Congressional Record, Senate, December 8, 2021 (S9018) — Peng Shuai Resolution and Nominations

Summary

Congressional Record, Senate, December 8, 2021 (pages S9018 and S9019). Scott of Florida and Durbin exchange remarks on a resolution about Peng Shuai, and Durbin asks that the request be modified to take up the nomination of Nicholas Burns to be Ambassador to China; objection is heard to the modification. Van Hollen asks for a vote on the nomination of Laurie Locascio to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology, saying 156 nominations are pending on the executive calendar. Scott of Florida objects, citing a hold on Department of Transportation and Department of Commerce nominees until the Commerce Committee hears from Secretary Raimondo and Secretary Buttigieg. Johnson then speaks under the heading Vaccine Mandate.

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“Congressional Record, Senate, December 8, 2021 (S9018) — Peng Shuai Resolution and Nominations.” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-12-08-crec-2021-12-08-pt1-pgs9018-3e9df83a9a/, SHA-256 59a82946178685db20bb3ff600ec558a5ab5aca209ec9f6870fa8002d180af3d.

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S9018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 8, 2021
think the President was correct in not The PRESIDING OFFICER. Will the the WTA has done. I am very dis-
only saying that we were going to Senator from Florida so modify his re- appointed with what the NBA has done.
withhold any diplomats being sent over quest? I am disappointed with what the IOC
to China during the next round of the Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President. has done.
Olympic Games, but I understand the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- I am also disappointed that the Sen-
administration is reaching out to other ator from Florida. ate, today, could not come to a resolu-
countries to join us. Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Reserving the tion and simply stand up for somebody
Whether it is the Uighers or whether right to object, first, I thank my col- who has accused the Vice Premier of
it is Ms. Peng Shuai, outrageous league for agreeing that—I think we all China of sexual assault. None of us
human rights abuses should not be ig- agree that what has happened to Peng would like that to happen to anybody
nored. And as I glance at your resolu- Shuai is wrong, and I think we all in our families, and we don’t want it to
tion here, it looks like you hit the nail know we have to stand up to what com- happen to anybody in this country. We
on the head. munist China is doing. ought to stand up for people in China
So why am I reserving the right to Here is my concern about Nick just like we would want them to stand
object? Burns: Until the day he was nominated up for people in this country.
Here is something that I think would by President Biden, he had had no The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
be helpful in the cause of human problems with communist China. He ator from Maryland.
rights. What if the United States of UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—EXECUTIVE
has never stood up to communist
America actually had an Ambassador CALENDAR
China; he has taken money from com-
in China? Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, I
Think about that possibility. We munist China; he has always looked
the other way. am here on the floor today to urge the
would have someone representing our Senate to move immediately to vote on
country on the scene in Beijing work- So my concern is that we ought to
have a vote on him because everybody the confirmation of Dr. Laurie
ing for the United States, speaking up Locascio to be the Under Secretary of
for human rights. ought to have the opportunity to talk
to him and get his position. I have Commerce for Standards and Tech-
Well, what is holding us back? Why nology at the Department of Commerce
won’t Biden nominate somebody for talked to him, and he has never ever
said a word about the Uighurs, about and—this is a double-headed position—
this job? as the Director of the National Insti-
Well, it turns out he did, a man the Tibetans, about what happened in
Hong Kong, about stealing American tute of Standards and Technology.
named Nicholas Burns.
technology. He has never done any of As of today, we have 156 pending
Well, we all know him. He has a long
those things. So I don’t know how it is nominations on the executive calendar.
record of diplomacy in Foreign Serv-
ice—service in Russia and other places. These include Ambassadorial nomina-
going to help us.
He is a key man in the State Depart- I object to the modification, but I tions to important countries like
ment and one that we can rely on. And hope my colleague will agree that the China, Japan, and others all around the
he should be in Beijing fighting for the world. It is harming our national secu-
resolution itself is worth it to go for-
causes that you and I agree on today. rity. We should be moving forward with
ward and just do it by themselves, and,
What can possibly be holding him up? them urgently. Then there are a whole
over time, we will have a vote on Nick
We need him there. number of nominations that relate to
Burns.
Well, it turns out he is being held up very important U.S. domestic Agen-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec-
by that side of the aisle objecting to cies, and one of them is this appoint-
tion is heard to the modification.
his being called. ment at the National Institute of
Is there an objection to the original
Well, we have a chance to resolve Standards and Technology.
request? Look, many Americans are aware of
that today. We can pass not only your Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, time is
resolution, but we can appoint Mr. the NIH, the National Institutes of
wasting. We need an Ambassador to Health. They know that that Institute
Burns as the Ambassador to China and China.
get it done and he could be on a plane does very important medical research
I am sorry, but I object. that helps save lives and that it devel-
in the morning. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec-
How about that? That would be an ops treatments to help Americans and
tion is heard. others around the world. In fact, they
amazing thing to accomplish. You take
The Senator from Florida. have played a key role in the develop-
that home to Florida, and I will take
Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President,
that home to Illinois. It is a good day’s ment of the vaccines against COVID–19.
this is pretty disappointing, all right? Less well-known but also very impor-
work.
And so, to reach that end, I ask that My Democratic colleague said that tant is the National Institute of Stand-
the pending request be modified as fol- he agreed with the resolution. I think ards and Technology, which plays a
lows: Notwithstanding rule XXII, the it is time that we stand up for the Chi- key role in supporting American eco-
Senate proceed to the consideration of nese citizens who are being oppressed nomic competitiveness and supporting
the following nomination: Calendar No. by Secretary Xi. innovation for Americans and Amer-
525, R. Nicholas Burns, of Massachu- What this resolution does is say that, ican companies around the world. They
setts, to be Ambassador of the United you know, we have got to stand up to also play an important role in the sup-
States of America to People’s Republic all the oppression in China, that we ply chain effort of the United States.
of China; that the nomination be con- have got to stand up for Peng Shuai. That, of course, has taken on added
firmed, the motion to reconsider be The resolution says, you know, as for significance in recent months as we ex-
considered made and laid upon the the athletes who are going over there, perience bottlenecks.
table with no intervening action or de- we have your backs. Yet, if you look at So we are only hurting ourselves, and
bate; that no further motions be in what is happening now, the Democrats we are only hurting our country by re-
order to the nomination; that the are saying: We are not going to do fusing to allow this body to move for-
President be immediately notified of those things. ward on a vote on her nomination. We
the Senate’s action; and then, as if in I don’t think that is right. I don’t be- are essentially saying to this very im-
legislative session, the Senate proceed lieve our platform in the Senate should portant institute, this important gov-
to the immediate consideration of your be that we don’t stand for alleged vic- ernment entity: We are not going to
resolution, S. Res. 474, submitted ear- tims of sexual assault. I think, by not vote on your leader. So it is time to
having this resolution approved today

SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
lier today; that the resolution be move forward on this.
agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and having the Democrats block it, Now, I want to talk a little bit about
and the motions to reconsider be con- that that is exactly what we are say- why Dr. Locascio is an exceptional
sidered made and laid upon the table ing. choice for this role. It is not only be-
without intervening action or debate. So it is pretty disappointing. This cause she hails from the great State of
What an amazing bipartisan achieve- was a basic resolution that said that Maryland; it is not only because she is
ment that we can put together in just we were going to stand up for Peng a graduate of the University of Mary-
a few minutes here. Shuai. I am very appreciative of what land, Baltimore and that she has been

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December 8, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S9019
a leader of the University of Mary- consider the following nomination: Ex- Moreover, responding to these issues,
land’s research endeavors since 2017; ecutive Calendar No. 551, Department if we are really serious about address-
but it is also—and most importantly— of Commerce, Laurie E. Locascio, of ing our supply chain issues, how does it
because she brings to this position Maryland, to be Under Secretary of help to deny us the opportunity to vote
three decades of experience in working Commerce for Standards and Tech- and put in place the Director of an
at all levels at NIST, the institute to nology; that the nomination be con- Agency that is supposed to help relieve
which she has been nominated to lead. firmed; that the motion to reconsider the supply chain bottlenecks?
She began her time at the Agency as be considered made and laid upon the I know the Senator from Florida had
a research staffer and rose to become table with no intervening action or de- to leave, but it is a very simple ques-
the Acting Principal Deputy Director bate; that no further motions be in tion. If there is a genuine interest in
and Associate Director for Laboratory order on the nomination; and that the addressing supply chain bottlenecks
Programs. She was responsible for di- President be immediately notified of and addressing the cost pressures, how
recting the Material Measurement the Senate’s action. does denying NIST a leader help ad-
Laboratory, which is one of NIST’s The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there vance that agenda? Clearly, it does not.
largest laboratories. She also has very objection? Clearly, this is harming the U.S. mar-
intimate knowledge of NIST from her The Senator from Florida. kets at this important time. Clearly, it
other years of experience there, and Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, is harming our supply chain efforts.
she has really touched upon every area reserving the right to object. Clearly, it is harming U.S. competi-
of endeavor within the NIST portfolio. First, I want to acknowledge my col-
tiveness.
As I indicated, this appointment league’s interest in the nominee for the So I urge my colleagues to move for-
would be important at any time, but it National Institute of Standards and ward on this nomination. Apparently
is especially important at this moment Technology. not today because of the objection, but
I am not sure if my colleague is
as we grapple with supply chain issues let’s get it done before the end of this
aware, but, last month, I sent a letter
and as we try to bolster U.S. manufac- year.
to the Commerce Committee, inform-
turing and try to make sure that we I am not going to ask for a quorum
ing them that I would be holding all
manufacture here, in the United call. Thank you. That is it.
Department of Transportation and De- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
States, essential products that we
partment of Commerce nominees until ator from Wisconsin.
need.
the committee hears testimony from
This body, in addition to focusing on VACCINE MANDATE
Secretary Raimondo and Secretary
the manufacturing side of the ledger, Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I come
Buttigieg about the supply chain crisis.
also understands the importance of in- Right now, there are nearly 100 ships to the floor of the Senate today to
vestment in vital research and mate- waiting to dock in California ports to make a few points and ask a few ques-
rials science, in things like quantum unload their goods, but they are unable tions.
computing and artificial intelligence. to do so because of President Biden’s First of all, can we all acknowledge
We passed, with an overwhelming bi- supply chain crisis. Christmas is just a that there is so much that we do not
partisan vote of 68 to 32, the U.S. Inno- couple of weeks away, and families and know about the coronavirus, about
vation and Competition Act, and NIST businesses are facing empty shelves, COVID, the disease, or about the
has very important responsibilities in shortages on goods, and higher prices. COVID vaccines? Our response to
those areas. What NIST does there is So far, as far as I can tell, I have only COVID, as a result, has been a reaction
very important in our maintaining and seen Secretary Buttigieg and Secretary to very imperfect information.
sharpening our position in the world, So, very early in the pandemic, I
Raimondo play TV commentator rath-
especially as we address the growing gave those individuals in a position to
er than actually go out to California
challenge of China. have to make very tough decisions
and solve the problems.
I also want to mention the Manufac- It is long past time for the Biden ad- with imperfect information a great
turing Extension Partnership that is ministration to tell us exactly what deal of latitude in making those tough
run out of NIST, which plays a very they are doing to solve this crisis and calls, but over the course of the
important role right now as we work to help American families. Until we hear months, we have learned a lot.
fight these supply chain blockages and from Secretary Buttigieg and Sec- We have always been told to follow
also accelerate the production of per- retary Raimondo in the Commerce the science, but it sure seems our
sonal protective equipment—N95 masks Committee, I will be objecting to all healthcare Agencies—as I refer to
and ventilators. That push was fueled, Commerce and Transportation nomi- them, the COVID gods; the Dr. Faucis
largely, by the $50 million that this nees going through an expedited proc- of the world, the Agency heads, the
body helped to appropriate for the MEP ess here in the Senate. Biden administration, the mainstream
program in the CARES Act. Again, This isn’t personal. It is about ac- media, and social media—have never
that is a program housed in NIST that countability. I look forward to hearing allowed second opinions. There has
is helping to deal with supply chain from Secretary Raimondo and Sec- been one narrative, and they simply
bottlenecks when it comes to essential retary Buttigieg and then going for- have not been willing to consider alter-
protections from the pandemic. ward with these nominees. native measures.
So there is no justification for block- Therefore, Mr. President, I object. So a question I think we should all be
ing this nomination. In fact, all we are The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- asking ourselves is, Does that response
doing is tying our hands behind our tion is heard. work? Over 780,000 Americans have lost
backs by depriving this important in- The Senator from Maryland. their lives. The human toll of the eco-
stitute of their top leader at a time Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, I nomic devastation of the shutdowns,
when we face national challenges on would just ask my colleague, in the the year of lost learning for our chil-
supply chain issues and at a time when coming days, before the end of the dren, the psychological harm to our
we understand we have got to be at the year, to reconsider his position. children, the record overdose deaths,
top of our game when it comes to inno- He is a member of the Commerce the increase in suicides—I don’t know
vation and cutting-edge technologies Committee, and he knows well that how you can take a look at America’s
in so many areas where it is essential there have been three hearings on sup- death rate—the last time I looked, it
to meet the challenge of China and oth- ply chain issues, one on May 11 regard- was a couple weeks old; about 220 per
ers around the world in global competi- ing ‘‘Freight Mobility: Strengthening 100,000 population. By the way, Sweden

SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
tion. So I would really urge my col- America’s Supply’’; on July 15, ‘‘Imple- was at 145 per 100,000 a couple of weeks
leagues to allow this nomination to menting Supply Chain Resiliency’’; and ago. I don’t see how anybody can take
proceed. It is the right thing to do for on December 7, ‘‘Unchartered Waters: a look at the response imposed in our
our country. Challenges Posed by Ocean Shipping country by the COVID gods and say it
Mr. President, at this point in time, Supply Chains,’’ where the committee was a success.
I ask unanimous consent that, not- discussed a whole range of supply chain So acknowledging the fact that there
withstanding rule XXII, the Senate issues. is still so much we don’t know, I would

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