[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 24, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S851]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NOMINATION OF JENNIFER GRANHOLM

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today in support of Governor 
Jennifer Granholm's nomination to be Secretary of the Department of 
Energy.
  I can think of no one better than Governor Granholm to lead the 
Department of Energy during this critical and transformative period for 
our country.
  Governor Granholm has the experience to lead and oversee the 13,500 
employees at the Energy Department. She served as the Governor of 
Michigan from 2003 to 2011 and as Michigan's attorney general from 1998 
to 2002.
  During her tenure as Governor, she led Michigan through the 
tumultuous years of the 2008 financial crisis and the resulting bailout 
of the auto industry. She shepherded over a billion dollars in Federal 
funding to her State to manufacture electric vehicles and batteries. 
She diversified Michigan's energy portfolio and signed into law the 
State's first renewable energy standard.
  I won't hold against the Governor the fact that she is a graduate of 
UC Berkeley--I am sure a Stanford Cardinal and a Golden Bear can still 
find some common ground and I am sure it will help that she will bring 
the innovative spirit of California along with her to her new role as 
Secretary.
  Following her tenure as Governor, Jennifer became a faculty member at 
the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy. She has spent her 
career, both inside and outside of public office, as a steadfast 
advocate for clean energy. I have no doubt she will bring the same 
passion if confirmed as Secretary.
  With this appointment, Governor Granholm has gained the opportunity 
to understand our unique national lab system, which is a critical 
aspect of the Department of Energy. She was a project scientist at 
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, and I look forward to her getting to 
know our 16 other National Labs. From basic science to nuclear safety, 
these are gems of the Energy Department.
  Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention the trailblazing 
nature of the Governor's career. She was Michigan's first female 
attorney general; Michigan's first female Governor; and, if confirmed, 
will be only the second woman to lead the Energy Department since its 
formation in 1977. She has been and will continue to be a role model 
for young women across this country.
  The Governor does not have an easy task ahead of her, but I have full 
confidence that she is up to the challenge. As chair of the 
Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water, I look forward to 
working with her closely over the coming years to fund clean energy 
programs, confront climate change, and fulfill the energy and water 
infrastructure needs of California and our country.

                          ____________________