[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 16, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S4573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                    Nomination of Tommy P. Beaudreau

  Mr. MANCHIN. Madam President, today the Senate will be voting to 
invoke cloture on the nomination of Tommy Beaudreau. And I have to 
explain the difference between ``Bohdroh'' and ``Beaudreau.'' 
``Bohdroh'' is when you are up north in Alaska being raised, and that 
is how it is said and pronounced. It is spelled B-O-H-D-R-O-H. Now, if 
you are down in the South, especially in Louisiana, it would be all 
Beaudreau, which is B-E-A-U-X. So there is a difference here, and Tommy 
wanted to make sure that I explained that to you.
  Mr. Beaudreau has been nominated to serve as the Deputy Secretary of 
the Department of the Interior. I believe that he will be an 
outstanding Deputy Secretary. He is experienced. He knows the 
Department of the Interior, and he is familiar with the wide range of 
issues that come before it.
  He has previously served as the first Director of the Bureau of Ocean 
Energy Management, as the Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and 
Minerals Management, and as Chief of Staff of the Department. His 
performance at his nomination hearing demonstrated that he has both a 
very firm grasp of the issues and the ability to listen, learn, and 
work with all sides and to find commonsense solutions to difficult 
problems.
  He has the knowledge, the experience, the temperament, and the skills 
needed to serve in this important position. Mr. Beaudreau fully 
understands the role of the Department of the Interior in striking the 
balance in its dual mission of preserving and protecting our national 
parks and public lands and providing a large part of the energy and 
mineral resources that we need to power the Nation.
  And I believe Senators on both sides of the aisle will find that he 
is someone that they can work with. Mr. Beaudreau is supremely well 
qualified for the job. He was reported out of the Senate Energy 
Committee with a very, very strong bipartisan vote. I heartily support 
his nomination, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered
  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, today the Senate will take another step 
toward building a Federal judiciary that reflects the experiences of 
all Americans by voting on the nomination of Judge Lydia Griggsby to 
serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. Once 
confirmed, she will be the first Black woman--and first woman of 
color--to serve in this position.
  Since 2014, Judge Griggsby has served as an outstanding and even-
handed judge on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. In fact, many of us 
in this Chamber are familiar with her intellect and sound judgment. 
Prior to being nominated to the Court of Federal Claims, Judge Griggsby 
served as chief counsel for privacy and information policy on the 
Senate Judiciary Committee under then-Chairman Leahy. Before that, 
Judge Griggs by spent 10 years at the Department of Justice as an 
Assistant U.S. Attorney. Judge Griggsby's long and distinguished career 
has earned her a unanimous rating of ``Well Qualified'' from the 
American Bar Association.
  She also received broad, bipartisan support in the Judiciary 
Committee, with five Republicans joining all Democrats to advance her 
nomination. And she has the strong support of her home State Senators, 
Senator Cardin and Senator Van Hollen. In 2014, the Senate confirmed 
Judge Griggs by by voice vote. I hope she will once again receive broad 
bipartisan support today.
  I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of her nomination.