[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 141 (Wednesday, September 11, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S5961]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, I rise today to speak in favor of the 
nomination of Heather Cahoon to be a member of the Board of Trustees of 
the Udall Foundation.
  Congress created the Udall Foundation in 1992 as an independent 
executive branch Agency to honor Morris K. Udall, affectionately known 
as ``Mo,'' who had a terrific and enduring impact on our Nation's 
environment, and his commitment to supporting the rights of American 
Indians and Alaska Natives.
  In April of this year, President Biden nominated Ms. Cahoon, Heather 
Cahoon, to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Udall 
Foundation. Ms. Cahoon is a highly qualified nominee. She has devoted 
her professional career to the study of Federal Tribal law and policy. 
She is an associate professor of Native American studies at the 
University of Montana.
  At the University of Montana, she cofounded the American Indian 
Governance and Policy Institute, a Native-led independent think tank 
that provides Tribal nations in Montana with in-depth research and 
analysis of Tribal-level policies. She would be a valuable--a 
valuable--addition to the Udall Foundation Board.
  Over a decade ago, the Congress created the privileged nomination 
process to speed the confirmation of nominees to fill approximately 280 
positions on Boards and on Commissions, including nominees to the Udall 
Foundation Board of Trustees.
  Ms. Cahoon's nomination moved to the Executive Calendar on May 16, 
and we should have considered her nomination on the floor soon 
thereafter. It is disappointing to me--and I know to others--that her 
nomination has languished for over 16 weeks, with no word of any 
objections from either side of the aisle. Inexplicable delays undermine 
the improvements we have made to Senate procedures to improve 
noncontroversial nominees and to do so quickly. Today, I have come to 
the floor myself to see if we have an agreement to confirm Ms. Cahoon.