[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 8, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1048-S1049]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



             Unanimous Consent Request--Executive Calendar

  Mr. CASEY. Madam President, I am here today for two purposes. I will 
start with the first.
  The first is to rise in support of advancing the nomination of 
Elizabeth Watson to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Congressional 
and Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Labor.
  Ms. Watson is a highly qualified nominee who was nominated in April 
of last year, almost a year ago now. She has spent most of her career 
advocating for workers through labor and economic policy.
  Ms. Watson previously served as labor policy director and chief labor 
counsel on the House Committee on Education and Labor. Given her labor 
expertise and commitment to public service, she would be an enormous 
asset to the Department of Labor.
  It is past due that the Senate confirm her nomination.
  Ms. Watson is one of many excellent pro-worker nominees that have 
been put forward by the Biden-Harris administration.
  Working families and unions built the American middle class, and 
working families and unions helped to make the Nation what it is 
today--the strongest, most powerful nation in the world.
  Every worker in America deserves to be paid a living wage and treated 
with

[[Page S1049]]

dignity and respect. Over the past few decades, corporations have 
worked to undermine and weaken workers' fundamental rights to organize 
and collectively bargain. We should, for example, pass the PRO Act, 
which would safeguard and strengthen workers' fundamental right to 
organize and ensure that workers are able to decide whether or not to 
join a union through a fair process.
  It would help restore fairness to an economy that has been rigged 
against workers for too long. We owe it to workers and families to 
create an economy that works for them, not for corporate interests. 
Pro-worker nominees, like Elizabeth Watson, will help us realize this 
goal. The Senate should advance her nomination.
  So I ask unanimous consent that the Senate consider the following 
nomination: Calendar No. 687, Elizabeth Schoff Watson, of Maryland, to 
be an Assistant Secretary of Labor; that the nomination be confirmed 
and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table 
with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in 
order to the nomination; that any related statements be printed in the 
Record; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's 
action.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  The Senator from Indiana.
  Mr. BRAUN. Reserving the right to object, the Assistant Secretary of 
Labor for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs works closely 
with congressional leaders and staff on a variety of issues, including 
legislative proposals, hearings, briefings, requests for information, 
and general topics. It is essential that the nominee is willing to work 
with both Democrats and Republicans in a bipartisan fashion.
  Elizabeth Watson is currently the executive director of the 
Congressional Progressive Caucus Center--director of the Congressional 
Progressive Caucus Center--hardly a springboard of bipartisanship.
  During the previous administration, Ms. Watson retweeted posts such 
as ``White supremacists don't belong in the White House,'' referring to 
President Trump.
  Her past actions have cast doubt on her ability to be impartial and 
her willingness to work in a bipartisan manner.
  My concerns with this nominee are not unique, and there are many 
other Members that have concerns as well. There should be a vote on 
this nominee.
  Therefore, I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.