[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Page 26251]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  Mr. REID. Madam President, I am going to ask unanimous consent that 
the Surgeon General be confirmed. This is a wonderful woman who has 
dedicated her life to taking care of the poor and underprivileged. She 
has done that for two decades on the gulf coast rather than going to 
some fancy place and seeing how much money she could make. She didn't 
do that. She has garnered nationwide praise for founding a rural health 
plan in Bayou La Batre, AL.
  More than 40 percent of the town's 2,500 residents have no health 
insurance. In 2002 she became the first African-American woman to be 
president of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama. She would 
be a terrific Surgeon General. Her family situation directs attention 
to the need for taking care of people who need help. Her father died of 
diabetes and hypertension. Her brother died at 44 with HIV-related 
illness. Her mother died of lung cancer. She certainly is qualified and 
needed during this crisis.
  I, therefore, ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to 
executive session to consider Calendar No. 477, the nomination of Dr. 
Regina M. Benjamin to be Surgeon General of the Public Health Services 
of the United States; that the nomination be confirmed and the motion 
to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no 
further action in order; that the President be immediately notified of 
the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative session.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, reserving the right to object, I 
think there is a good chance this nomination will be cleared. I need to 
hotline this nomination. If it comes out the way I anticipate, we 
should be able to confirm this nominee in wrap-up. Therefore, I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  Mr. REID. I thank the Chair.

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