[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 19 (Tuesday, February 2, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S218-S219]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



               Nomination of Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas

  Mr. President, while on the subject of confirmation, the Senate has 
confirmed Mr. Alejandro Mayorkas three different times. When you listen 
to the Republican Senate leader this morning, you may not catch that 
fact. He was second in command of the Agency he is nominated by 
President Biden to lead. Most recently, he served as the DHS Deputy 
Secretary, the Agency's second in command, and the Chief Operating 
Officer, handling counterterrorism, cybersecurity, border security, 
emergency management, and other critical matters. We need Mr. 
Mayorkas's deep expertise and experience in place at the DHS starting 
as quickly as possible, maybe even today.
  Perhaps Republicans have forgotten about the last 4 years of chaos at 
the Department of Homeland Security. Here is a reminder: Under 
President Trump's administration, the DHS experienced an unprecedented 
leadership vacuum. The DHS lurched from one Secretary or Acting 
Secretary to the next--six in total--only two of whom were actually 
confirmed by the Senate. Those are more Agency heads in the last 4 
years than in the 13-year history of the Department of Homeland 
Security before the Trump administration. For over a year, the Agency 
was led by

[[Page S219]]

unlawfully appointed Acting Secretary Chad Wolf. Nine days before 
President Trump left office, Mr. Wolf resigned and was replaced by yet 
another Acting Secretary.
  Four former Secretaries of Homeland Security--two Republicans and two 
Democrats--every person ever to serve as a Senate-confirmed DHS 
Secretary prior to the Trump administration, recently endorsed Ali 
Mayorkas. They said he is ``a man of character, integrity, experience 
and compassion'' and ``a proven leader to right the ship.'' You would 
hardly believe that if you listened to some of the things said about 
him this morning on the floor.
  In their endorsement of Mr. Mayorkas, every former Secretary of 
Homeland Security before the Trump administration went on to note: The 
leadership vacuum and turmoil at the Department of Homeland Security 
may have contributed to the failure to anticipate and adequately 
prepare for the terrorist attack of January 6 on the Capitol. That is 
the reality. After 4 years of disorder and disarray at the DHS, the 
security of America, including this very Capitol Building, suffered 
because of the lack of leadership under the previous administration.

  Mr. Mayorkas is the son of a Holocaust survivor and an immigrant from 
Cuba. Mr. Mayorkas knows firsthand that America can be a beacon of hope 
to the world and the promise to those who are facing persecution of a 
place of safe haven. Mr. Mayorkas is an experienced national security 
leader who can restore integrity and decency to the Department of 
Homeland Security.
  I, personally, appreciated the skill and dedication Mr. Mayorkas 
showed as the Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 
Services. It was in that post of 2012 that he implemented DACA, the 
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, which has allowed more 
than 800,000 young people to contribute to America's future. I won't 
recount the entire history, but my trek on this particular issue began 
20 years ago, when I introduced the DREAM Act. Thanks to my friend, 
former colleague, and leader of our country, Barack Obama, by Executive 
order, he created DACA and gave these young people their chance to 
prove themselves.
  As Deputy Secretary, Mr. Mayorkas oversaw a $60 billion budget and 
led a workforce of nearly 230,000 individuals. He excelled in that 
role. He received the Department's Distinguished Service Award, its 
highest civilian honor; the U.S. Coast Guard's Distinguished Service 
award; and special commendation from the National Security Agency for 
his achievements in national security and cybersecurity. Among his 
numerous responsibilities, Mr. Mayorkas led the Department's response 
to the Ebola and Zika outbreaks--relevant and timely experience that he 
will bring to the DHS during this COVID-19 pandemic.
  Earlier in his career, Mr. Mayorkas served as the Senate-confirmed 
U.S. attorney in California. The national president of the Fraternal 
Order of Police enthusiastically endorsed Mr. Mayorkas: ``His 
professionalism, integrity and commitment to just and fair enforcement 
of the law makes him an ideal candidate to lead the department. Mr. 
Mayorkas has pursued criminal wrongdoers and has protected the rights 
of the innocent with indefatigable vigor. His work reflects all that is 
right in government.''
  Mr. Mayorkas is an outstanding nominee to be the Secretary of 
Homeland Security. His experience, qualifications, deep expertise, and 
integrity will serve our Nation well in this important and challenging 
position.
  Steady leadership at the Department of Homeland Security is sorely 
needed today. I urge my colleagues to expeditiously confirm Mr. 
Mayorkas so that he can serve as the next Secretary of Homeland 
Security. Today, we will get a chance to vote on Mr. Mayorkas.
  I sincerely hope that the Republican members of the Senate Judiciary 
Committee will allow us to set the stage for a hearing as quickly as 
possible for our next Attorney General, Merrick Garland. So much is at 
stake. The national security of the United States should be a higher 
priority than any partisan consideration.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Louisiana