to overseas troops and allies, while enduring the highest rate of casualties of any service. More recently our domestic maritime workforce has respond swiftly to a range of crises facing the Nation, including facilitating the largest boatlift in world history following 9/11 and the current and ongoing delivery of essential medical supplies and goods to communities in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. On this week's centennial anniversary of the Jones Act, I thank the men and women of the U.S. maritime industry for their service, and I vow to continue to work here in the Senate to uphold the integrity of the act's protections for our Michigan and Great Lakes workforce.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I was unable to attend the vote No. 93 on May 18, 2020, on the nomination of Scott H. Rash to be the United States District Court for the District of Arizona. Had I been able to attend, I would have supported the nomination.