[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 159 (Thursday, October 29, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S10891]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  Mr. REID. Madam President, I will be brief. I know the Republican 
leader is busy, but I just wish to make a couple of comments on a 
couple of nominations.
  A woman by the name of Tara O'Toole has been nominated to be Under 
Secretary of Science and Technology at the Department of Homeland 
Security. This woman has such wonderful qualifications. She is 
presently the CEO and director for the Center for Biosecurity at the 
University of Pittsburg Medical Center. She is a professor of medicine 
and public health at the University of Pittsburg. The Center for 
Biosecurity is an independent organization dedicated to improving the 
country's resilience to major biological threats.
  Dr. O'Toole is internationally known for her work on biosecurity and 
on health and safety issues. She has written volumes, literally. She is 
published in areas of Anthrax, smallpox, plague, biological attacks, 
containment of contagious disease epidemics, biodefense research, 
hospital preparedness. These are areas that she has written in. She is 
coeditor in chief of the Journal of Biosecurity and Bioterrorism. She 
was a principal author and producer of ``Dark Winter,'' an influential 
piece of work done in 2001. She has served on numerous government and 
advisory committees. Her education is significant: a bachelor's degree 
from Vassar College, a medical degree from George Washington 
University, and a master of public health degree from Johns Hopkins 
University. She has completed an internal residency at Yale and a 
fellowship in occupational and environmental medicine at Johns Hopkins. 
This is a remarkably powerful foundation for someone who is going to be 
the Under Secretary, the deputy, second in charge at the Department of 
Homeland Security. It is such an important job, Under Secretary of 
Science and Technology.
  I had a call on Monday from the Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet 
Napolitano, saying: I am desperate for this woman. My staffing for 
bioterrorism is depending on her. She is a person I am going to depend 
on for the pandemic that the President declared with the H1N1 flu. So I 
am really concerned about not being able to get this woman confirmed.
  I ask unanimous consent, therefore, that the Senate proceed to 
executive session to consider Calendar No. 331, the nomination of Tara 
O'Toole to be Under Secretary of Science and Technology at the 
Department of Homeland Security; that the nomination be confirmed and 
the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, 
with no further motions in order; that the President of the United 
States be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate 
then resume legislative session.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. McCONNELL. We do have some objections on this side; therefore, I 
must object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  Mr. REID. Madam President, I would renew my request and inquire about 
the possibility of a 2-hour time limit of debate on the nomination or 
any reasonable time agreement, or I will even take an unreasonable time 
agreement at this stage.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. McCONNELL. There are objections on this side; therefore, I must 
object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.

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