[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 13 (Friday, January 22, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S99]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NOMINATION OF JANET LOUISE YELLEN
Mr. WYDEN. Madam President, a few minutes ago, Chair Janet Yellen was
approved by the Senate Finance Committee to be Secretary of the
Treasury by an extraordinary 26-to-0 vote.
I have seen times around here in the Senate where you come away
convinced you couldn't get 26 to 0 among Senators to buy a soda. I want
to thank Senators Grassley and Crapo for working very closely with me
and Senate Democrats to achieve this remarkable vote this morning.
The fact is, Janet Yellen has been confirmed by this body four times.
She really belongs in the Senate confirmation hall of fame, and the
reason that she has been confirmed all of these times is because of
what we saw at her confirmation hearing on Tuesday. She did a superb
job. After the hearing, she responded in a substantive way to hundreds
of questions that came from colleagues and has made a real commitment
to transparency.
Now, I know that Senators are working on a variety of issues now, but
I would like to say that I think, given the urgency of the economic
challenge our country faces, in a truly perilous economic time, I would
very much like to work with all of my colleagues, particularly Senators
Crapo and Grassley, to find a way to, today, bring up Chair Yellen for
confirmation to be our Secretary of the Treasury.
I want to say I very much appreciate the conciliatory way this was
discussed today, and I really hope the Senate can vote on her
nomination today.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arkansas is recognized.
Mr. COTTON. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that at the end
of my remarks the Senator from Oklahoma, Senator Inhofe, be recognized.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that at the
conclusion of the remarks from the Senator from Arkansas that I be
recognized.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered
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