[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 7, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S666-S667]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                    Nomination of Patrice H. Kunesh

  Ms. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the nomination 
of Patrice Kunesh to be the Commissioner of the Administration for 
Native Americans at the Department of Health and Human Services.
  Ms. Kunesh is a descendant of the Standing Rock Lakota and a 
distinguished lawyer, advocate, and thought leader. She currently works 
at the Native American Rights Fund, but her career spans from being 
counsel for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe to being the director of the 
Center for Indian Country Development at the Minneapolis Federal 
Reserve--all in the service of Native communities. Ms. Kunesh also 
served as the Deputy Solicitor at the Department of the Interior and as 
Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development at the USDA.
  The Administration for Native Americans at HHS helps Native 
communities, including Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiians, and Alaska 
Natives, with financial support and technical assistance for Native 
language preservation,

[[Page S667]]

economic development, and self-sufficiency.
  I know that Patrice is up to the task. She is knowledgeable, 
experienced, and deeply connected to Tribal leaders and Native 
communities. She knows how the Federal Government works and how we can 
best fulfill our trust and treaty responsibilities in Indian Country.
  Patrice's nomination is supported by the National Congress of 
American Indians and numerous Tribal nations. Most importantly, filling 
this role at HHS is essential to meeting our responsibilities to Tribal 
nations and Native communities.
  I urge my colleagues to vote yes on Patrice Kunesh's nomination.
  I yield the floor.
  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.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.