Maiden Speech (Cong. Rec., March 15, 2021)
Summary
This is S1519 of the Congressional Record, Senate, March 15, 2021, with interleaved columns, in a maiden speech by a Senator whose name is not printed in the text read. The speaker says that Representative Haaland faced a different standard during her confirmation process and that strong women, especially women of color, are attacked when men with the same views are welcomed. The speaker then describes the family's journey, saying the parents immigrated from Mexico in the 1960s, the father worked for 40 years as a short order cook and the mother cleaned houses, with the views attributed to the speaker.
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“Maiden Speech (Cong. Rec., March 15, 2021).”
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March 15, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1519
and a woman of color—is being held to portunities to lead because we are un- I love you guys.
a different standard, and we need to comfortable with their power. Colleagues, my family’s journey is
name it. We have to come to grips with During Representative HAALAND’s central to my public service. My par-
the reality that, time after time, confirmation process, I started to get ents immigrated to California from
strong women, especially women of text messages from women friends, es- Mexico in the 1960s in search of a bet-
color, are attacked when White men pecially from Native women, who were ter life. They arrived from different re-
with the same views are welcome to horrified by the yelling and the conde- gions of Mexico, with little formal edu-
walk right through that door, unop- scending questions that were directed cation but with a tremendous work
posed. her way. We were proud of how she re- ethic and big dreams. They met in Los
At their worst, these efforts—these sponded—with grace and with dignity— Angeles. They fell in love. They de-
attempts—to portray Representative and we all knew how it felt. cided to get married and apply for
HAALAND as extreme and unqualified I would bet that every woman in this green cards—in that order.
show how much work we still have to Chamber knows what it feels like when I thank the U.S. Government every
do to reckon with our country’s history this happens. A man talks down to you. day for saying yes to those applica-
of disparaging, disrespecting, and eras- He uses his power to explain something tions, because, if they had been denied,
ing Native people and how this tragic that you already know and signals in a no doubt my life story would be a lot
history has been reflected in the biases hundred different ways that you don’t different.
on exhibit during Representative belong in the room where it happens. For 40 years, my father worked as a
HAALAND’s confirmation. This is clear Well, for a long time, women have short order cook—hard work, honest
when we see how few Republicans could found ways to respond to these affronts work—and as he will proudly tell you,
even acknowledge the historic nature with grace as did Representative his kitchen never failed an inspection.
of Representative HAALAND’s nomina- HAALAND, MARCIA FUDGE, Vanita For the same 40 years, my mom worked
tion, choosing, instead, to focus on hos- Gupta, and Neera Tanden. tirelessly cleaning houses. It seemed
tile questions about her tweets and When I was a young woman, my like she never had a day off, but, to-
whether she understands the law. mother was a very strong woman her- gether, they raised three of us—my sis-
Now, sadly, these attacks that Rep- self. She used to advise me to just ig- ter, my brother, and me—in a modest,
resentative HAALAND has been sub- nore these folks and go about my busi- three-bedroom home in the proud,
jected to are not unique. We have seen ness. Even today, as I worked on this working-class community of Pacoima,
this dance play out time and again floor speech, I wondered: Am I going to CA, in the northeast San Fernando
with Biden-Harris nominees, especially offend anybody? Am I going to sound Valley.
with women of color. Excellent nomi- too shrill? I bet there is not a man in Now, our neighborhood had more
nees, like Secretary Vilsack and Sec- this room who has ever worried about than its share of challenges—from pov-
retary Buttigieg, faced relatively tame sounding too shrill. erty to crime to unhealthy air. It
confirmation processes. The vast ma- So, colleagues, tonight, we will vote might not have been the safest neigh-
jority of questions were about policy on Representative DEB HAALAND’s con- borhood, but my mom felt blessed that
goals and their experience. No Senator firmation to Secretary of the Interior, we had the sanctuary of a backyard
referred to these nominees as ‘‘extrem- and we will all have a chance to restore and a strong sense of community. It
ists’’ or ‘‘radicals.’’ dedicated, capable, passionate leader- was there that my parents taught us
Yet how did the women of color fare? ship to this important Department. about the values of service to others
In the Banking Committee, my Re- The choice to confirm Representative and of getting a good education.
publican colleagues grilled Secretary HAALAND is, indeed, historic, but it is Today, my sister, my brother, and I
FUDGE, our new Secretary of Housing not an abstract opportunity. As Sec- are all public servants. My sister has
and Urban Development—and a Black retary, Representative HAALAND will been a teacher, a principal, and, today,
woman—about her intemperate com- play a consequential role in combating she works in administration for the
ments on race. This was less than 3 climate change. She will also honor Los Angeles Unified School District.
weeks after our former President in- Tribal sovereignty and strengthen the My brother serves as chief of staff to
cited an insurrection of White su- government’s relationship between the Los Angeles City Council President
premacists, among others, and faced United States and Tribal nations. Nury Martinez. If you pay close atten-
essentially no consequence from his Maybe, just maybe, her leadership will tion there, yes, I am the middle child.
own party. Neera Tanden was forced to help us see the strength of Native It may explain a lot.
withdraw her nomination to lead the women and of all women and to not be Think about that. In one generation,
Office of Management and Budget after threatened by that. Our country will be our family has gone from being immi-
some declared that her Twitter ac- the better for it. I urge my colleagues grant cooks and house cleaners to serv-
count was too divisive. to support the confirmation of DEB ing in the U.S. Senate. That is the
Well, if we had only known that HAALAND for Secretary of the Interior. California dream. That is the American
mean tweets could disqualify you from I yield the floor. dream. That is the dream I was raised
public office, we could have saved our- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- to believe in and the dream that An-
selves 4 years of division and chaos and ator from California. gela and I are working hard to keep
two impeachment trials after a torrent MAIDEN SPEECH alive for our children and for future
of inflammatory and hateful rhetoric Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, on generations.
from the former Twitter account of our behalf of the people of California, it is I think about my parents often, and I
former President, which most of my my honor to address this body today. I think about all of the hard-working
Republican colleagues said they tried stand before you, humbled and inspired people in our State and in our Nation
to ignore or just hadn’t read. Strong by this moment in our Nation’s his- who are hurting right now. I rise today
opinions from strong women of color tory, as the Senator from the most on their behalf.
are deemed unacceptable and cause for populous and most diverse State in the I rise on behalf of the cooks, the dish-
disqualification. I am just not buying Nation and as the first Latino Senator washers, and the domestic workers who
it. from the State of California. Let me have seen their jobs and their lives up-
In my first floor speech in this Cham- begin by saying what a great country ended by the COVID–19 pandemic.
ber, I said that, when you really listen this is. I rise on behalf of the farmworkers
to women, you begin to understand all and delivery drivers and nurses who
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My name is ALEX PADILLA.
the ways in which women are made less (English translation of statement have been on the frontlines of this pan-
and are denied opportunities to con- made in Spanish is as follows:) demic and who have never stopped
tribute to their communities and to I am the son of Santos and Lupe showing up.
their country. Padilla. I rise on behalf of the 4 million small
So I urge my colleagues: Don’t let I am also the proud husband of An- businesses in California and the busi-
this be one of those times. Let’s not si- gela Padilla and the proud rad dad of ness owners, many who are hanging on
lence these women and deny them op- Roman, Alex, and Diego. by a thread and stretching like they
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S1520 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 15, 2021
have never stretched before to meet Act, which would provide a well-earned and unites our country, a comeback
payroll. pathway to citizenship for undocu- that confronts the systemic injustices
I rise on behalf of the nearly 2.5 mil- mented immigrants who have risked in our country so that we can build
lion California families who are behind their health as essential workers. back equitably.
on their rent or behind on their mort- These are the workers whom we have It took almost 10 years to recover
gages, with bills piling up, wondering all depended on during this pandemic. from the great recession. We lived
how they will ever climb out of the Now, millions of us have offered tre- through the consequences of the mod-
hole. mendous gestures and thanks for their erate response to the financial crisis—
I rise on behalf of the 11.2 million heroism and their hard work. Let’s be slow growth, poor pay, and millions
California adults who struggled to honest with ourselves. Many of these without jobs. We cannot let that hap-
meet basic household expenses last workers woke up before dawn today pen again. We can and must build back
year, including many who relied on and took a bus to work so that others better.
food pantries just to get by. could ‘‘Zoom to work’’ from the com- That means investing trillions in our
I rise on behalf of the 56,000 Cali- fort of their own homes. infrastructure in a way that uplifts
fornia families and the more than These essential workers take care of communities and provides millions of
530,000 families across America who our loved ones. They keep the supply good-paying union jobs and in a way
have lost a loved one, many who died chain moving. They grow and harvest that addresses our climate crisis to
alone in a hospital room or a nursing our food, stock the shelves at grocery help ensure that every person has ac-
home, deprived of the last chance to stores, and will even deliver it to your cess to clean air and clean water.
hold hands or say goodbye. door. They risk their lives so that oth- It also means passing commonsense
The people of my State are hurting; immigration reform that brings hu-
ers can stay safer at home.
the people of our country are hurting, We cannot, in good conscience, praise manity to our immigration system and
and we have a long way to go before we them as essential workers in one recognizing that providing a pathway
get back. The greatest crisis of our life- breath while denying them the essen- to citizenship for people living and con-
times demands bold action. ‘‘Building
tial human dignity they deserve with tributing to our country is part—a
back better’’ demands that we build
the next. strategic part—of our economic recov-
back better for everybody and that we Yes, dignity, respect, and a pathway ery as well.
leave nobody and no community be- to citizenship for essential workers is That means protecting and strength-
hind. To do so requires that we open
personal to me, but it is also in the ening our democracy by passing voting
our eyes to the deep, systemic inequi-
best interest of our Nation. rights and civil rights legislation. We
ties that have been exposed and exacer- These immigrants are paying more should be making it easier, not harder,
bated by this crisis. than their fair share. They are deemed
In my State, the reality is that there for eligible people to register to vote,
essential by the Federal Government to stay registered to vote, and to vote
are two Californias just as there are
for good reason, and they have earned in every State in the country.
really two Americas—one for families
who struggle to pay the rent and make the rights and responsibilities of citi- But as President Obama said in his
ends meet, who struggle to keep hope zenship. We cannot allow the American farewell address, ‘‘the work of democ-
alive, and one for those who can afford Dream to be a casualty of this pan- racy has always been hard. It’s always
to work from home or from a second demic. Relief and recovery must be for been contentious. Sometimes it’s been
home, who can more easily weather everyone. bloody. For every two steps forward, it
this storm. Now, the American Rescue Plan that often feels like we take one step back.’’
We see two Californias where Latino, this body passed and President Biden It is no surprise that reactionary
Black, and Asian households are three just signed into law is a $1.9 trillion State leaders around the country, fear-
times as likely to be behind on the downpayment on this promise. It will ful of losing elections, fearful of losing
rent. It is the story of the single mom speed vaccination production and dis- power, are mobilizing to suppress the
who lost her job due to the pandemic tribution, expand testing and contact vote as we speak.
and who has depleted her entire sav- tracing, outfit our schools so kids and Enough is enough. This Senate must
ings to keep a roof over her family’s teachers can safely return to the class- act aggressively to protect the right to
head. room, provide emergency mortgage and vote, to strengthen the right to vote—
We see two Californias where em- rental assistance to families in need, no more steps back, only steps forward.
ployment has actually increased for and it will extend a lifeline to keep We must act boldly because that is
people earning more than $60,000 a year millions of American small businesses what this moment demands of us. We
while some parents are left to make from going under. can’t let anything keep us from bold
the impossible choice of either paying Now, I will tell you what it means for action and progress, including outdated
for food or paying their utility bills so my home State. In addition to what rules and traditions.
their kids can still log into online this bill will deliver to fight the virus, We must end the filibuster. For dec-
class. it also means immediate food assist- ades, the filibuster has been leveraged
We see two Californias, where the ance for 4.3 million families, an in- to obstruct progress. It helped main-
stock market reaches new highs for crease in the standard of living for 8 tain Jim Crow segregation, and it con-
some, while in the San Fernando Val- million California children, $15 billion tinues to entrench inequality in Amer-
ley, too many families depend on city for California schools, $590 million to ica today. We cannot allow the fili-
or church food distribution sites to help combat homelessness on the buster to prevent us from doing what is
feed their children. streets of California, and billions in di- necessary to lift up millions of working
We see two Californias, where there rect checks for struggling families. families in every corner of the country.
is a stark disparity in who is getting The American Rescue Plan provides a I believe we will beat this pandemic
vaccinated and who is not. lifeline for American families, workers, and get through this crisis. We will do
Just take, for example, the city of and businesses to survive what we all it the same way we always have, the
Beverly Hills, where more than 25 per- hope will be the last months of this cri- same way my parents did, the same
cent of residents have received their sis. way that American families and mil-
first shot. That is a good thing. What is It is one of the most trans- lions of immigrants throughout our
not so good is that in South LA, less formational and progressive pieces of history have done—by going to work
legislation in our history, which will and getting the job done.
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than 15 miles away, the rate is just 5
percent. cut child poverty in half, including for To my colleagues, I am so honored to
And we see two Californias in the im- half a million children in California. serve with you and look forward to
pact the pandemic has had on immi- But our work is far from over. I be- working alongside you for years to
grant communities—communities on lieve now is the time to lead an Amer- come.
the very frontlines of this crisis. ican comeback that leaves no working To my constituents, I am honored to
I recently announced my first bill, family behind—a comeback that heals represent you, and I will work hard
the Citizenship for Essential Workers the longstanding divides in our society every day to make you proud.
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March 15, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1521
And to Angela, Roman, Alex, and tional security. He has embraced ican to ever serve in the Federal Gov-
Diego, I love you. Thank you for your DACA. He halted most deportations. ernment.
love and your support of my public He cut domestic immigration arrests As a Pueblo woman and 35th-genera-
service. by 60 percent and dismantled the mi- tion New Mexican, DEB HAALAND has a
I yield the floor. grant protection protocols. long overdue perspective to contribute
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- This administration threw our exist- to the Department of the Interior’s
ator from Tennessee. ing immigration law out the window mission of protecting our natural re-
Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Presi- and let the world know that when it sources and public lands, and honoring
dent, I ask unanimous consent that comes to illegal entry, not only will we America’s trust responsibilities to
Senators LUJÁN, CARPER, and myself be look the other way, this administra- Tribal nations.
allowed to complete our remarks be- tion is encouraging them to come. She is uniquely equipped to begin to
fore the rollcall vote. Even their Cabinet nominees are play- repair the relationship between the In-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without ing by these new rules of encouraging terior and the domestic nations it
objection, it is so ordered. individuals to break our laws, to come serves—to the Bureau of Indian Affairs,
BORDER SECURITY to the country illegally. They are en- these indigenous nations, these sov-
Mrs. BLACKBURN. Thank you, couraging this. ereign nations, these important depart-
Madam President. Last week, this Chamber voted to ments, the Indian Health Service, the
The southern border. The situation discharge Xavier Becerra’s nomination Bureau of Indian Education.
at our southern border has devolved from committee. I voted no. He is one Speaking to Pueblo and Tribal mem-
into chaos. That is what I am hearing of the most flagrant offenders out bers in New Mexico, I know the signifi-
from some of my former House col- there when it comes to sending these cance of her confirmation, how it tran-
leagues who have been on that border signals. He has openly admitted he scends policy. For young people in our
today. would like to decriminalize illegal State, she is the embodiment of the old
According to them, we are once again entry and offer Medicaid to anyone adage that if you see it, you can be it.
facing a crisis. Thirteen days ago, Cus- who manages to get across the border. Knowing my friend DEB, although she
toms and Border Protection announced They have made a lot of promises will be the first, she is committed to
that they were deploying more agents that they know they are not going to not being the last.
to help manage the spike and appre- be able to live up to, and now they are As former vice chair of the House
hensions of adults and unaccompanied trying to walk it all back, walk back Natural Resources Committee, DEB
alien children. the hope that sparked in thousands of HAALAND also brings a wealth of
Then, last Monday, news broke that people because they have heard that knowledge and experience to her role
Homeland Security Secretary the border was going to be open. They as the Interior Secretary. She has been
Alejandro Mayorkas had sent an email are even wearing the T-shirts with the a longtime champion of climate action,
to DHS staff begging for volunteers to slogan, ‘‘Biden, let us in.’’ creating good-paying jobs, clean en-
go to the border and help with logistics They are going to have to walk back ergy, and outdoor recreation.
and humanitarian aid. the mess that is there on the border, She played a key role in passing the
It is obvious they need help on the and I am fearful and concerned that Great American Outdoors Act out of
border. In January alone, the Customs their walk-backs are not going to work the House of Representatives, success-
and Border Patrol detained nearly because from what we are hearing fully protecting New Mexico land-
78,000 people—more than double the about the border, they have lost con- scapes and setting ambitious goals for
number of apprehensions in January of trol of that border. conservation with her Thirty by Thirty
2020. I look forward to traveling to the Resolution to Save Nature. But of all
In February, that number jumped to border for a briefing on the situation. the qualifications and accomplish-
more than 100,000 arrests and deten- This administration does not want ments that DEB HAALAND will bring to
tions. CBP took more than 9,000 unac- their critics to see what is happening the Department of the Interior, there
companied minors into custody that down there. There are days you would is one that stands out to those who
month, prompting the administration think they have got a news blackout know her best—her empathy.
to open two overflow detention centers going at the border. DEB’s experience as a single mother
to house them. This isn’t just a problem in Texas or struggling to keep a roof over her fam-
Listen to these numbers: 100,000 ar- California or Arizona or New Mexico. ily’s head allows her to connect with
rests and detentions in February; 9,000 Every town is a border town and every compassion to her constituents and in-
unaccompanied minors being taken State is a border State because of the forms every aspect of her work. It is
into custody that month—having to drugs, the human trafficking, sex traf- fitting that she will serve under a
open 2 overflow detention centers. ficking, and gangs that are streaming President who has made empathy the
New data released last Wednesday across our border. trademark of his administration.
shows that our agents are now detain- You know, it means that no matter I have no doubt that Secretary
ing more than 4,000 people along the how hard you try, you can’t hide the HAALAND will leave a mark on the De-
border every single day—4,000 every tragedy that inevitably unfolds when partment of the Interior and on history
day. your immigration policy is to have as we know it. I look forward to con-
Our facilities and resources are ex- zero immigration policy at all, just tinuing to work with my friend to
hausted, and so are the agents respon- open the border and let them come. make a difference for the people of New
sible for controlling this out-of-control I yield the floor. Mexico.
situation. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, one
It did not have to be this way. Sec- ator from New Mexico. floor above this Senate Chamber, near
retary Mayorkas has accused the NOMINATION OF DEBRA ANNE HAALAND a bank of elevators, sit the marble
Trump administration of ‘‘dismantling Mr. LUJÁN. Madam President, I rise busts of two leaders of the Ojibwa, or
our Nation’s immigration system.’’ today in anticipation of a historic vote Chippewa, people who came to Wash-
That is his quote. But if he wants to that the Senate will take in a few mo- ington, DC, in 1855 to sign a treaty
know who is really responsible, he ments to confirm DEBRA ANNE with the U.S.Government.
should look to the current White HAALAND as Secretary of the Interior. I The terms of the treaty had been dic-
House. am incredibly humbled to be able to tated by the U.S. Government: The
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I have stated time and again how dis- preside over this body’s confirmation, Ojibwa people would surrender more
astrous President Biden’s policy of gov- in just a few minutes, of my good than 2 million acres of their ancestral
erning by Executive fiat has been. friend and fellow New Mexican. homeland in northern Minnesota. In
Thirty-four Executive orders in his This marks the first time that a Na- exchange, the Tribes would receive less
first 50 days—34. tive American will take her seat in the than $20,000 in cash, goods, and serv-
Also, he has suspended construction President’s Cabinet, making her the ices, and assistance to resettle on two
of the border wall, jeopardizing our na- second highest ranking Native Amer- reservations.
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