[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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