[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8270]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    ADMINISTRATION OF OATH OF OFFICE

  The VICE PRESIDENT. If the Senator-designee will now present himself 
at the desk, the Chair will administer the oath of office.
  The Senator-designee, escorted by Mr. Menendez, advanced to the desk 
of the Vice President, the oath prescribed by law was administered to 
him by the Vice President, and he subscribed to the oath in the 
Official Oath Book.
  The VICE PRESIDENT. Congratulations, Senator. Welcome to the Senate.
  (Applause, Senators rising.)
  The VICE PRESIDENT. The Senator from New Jersey.
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I wish to join the distinguished 
majority leader and the Republican leader in welcoming my new colleague 
from the great State of New Jersey, Jeff Chiesa, and his family to the 
Senate. I look forward to working with him closely on the issues of 
importance to New Jersey and to the Nation.
  We have heard some of his exemplary milestones in his career. He is a 
career attorney and someone who has served in public service. He 
certainly has the Governor's confidence, as is evidenced by the time he 
spent with him at the U.S. Attorney's Office, then in the Governor's 
transition, which he led, as well as being his chief counsel and the 
attorney general of the State of New Jersey, for which he has had some 
extraordinary opportunities to both protect and promote the general 
welfare of the people of the State of New Jersey.
  Jeff's father was a chemical plant worker who died when Jeff was 8 
years old. So he and his two sisters were raised by his mother who was 
a teacher. I am sure his family is very proud of him today as the 
father of two children. They are extremely proud of him for all he has 
done throughout his career and particularly today as he becomes the 
newest Member of the Senate.
  He was asked at the press conference with the Governor, when the 
Governor announced him as his designee, what did he intend to 
accomplish in the Senate. For those of us who have served in the Senate 
for a while, we know it takes a little while, and that is a tough 
question to ask someone, what they are going to be able to accomplish 
in 5 months.
  But I think Senator Chiesa comes at a time in which we are having 
some momentous debates in this Nation. Certainly, as it is ongoing on 
immigration reform, he will have an opportunity to cast some critical 
votes in that regard. I look forward to talking with him about some of 
those issues as well as other critical issues that will come before the 
country over the next 5 months.
  I look forward to working with him on behalf of the people of the 
State of New Jersey and our Nation. I am sure, even though it is only 5 
months, he is going to make a significant mark in the Senate.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Hirono). The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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