[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 157 (Sunday, November 9, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12409-S12410]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXECUTIVE SESSION
F_____
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
immediately proceed to executive session to consider the following
nominations on the Executive Calendar: No. 337, No. 373, No. 374, No.
443, No. 448, No. 449, No. 450, No. 458, No. 459 and No. 460.
I further ask unanimous consent that the Labor Committee be
discharged from further consideration of William Ferris and the Senate
proceed to the nomination. I also ask consent that the Governmental
Affairs Committee be discharged from further consideration of Janice
Lachance, and the Senate proceed to the nomination as well.
I finally ask unanimous consent that the nominations be confirmed,
the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, any statements
relating to the nominations appear at this point in the
[[Page S12410]]
Record, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action,
and the Senate then return to legislative session.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The nominations considered and confirmed en bloc are as follows:
federal mine safety and health review commission
Robert H. Beatty, Jr., of West Virginia, to be a Member of
the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission for the
remainder of the term expiring August 30, 1998.
executive office of the president
Arthur Bienenstock, of California, to be an Associate
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
department of commerce
Raymond G. Kammer, of Maryland, to be Director of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology.
department of the interior
Kevin Gover, of New Mexico, to be an Assistant Secretary of
the Interior.
united states postal service
Ernesta Ballard, of Alaska, to be a Governor of the United
States Postal Service for a term expiring December 8, 2005.
federal labor relations authority
Dale Cabaniss, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Federal
Labor Relations Authority for a term expiring July 29, 2002.
merit systems protection board
Susanne T. Marshall, of Virginia, to be a Member of the
Merit Systems Protection Board for the term of seven years
expiring March 1, 2004.
Frank C. Damrell, Jr., of California, to be United States
District Judge for the Eastern District of California.
Martin J. Jenkins, of California, to be United States
District Judge for the Northern District of California.
A. Richard Caputo, of Pennsylvania, to be United States
District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
national foundation on the arts and the humanities
William R. Ferris, of Mississippi, to be Chairperson of the
National Endowment for the Humanities for a term of four
years.
office of personnel management
Janice R. Lachance, of Maine, to be Director of the Office
of Personnel Management for a term of four years.
Nomination of Kevin Gover
Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, as we work through the Executive Calendar
in the closing hours of the first session of the 105th Congress, I want
to call my colleagues' attention to the President's nominee to be
Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs, Kevin Gover of
Albuquerque, New Mexico.
This appointment is important to my state and my constituents.
Approximately 70,000 Native Americans live on nine reservations in
South Dakota. Their daily lives are greatly affected by the activities
of the BIA.
The appointment is also important to the nation as a whole. Anyone
familiar with American history or who believes in the American dream of
equal opportunity for all has a stake in federal Indian policy.
The Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs play a
critical role in setting the agenda for the Bureau of Indian Affairs
and has a great impact on the success or failure of federal Indian
policy. He or she must understand the history of federal/Indian
relations and have a vision for the future of this relationship. The
Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs must not only be accessible to
tribal leaders, but also serve as an effective advocate for Indian
people within the Executive branch decision-making circles. Finally,
the Assistant Secretary must be a manager of the agency as well as a
spokesperson for Administration policy.
Kevin Gover is a strong nominee to lead the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
He is an enrolled member of the Pawnee Tribe of Oklahoma and is a
partner in the law firm Gover, Williams and Janov in Albuquerque, New
Mexico. He received his JD from the University of New Mexico and has
specialized in federal Indian law, natural resource law, environmental
law and housing law.
Kevin Gover has not only the intellectual capability and legal skill,
but also the practical experience needed to be effective as Assistant
Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs. He has worked in Indian
Country long enough to see the successes and failures of the Bureau of
Indian Affairs, and he has the perspective to help chart its course to
the future.
Those of us in this chamber who represent significant Indian
constituencies can all attest to the magnitude, complexity and
significance of the challenges facing the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Tribal leaders in South Dakota have discussed with me their concerns
about broad and important issues such as economic development,
education, housing and health care. The BIA must be prepared to play a
fair and constructive role in addressing these and other concerns about
the quality of life on our reservations. I expect we all want the next
Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs to possess the
intellect, vision, leadership skills and wisdom to make this
organization more effective and responsive to the ever-changing needs
of those it serves. I believe Kevin Gover possesses these qualities.
There has been some concern expressed about the role Mr. Gover played
as a private attorney in gaming activities in New Mexico. Senator
Campbell, Chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, and Senator
Inouye, Vice Chair of the Committee, have both had an opportunity to
review the FBI background report on Mr. Gover. They reported in the
Committee hearing that they found nothing that should disqualify Mr.
Gover from serving as Assistant Secretary. This review obviously
included his activities as counsel to tribes with gaming operations in
New Mexico. Moreover, in his confirmation hearings, Mr. Gover made
clear that while he makes no apology for his support of Indian gaming,
as Assistant Secretary he will not tolerate illegal gaming.
Kevin Gover has strong support throughout Indian Country. He enjoys
this support because tribes realize that the Bureau of Indian Affairs
needs a leader like Kevin Gover to move the BIA into the 21st century.
I support this nomination and encourage my colleagues to do likewise.
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