[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 200 (Wednesday, December 19, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S7863]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  Mr. LEE. Mr. President, I offer up a counteroffer. I am fine with the 
other two EEOC Commissioners. If that is what we are worried about--the 
ability of the EEOC to do its business--fine. I ask unanimous consent 
that the Senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following 
nominations: Executive Calendar Nos. 379 and 381; and that the Senate 
vote on the nominations en bloc with no intervening action or debate
  Mr. President. Is there objection?
  Mrs. MURRAY. I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Hampshire
  Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleagues in 
urging approval of Chai Feldblum. The EEOC is a vital bipartisan agency 
that enforces workers' civil rights and helps protect them from 
harassment and discrimination while on the job. The EEOC has long 
operated with bipartisan support and requires a quorum of its five 
members to decide the cases before the Agency--cases which include 
racial discrimination, gender discrimination, age discrimination, and 
the abuse of people who experience disabilities. As my colleague from 
Washington noted, it decides cases of sexual harassment as well.
  In short, the EEOC operates to protect hard-working people who want a 
fair shot in the workplace. Blocking this nominee prevents the EEOC 
from carrying out the work it is tasked to do. It is bringing an 
unnecessary level of partisanship to a previously bipartisan process.
  Ms. Feldblum is a highly qualified nominee. She has already been 
confirmed to the EEOC twice by the U.S. Senate, receiving support from 
Democrats and Republicans alike. She is also the first and only openly 
LGBTQ person to serve on the Commission.
  After being nominated by President Trump for another term last year, 
it is time that we finally move forward with Ms. Feldblum's nomination. 
We need to stop these games, and we need to allow the EEOC to fully 
carry out its duties.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arkansas.

                          ____________________