[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 71 (Monday, May 12, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2890-S2891]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       INDIAN COUNTRY NOMINATIONS

  Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, as chairman of the Committee on Indian 
Affairs, I rise in support of the nomination of three distinguished 
Native American leaders: Vince Logan, Keith Harper, and Diane Humetewa. 
These individuals have been nominated to positions that are crucial to 
Indian Country and to our Nation. It is our responsibility to make sure 
they can begin this challenging work.
  I think it is fair to say that no one in this Chamber is happy about 
how the nominations have been handled in the last 2 years. There are 
reasons and frustrations on both sides of the aisle about the process. 
I understand that. But in the case of these nominees, it is long past 
time to act. By acting on those nominees, this Congress, which has been 
criticized for not doing very much, can make a little bit of history.
  Vince Logan's nomination was first sent to the Senate in September of 
2012. He is a member of the Osage Nation of Oklahoma and was nominated 
to be Special Trustee for American Indians at the Department of 
Interior. This vote is long overdue. The position has been vacant for 5 
years.
  The Special Trustee is charged with overseeing the Department's 
fulfillment of its trust responsibilities to tribes and individual 
Indians. It is a difficult job, and I am confident Mr. Logan is the 
right man to do it. He is a litigator with vast experience in both 
public and private sectors. He has also shown great passion for working 
with tribes and individual Indians to manage their trust assets. Mr. 
Logan was unanimously approved by the Indian Affairs Committee in 
January. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to do the same.
  I would also like to speak in support of Keith Harper, a member of 
the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. Mr. Harper is the President's nominee 
to be the U.S. representative to the United Nations Human Rights 
Council. His nomination has been pending since early February. This is 
a history-making nomination. If confirmed, Mr. Harper would be the 
first member of a federally recognized tribe to hold the rank of U.S. 
Ambassador.
  Keith has outstanding academic and professional credentials, having 
spent many years representing Indian tribes across the country. Keith's 
nomination was first sent here in June of 2013. What message do we send 
to Indian Country and to the world when we allow endless delay of the 
nomination of a man who will be the first Native American to hold the 
title of Ambassador?
  Mr. Harper's nomination has the strong support of the National 
Congress of American Indians and numerous tribes and tribal leaders 
throughout Indian Country. He has also been active in human and civil 
rights organizations and has served as a delegate to the 2001 World 
Conference Against Racism in Durbin, South Africa.
  All of these experiences have prepared him to tackle injustice at the 
global level. It is also important to confirm this position to ensure 
that the United States has a representative at the United Nations World 
Conference on Indigenous Peoples in September.
  Finally, Diane Humetewa was nominated to serve as district court 
judge for the District of Arizona, with the strong support of her home 
State Senators, McCain and Flake. Her nomination was reported favorably 
3 months ago by the Judiciary Committee, though her nomination has been 
pending since September of 2013. She is a member of the Hopi Tribe of 
Arizona. That means, if confirmed, she would be the only Native 
American serving as a Federal judge. She would be the first Native 
American woman to ever serve on the Federal bench.
  Confirming these nominees during a time of such partisanship will 
send a strong signal to Indian Country. Whether it is overseeing our 
trust responsibilities, representing our Nation to the world, or 
delivering justice, these nominees will help our government function a 
little bit better and more efficiently.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in swiftly confirming these three 
outstanding nominees.

[[Page S2891]]

  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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