[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 79 (Wednesday, May 10, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                    Nomination of Colleen Joy Shogan

  Mr. CARPER. Madam President, I appreciate the opportunity to come to 
the floor. This is like what they call in Delaware a ``threefer''--
three for one. And I appreciate the cooperation of the floor staff and 
from you to enable me to do this.
  One of the things I always look for when I am hiring somebody is I 
ask for recommendations and references of people they have worked for 
in the past. As it turns out, in the nomination of Dr. Colleen Shogan 
to be the Archivist of the United States, one of the people she used to 
work for was Senator Joe Lieberman, a good friend to all of us, 
Democrats and Republicans.
  He was good enough to reach out to me several weeks ago, and we had 
just had a hearing on Dr. Shogan before us in the Homeland Security 
Committee. I was really impressed. He called and said: She used to work 
for me. And I said: No kidding? Well, I wouldn't disqualify her for 
that.
  I am just kidding. But he went on to tell me what a remarkable human 
being she was, even at a younger age in her life. But as the Chief 
Administrator of the National Archives and Records Administration, the 
Archivist of the United States plays a vital role in a couple of 
different ways: one, especially with the preservation of the history of 
this country that we are all sworn to protect.
  This person who has been nominated, this nominee, would serve as our 
Nation's recordkeeper for executive agencies and for Presidential 
records while also being responsible for the National Archives and 
Records Administration.
  This role has been critical in leading the Federal Government's 
ongoing transition from paper to electronic records for a long time. 
Dr. Shogan is extremely well qualified to take on what is not a small 
responsibility; it is a great responsibility and important, too.
  As Senior Vice President and Director of the David M. Rubenstein 
Center for White House History at the White House Historical 
Association, Dr. Shogan has already demonstrated her extensive skill 
set as an archivist.
  She is a dedicated public servant, pulling a decade's worth of senior 
roles at the Library of Congress. She has developed a career in 
academia, Federal Government service, and nonprofit management. And one 
of those folks she worked with--worked for--was our former colleague, 
Senator Joe Lieberman.
  At our hearing to consider her nomination before the Homeland 
Security and Governmental Affairs Committee earlier this year, Dr. 
Shogan reaffirmed her commitment to nonpartisanship, which is very 
important for this role. She highlighted her service as the Vice Chair 
of the Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission.
  Dr. Shogan also shared how she will work to address the backlog of 
veterans' record requests at the National Archives and Records 
Administration. As the last Vietnam veteran serving here in the United 
States Senate, that means a lot to me.
  She also has vowed to make sure that the oftentimes long and arduous 
process that can prevent our veterans from receiving their critical 
services and benefits that they are entitled to, that they are 
addressed.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to confirm Dr. Shogan as the Archivist 
of the United States, and I know she will serve our country well.
  My talking points now say to yield the floor, but I am not, because I 
have been asked by the folks who help us manage the floor if I would 
like to go ahead and speak on two CRAs, which is the Congressional 
Review Act resolutions. And I would like to do that, if I may. I 
appreciate the tolerance and consideration of the chairman of our 
committee.