[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 12 (Thursday, January 21, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S75]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          BIDEN ADMINISTRATION

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, it is nice to see you back in that 
position.
  Yesterday, Mr. President, we began a new chapter in the history of 
our Nation. On the same steps stormed by domestic terrorists 2 weeks 
ago, we held a ceremony to the enduring power of our democracy. It was 
a symbol to the world that America is back and a message to those 
domestic terrorists that they will never prevail.
  Even as the festivities were in full swing, our new President and 
this new Senate commenced the work of rebuilding our country and 
healing its wounds. With the stroke of a pen, President Biden started 
the process of rejoining the United States to the Paris accords. He 
extended the pause on student loan payments, put an end to the Muslim 
travel ban, reinstalled safeguards for our Nation's Dreamers, and put a 
halt on the ineffective border wall.
  Crucially, President Biden signed a number of orders to refocus the 
Federal Government's efforts on fighting the coronavirus pandemic. The 
United States has rejoined the World Health Organization. A mask 
mandate has been issued for all Federal properties. And President Biden 
has named a new coronavirus response coordinator to manage vaccine 
distribution, which is so desperately needed and was such a failure 
under the Trump administration.
  Our country has suffered deeply from the chaotic, lackluster, and 
incompetent Federal response to COVID-19. As we cross the grim 
milestone of 400,000--400,000--American fatalities from COVID, the 
Biden administration is wasting no time in marshaling the resources of 
the Federal Government into action and today released a national 
strategy to defeat the pandemic.
  What a concept--a President who actually takes the defining crisis of 
our time seriously. What a change--and how great is the need.
  Here in the Senate, the first order of business is to fulfill our 
constitutional duty to advise and consent on the President's 
appointments to his Cabinet. Last night, the Senate confirmed the 
President's selection for the Director of National Intelligence, Avril 
Haines. We appreciate the bipartisan cooperation to get her 
confirmation done yesterday, and we should continue in that spirit 
today.
  Traditionally, the Senate has confirmed several national security 
nominees for an incoming administration during their first few days. 
Even as power changes hands from one administration to the other, the 
work of keeping our Nation safe must not be paused or be disrupted. 
Foreign adversaries will seek to exploit this period of transition, and 
we cannot allow America's military, intelligence, and national security 
policy to be disrupted by staffing delays.
  In 2017, President Trump had his Defense Secretary and Secretary of 
Homeland Security in place on Inauguration Day. President Biden 
deserves his national security team in place as soon as possible, as 
well as key officials in charge of responding to the current health and 
economic crises. With the cooperation of our Republican colleagues, we 
can and should confirm the Secretaries of Defense, State, Homeland 
Security, and Treasury without much delay.
  While national security is paramount, I would remind my colleagues 
that we are in the middle of an economic crisis. The sooner we confirm 
a Treasury Secretary, the better.
  And so, as we begin the process of bringing our country back 
together, let the first week of this Congress be a collaboration 
between our two parties to confirm President Biden's Cabinet.

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