[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 94 (Friday, May 28, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3927-S3928]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senate will 
proceed to executive session to consider the following nomination, 
which the clerk will report.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read the nomination of Anton 
George Hajjar, of Maryland, to be a Governor of the United States 
Postal Service for a term expiring December 8, 2023.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the cloture motion 
is withdrawn.
  Thereupon, the Senate proceeded to consider the nomination
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam President, I rise to support the nomination of 
Anton Hajjar to serve on the Board of Governors of the United States 
Postal Service. Mr. Hajjar is highly qualified for this position, and 
his experience with postal unions and legal expertise provides him with 
the knowledge and skills required of this role. If confirmed, I am 
confident that he will serve our country well as a member of the USPS 
Board.
  Mr. Hajjar was raised in a working class Brooklyn family and worked 
as a summer letter carrier, where he learned the ins and outs of mail 
delivery in his local community. He worked hard in school and became 
the first in his family to graduate from college, receiving his 
bachelor's degree from Fordham University. Before attending Tulane Law 
School, he worked as a janitor, hospital attendant, U.S. Merchant 
Marine seaman, taxi driver, and U.S. Custom inspector.
  These experiences, along with his upbringing, inspired him to use his 
law degree to stand up for workers, and he went on to serve as the 
general counsel for the American Postal Workers Union. His long history 
with APWU exposed him to a wide array of postal regulatory and legal 
issues and provided him with important insight into the postal 
workforce.

[[Page S3928]]

  Throughout his career, Mr. Hajjar has also demonstrated an abiding 
commitment to public service. He has worked pro-bono to represent Arab 
and Muslim Americans in discrimination cases. He volunteers regularly 
to serve his community in Chevy Chase, MD, including as a member of his 
church and as an election judge.
  His skills and his leadership make him right for this role, but the 
challenges before him are great. Throughout the tenure of the current 
Postmaster General, who was installed by the Board of Governors during 
the previous administration, I have heard from constituents about 
unacceptable delays and disruptions in mail service. Medication 
shipments have gone missing, some small businesses cannot get their 
products to customers, and many customers are getting hit with late 
fees for bill payments that didn't arrive on time because of mail 
delivery delays.
  Despite unprecedented challenges, the men and women of the USPS have 
worked tirelessly to deliver the mail. We have seen an incredible 
outpouring of support for postal workers and the USPS from the American 
people. But the Board of Governors must restore the public's trust and 
confidence in the Postal Service. Mr. Hajjar is the right person to 
help do just that, and I am confident he will be a key player in 
tackling the Postal Service's current challenges and ensuring that 
Americans can count on a reliable and sustainable Postal Service for 
decades to come. I am proud to support his nomination and urge my 
colleagues to vote for his confirmation.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is, Will the Senate advise and 
consent to the Hajjar nomination?
  The nomination was confirmed.

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