[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 199 (Tuesday, November 16, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8223-S8224]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 RECESS

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senate stands in 
recess until 2:15 p.m.
  Thereupon, the Senate, at 1:01 p.m., recessed until 2:15 p.m. and 
reassembled when called to order by the Presiding Officer (Ms. Sinema).
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Michigan.


                  Nomination of Robert Farrell Bonnie

  Ms. STABENOW. Madam President, I rise today to speak in support of 
Robert Bonnie's confirmation as Under Secretary of Farm Production and 
Conservation at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
  If confirmed, Mr. Bonnie will oversee three Agencies at the USDA that 
are absolutely critical to the well-being of our Nation's farmers and 
ranchers and to our shared goal of addressing the climate crisis.
  Taken together, the Farm Service Agency, the National Resources 
Conservation Service, and Risk Management Agency provide the first line 
of defense for our farmers and ranchers against droughts and floods and 
wildfires and other extreme weather.
  These Agencies will also lead our efforts to provide voluntary 
solutions to help our farmers and ranchers lead the way in addressing 
the climate crisis.
  In my home State of Michigan and across the Nation, producers are 
facing unseasonable freezes and thaws and dramatically unpredictable 
conditions that disrupt the planning and harvesting schedules they rely 
on for their livelihoods and for our food supply. As the climate crisis 
affects the way the agriculture sector operates, the work of the USDA 
and its staff to provide resources and knowledge for our farmers and 
ranchers is absolutely critical.
  Without crop insurance, without disaster assistance, without our 
conservation programs, our farmers and ranchers will be left even more 
vulnerable. That is why we need competent, experienced leaders who are 
ready to lead these Agencies from day one.
  Leading this mission area is a big responsibility but one that I know 
Mr. Bonnie is well-qualified to tackle. Throughout his career, Mr. 
Bonnie has built strong partnerships with farmers, with ranchers, with 
foresters, with communities.
  This is also his second time leading a mission area at USDA as he was 
confirmed by voice vote as Under Secretary for Natural Resources and 
Environment in the Obama administration. There, he oversaw key public-
private partnerships with foresters and private land owners, while 
leading the U.S. Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation 
Service.
  While working at the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy 
Solutions at Duke University, Mr. Bonnie worked closely with rural 
communities to tackle pressing conservation issues.
  And at the Environmental Defense Fund, Mr. Bonnie focused on 
incentive-based approaches to promote stewardship on private lands.
  At his hearing in the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 
Committee, Democratic and Republican members alike praised Mr. Bonnie's 
extensive credentials and his commitment to tackling the climate crisis 
and boosting farm income at the same time.
  That approach has earned him the support of many, many of the 
Nation's most respected farm and food organizations, including the 
American Farm Bureau and the National Farmers Union.
  I am pleased to add my support to his nomination and urge my 
colleagues to vote yes on this extremely well-qualified nomination.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum unless we--are we at a point to 
move forward on the vote?

[[Page S8224]]

  I yield back all time and ask that we proceed to the vote.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. PADILLA. Madam President.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from California.
  Ms. STABENOW. I withdraw my motion.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from California.


                             COVID Vaccines

  Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I am proud to share with all of you the 
experience of California this last year in combating the COVID-19 
pandemic. I am proud to say that California has led the way on COVID-19 
prevention and vaccine because we have seen the devastation that 
surging cases can cause.
  Last winter--remember where we were last winter? A catastrophic surge 
in my home county of Los Angeles overwhelmed local hospitals, as was 
the case, frankly, in many parts of the country. Families were 
desperate to find care for their loved ones. Ambulances struggled to 
find hospitals with capacity.
  As we approach this winter season, I recognize that we made 
incredible progress turning the tide since those tragic times. Now, 
just a month ago, California achieved the lowest level of COVID-19 
transmission of any State in the Nation, but today cases are beginning 
to rise again. We are seeing the effects of the changing weather.
  We need to stay vigilant to prevent another devastating surge like 
the wave that peaked in California and across the country last winter.
  Fortunately, today, we are armed with a powerful defense: an FDA-
approved vaccine that is safe, that is effective, and that is free for 
all. California's historic vaccination effort--made possible by the 
resources that we helped deliver when we passed the American Rescue 
Plan--has covered more than three-quarters of our residents, more than 
55 million shots in arms of Californians.
  But now is not the time to let up. Every person who gets the vaccine 
helps to stop spread of the virus in our community. And we just 
received two new critical weapons: One, booster shots to increase 
protections for adults and, two, approval of a vaccine for children 
older than 5.
  Colleagues, during last week's State work period, I had the privilege 
of joining leaders of the Los Angeles Unified School District for the 
opening of their first vaccine clinic, a mobile clinic on school sites 
for students ages 5 and up. I saw firsthand the anxious excitement of 
families looking forward to a freer, safer life for children. Imagine 
that, play dates with friends, holiday celebrations with grandparents, 
and relief for those with family members at higher risk.
  Now, as parents of younger children, Angela and I know that this 
pandemic has especially been hard on children. For more than a year, as 
we would gather together to pray as a family, our youngest, Diego, whom 
many of you met, would ask God for COVID to be over. And he would then 
ask when a vaccine would be ready for him and his brothers.
  That is why it was such a big deal when the vaccine was approved for 
children ages 5 and older. Angela and I were vaccinated earlier this 
year. Our oldest son, Roman, was vaccinated months ago. And, finally, 
last week, Diego and Alex received their vaccines. So we know that we 
are sharing this moment of joy with millions of families across the 
country who are relieved that our children will be better protected 
against COVID-19.
  Colleagues, as we approach this now second Thanksgiving since the 
start of the pandemic, we recognize that we have much to be thankful 
for. We are thankful for the scientists who drew on years of research 
to design and test one of the most effective vaccines that we have ever 
seen. We are thankful for the doctors and nurses who are helping to 
administer the vaccine to as many people as possible while caring for 
the sick. And we continue to be thankful for all the essential workers 
who take on high-risk jobs to keep food on our tables and keep the 
economy going.
  So it is in the spirit of all this that I ask each and every one of 
you to do your part. To everyone at home, please, each and every one of 
you do your part. Protect yourself. Protect your family. Protect your 
community. Get vaccinated. Get your children vaccinated. Go check to 
see if you are eligible for a booster, and if you are, find one near 
you at vaccines.gov. We have come to appreciate how vaccination is the 
key to a safe holiday season, and it is key to ending the pandemic for 
all.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Washington.


                       Vote on Bonnie Nomination

  Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the vote 
that was scheduled to start at 2:30 begin immediately.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the Bonnie 
nomination?
  Mrs. MURRAY. I ask for the yeas and nays.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
  There appears to be a sufficient second.
  The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant bill clerk called the roll.
  Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from New Hampshire (Ms. 
Hassan), the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey), the Senator from 
New Hampshire (Mrs. Shaheen), and the Senator from Massachusetts (Ms. 
Warren) are necessarily absent.
  Mr. THUNE. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator 
from Oklahoma (Mr. Inhofe).
  The result was announced--yeas 76, nays 19, as follows:

                      [Rollcall Vote No. 469 Ex.]

                                YEAS--76

     Baldwin
     Bennet
     Blackburn
     Blumenthal
     Blunt
     Booker
     Boozman
     Brown
     Burr
     Cantwell
     Capito
     Cardin
     Carper
     Casey
     Collins
     Coons
     Cornyn
     Cortez Masto
     Crapo
     Daines
     Duckworth
     Durbin
     Ernst
     Feinstein
     Fischer
     Gillibrand
     Graham
     Grassley
     Heinrich
     Hickenlooper
     Hirono
     Hoeven
     Hyde-Smith
     Johnson
     Kaine
     Kelly
     Kennedy
     King
     Klobuchar
     Leahy
     Lujan
     Manchin
     Marshall
     McConnell
     Menendez
     Merkley
     Moran
     Murphy
     Murray
     Ossoff
     Padilla
     Peters
     Portman
     Reed
     Risch
     Romney
     Rosen
     Rounds
     Sanders
     Schatz
     Schumer
     Shelby
     Sinema
     Smith
     Stabenow
     Tester
     Thune
     Tillis
     Toomey
     Van Hollen
     Warner
     Warnock
     Whitehouse
     Wicker
     Wyden
     Young

                                NAYS--19

     Barrasso
     Braun
     Cassidy
     Cotton
     Cramer
     Cruz
     Hagerty
     Hawley
     Lankford
     Lee
     Lummis
     Murkowski
     Paul
     Rubio
     Sasse
     Scott (FL)
     Scott (SC)
     Sullivan
     Tuberville

                             NOT VOTING--5

     Hassan
     Inhofe
     Markey
     Shaheen
     Warren
  The nomination was confirmed.
  (Mr. SCHATZ assumed the Chair.)
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Sinema).
  Under the previous order, the motion to reconsider is considered made 
and laid upon the table, and the President will be immediately notified 
of the Senate's action.
  The Senator from Illinois.

                          ____________________