[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 13, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S1880]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 NOMINATION OF POLLY ELLEN TROTTENBERG

  Mr. SCHUMER. Now on another matter, beyond Senator Hirono's 
legislation, the Senate is also focused this week on confirming an 
impressive slate of nominees to the Biden administration.
  I am especially pleased that in a few hours, the Senate will vote to 
confirm Polly Trottenberg to serve as Deputy Secretary of 
Transportation. This is great news for New York and great news for the 
country.
  Her credentials are beyond doubt. For the last 7 years, she has 
served as New York City's commissioner of transportation, managing a 
transportation system that helps tens of millions of people get to and 
from work, connects businesses to customers, and brings life to one of 
America's largest and most visited cities every single day.
  Before that, Polly served in the Department of Transportation under 
President Obama, advising policymakers and working with stakeholders 
across the country on everything from high-speed rail to roads, 
highways, and bridges.
  Of course, her nomination is especially meaningful to me. Polly 
served for nearly a decade as my legislative director and 
transportation adviser. She knows the needs of the country, and she 
knows the needs of New York. And a pet project so important to the New 
York Gateway will be well served in her capable hands. We will get this 
done.
  Take it from me: Polly has smarts, she has savvy, and she has moxie. 
She knows how to work with people of all backgrounds to get things done 
for the American people. And there isn't a moment to lose. As we work 
to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic and bring our economy fully back 
online, we must look ahead to tackle the challenges of our time, and on 
top of the list is finally getting serious about addressing our 
Nation's crumbling infrastructure--a topic that Ms. Trottenberg is very 
familiar with.
  For New York, as I mentioned, this means continuing to move the ball 
forward on projects like Gateway, rebuilding the two rail tunnels under 
the Hudson--perhaps the most important transportation infrastructure 
priority in the entire Nation and something I have spoken to Ms. 
Trottenberg and Secretary Buttigieg and President Biden about 
regularly.
  But our infrastructure woes extend to every city and every State in 
the country. Our roads, bridges, highways, airports, public transit, 
housing, and the electric grid are all in need of an overhaul. So, too, 
does our country need to invest in the infrastructure of the 21st 
century--broadband internet access, 5G, electric vehicles. America 
cannot compete in this century if our infrastructure is stuck in the 
last century.
  That is why, in addition to confirming important nominees like Ms. 
Trottenberg, the Senate will continue to work with the Biden 
administration on a comprehensive infrastructure and jobs bill. If 
there is an issue that ought to unite Democrats and Republicans, it is 
putting people to work to update our Nation's infrastructure.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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