[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 18 (Monday, February 1, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S211]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



               Nomination of Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas

  Mr. TESTER. Madam President, I rise to speak about a friend of mine, 
Ali Mayorkas. He is President Biden's choice to head up the Department 
of Homeland Security. Now, I don't need to tell the folks in this 
Chamber how big of a job this is, but let me be clear: It is our duty 
to put somebody in this role who is up to the task of getting things 
done, and I am here to assure you that Ali Mayorkas is that man.
  I worked closely with Ali when he was Deputy Secretary of Homeland 
Security in the Obama administration. It is obvious that he has the 
understanding of the challenges that this country is facing--from the 
coronavirus pandemic to immigration, to cybersecurity, to threats from 
our foreign adversaries and now, more than ever, from our domestic 
ones. Perhaps, most importantly, he has demonstrated that he is going 
to listen and learn about the unique problems facing each State in this 
Union.
  He proved that to me when I brought him to Montana back in 2015. We 
flew along the Montana-Canada border and visited the Ports of Piegan 
and Sweetgrass before hosting a roundtable on human trafficking in 
Havre, just a little more than 50 miles from where I live. We also held 
listening sessions on law enforcement and first responders in Helena. 
We met with local businesses to discuss cross-border trade and even met 
with union representatives from Customs and Border Protection. He 
traveled thousands of miles to hear firsthand what Montanans had to 
say, and because of it, he understood what our State needed from him in 
order to be successful with our homeland security. That, folks, is what 
leadership looks like.
  Over the past 4 years, we have seen the Department of Homeland 
Security in turmoil with six different Secretaries. We need a steady 
hand, a steady hand like Ali Mayorkas's, to get us back on track. After 
all, he spent 7 years in leadership roles in the Department of Homeland 
Security. He understands the challenges. He understands it is going to 
take a lot of work. He understands that we are going to have to bring 
people together, and he understands that this job is a 24/7 job. He 
understands because he has lived it. He has the knowledge and the 
experience to lead our Nation's Homeland Security today and prepare for 
the challenges of tomorrow.
  Now, it is my understanding that tomorrow, at 2:30, we will vote on 
Ali Mayorkas as Secretary of Homeland Security. I would hope that we 
would get a strong vote for him out of this body because, quite 
frankly, after the events of January 6, we have no time to waste.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. HEINRICH. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________