[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 103 (Monday, June 14, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S4504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       SENATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, now on a different subject, after 
passing the bipartisan U.S. Innovation and Competition Act last week 
and confirming the first judges of the Biden era, we will continue with 
major elements of our legislative agenda.
  Senate committees will continue working on a bipartisan 
infrastructure proposal to meet the demands of the 21st century. As I 
have said from the start, discussions about infrastructure investments 
are progressing on two tracks. One track is bipartisan. The second 
track pulls in other elements of President Biden's American Jobs Plan, 
which will be considered even if it does not have bipartisan support. 
Our Senate committees are working on both tracks at the same time.
  As a reminder to the Senate--a reminder to the Senate--as I have said 
from the start, in order to move forward on infrastructure, we must 
include bold action on climate. At the moment, both tracks are moving 
forward and progressing very well.
  In addition, before the end of the month, the Senate will vote on 
crucial voting rights legislation. Republican State legislatures across 
the country are passing the most draconian voting restrictions since 
the beginning of Jim Crow. Congress must take action to defend our 
democracy.
  Meanwhile, we will move more swiftly to confirm even more of the 
President's appointments, including several to the Federal bench.
  Last week was one for the record books. The Senate confirmed the 
first slate of President Biden's judicial nominees. Not only were they 
individuals of immense talent and high character, they reflected the 
great cultural, geographic, and experiential diversity of our country. 
Among them was the first Muslim American to ever be confirmed as an 
article III judge.
  Let me read a headline from this morning's Washington Post: ``Biden 
has nominated as many minority women to be judges in four months as 
Trump had confirmed in four years.'' That is an amazing--an amazing--
statistic.
  Women, especially women of color, have long been underrepresented on 
the Federal bench. Along with President Biden, the Senate Democratic 
majority is working quickly to close the gap.
  In fact, in just a few hours, we will confirm another outstanding, 
trailblazing nominee for the Federal bench, Judge Ketanji Brown 
Jackson, to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Jackson will be the 
first of President Biden's circuit court nominees confirmed by the 
Senate, and we are starting right at the top.
  After the Supreme Court, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals is the most 
important Federal court in the country, with jurisdiction over cases 
involving Congress and the executive branch Agencies, and Judge 
Jackson, nominated to the seat once occupied by the current Attorney 
General, is the perfect person for the job. She is a former Federal 
defender. She clerked for Justice Breyer, and, since 2013, has been a 
district court judge in DC. She has all the qualities of a model 
jurist. She is brilliant, thoughtful, collaborative, and dedicated to 
applying the law impartially. For these qualities, she has earned the 
respect of both sides.
  Nominees to powerful circuit courts, especially the DC Circuit, are 
frequently controversial, but, last week, a bipartisan group of 
Senators in the Judiciary Committee voted in her favor. I greatly look 
forward to confirming this exceptional nominee in just a few hours and 
continuing to restore balance to a judiciary that has been thrown out 
of whack by former President Trump.
  After Judge Brown Jackson's confirmation, we will turn to other 
nominees. We will hold a cloture vote this evening on Lina Khan's 
nomination to the Federal Trade Commission and confirm her tomorrow. 
Tomorrow, as well, we will vote on Kiran Ahuja to lead the Office of 
Personnel Management, and the Senate will have the opportunity to 
advance several of the nominees as the week goes on

                          ____________________