[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 14, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S2919]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



             Unanimous Consent Request--Executive Calendar

  Ms. LUMMIS. Mr. President, not since President Ford has any President 
been denied at least some of his nominees unanimous consent for 
confirmation at this point in their Presidency. That is why I come to 
the floor today to advocate for one nominee who is sorely needed--her 
name is Jessica Kramer--to be Assistant Administrator in the Office of 
Water at the Environmental Protection Agency.
  Jess, as we all know her given her time working on the EPW Committee, 
is solid and as sharp as they come. She previously served as an 
environmental prosecutor and defense attorney for the Wisconsin 
Department of Justice, as a government affairs specialist for drinking 
water and wastewater associations, and as deputy secretary for 
regulatory programs at Florida's Department of Environmental 
Protection. She also served in the EPA's Office of Water in the first 
Trump administration. Her impeccable qualifications are part of the 
reason she received a strong bipartisan vote out of the EPW Committee, 
a 15-to-4 vote, including by Ranking Member Sheldon Whitehouse. Her 
background check has been available for a week.
  There is no reason her nomination should be delayed any longer. 
President Trump deserves to have his qualified people at his side, and 
the American people deserve to have their votes mean something.
  Therefore, notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that 
the Senate proceed to the consideration of the following nomination: 
Executive Calendar No. 89, Jessica Kramer to be an Assistant 
Administrator of the EPA; that the Senate vote on the nomination 
without intervening action or debate; that the motion to reconsider be 
considered made and laid upon the table; and that the President be 
immediately notified of the Senate's action.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there an objection?
  The Senator from Rhode Island.
  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, as the 
ranking member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, it is my 
understanding that there is a pretty longstanding tradition at the EPW 
that we get the background check before someone comes to the vote, as 
my distinguished friend from Wyoming has said.
  I actually voted for this nominee, and I have every confidence that 
she will do a good job, but I don't believe that the background check 
is available. If I am mistaken about that, then we can review this some 
other time. But as far as I know, we do not have this nominee's 
background check. That is a matter that I think needs to be taken up 
with the FBI. You all run the FBI these days. If there is a delay 
getting this background check completed, that delay should be addressed 
at the FBI, where the delay has been caused, rather than breaking a 
committee precedent.
  So I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The objection is heard.
  The Senator from Wyoming.
  Ms. LUMMIS. Mr. President, it is my understanding that her background 
check is available and has been available for a week. I would ask the 
Senator from Rhode Island to check with the EPW Committee, where her 
background check should be available.
  One way Americans lose trust in government is when their expectations 
for that government, as expressed through their votes, are not met. You 
know, we often talk about how elections have consequences.
  I will say that I supported many of President Biden's nominees 
despite disagreeing with them vehemently. Unfortunately, my friends 
across the aisle are abusing our constitutional role of advice and 
consent in unfairly denying the American people the change they just 
voted for last November.
  There is plenty of divisiveness in our Nation right now, but rallying 
behind someone as qualified and supported by so many Republican and 
Democratic Senators as Jessica Kramer should be something this body 
could do.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Moreno). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.