[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 23, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S793]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              Nominations

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, today the Senate will complete the 
confirmation of two key nominees: Linda Thomas-Greenfield to serve as 
U.N. Ambassador and Tom Vilsack to serve as Agriculture Secretary.
  As I said yesterday, the Senate will also confirm Jennifer Granholm 
this week to serve as the next Energy Secretary and begin the 
confirmation of Dr. Miguel Cardona to serve as the next Education 
Secretary. We also hope to do Gina Raimondo, nominee for Secretary of 
Commerce, early next week.
  Each of these nominees has received bipartisan support in committee. 
Each of these nominees is undoubtedly qualified for their positions, a 
stark departure from the caliber of nominees the Senate was made to 
consider during the previous administration.
  Make no mistake, the Senate will move quickly to approve key 
officials in the Biden administration this work period. These Cabinet 
positions and Agencies have an immense influence over the policies of 
the United States, impacting hundreds of millions of American lives. At 
a time of acute national challenge, we need qualified leaders atop our 
Federal Agencies--and fast. and that is what we intend to do.