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Floor Speech

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Mr. CARPER. Madam President, I appreciate the opportunity to come to the floor. This is like what they call in Delaware a ``threefer''-- three for one. And I appreciate the cooperation of the floor staff and from you to enable me to do this.

One of the things I always look for when I am hiring somebody is I ask for recommendations and references of people they have worked for in the past. As it turns out, in the nomination of Dr. Colleen Shogan to be the Archivist of the United States, one of the people she used to work for was Senator Joe Lieberman, a good friend to all of us, Democrats and Republicans.

He was good enough to reach out to me several weeks ago, and we had just had a hearing on Dr. Shogan before us in the Homeland Security Committee. I was really impressed. He called and said: She used to work for me. And I said: No kidding? Well, I wouldn't disqualify her for that.

I am just kidding. But he went on to tell me what a remarkable human being she was, even at a younger age in her life. But as the Chief Administrator of the National Archives and Records Administration, the Archivist of the United States plays a vital role in a couple of different ways: one, especially with the preservation of the history of this country that we are all sworn to protect.

This person who has been nominated, this nominee, would serve as our Nation's recordkeeper for executive agencies and for Presidential records while also being responsible for the National Archives and Records Administration.

This role has been critical in leading the Federal Government's ongoing transition from paper to electronic records for a long time. Dr. Shogan is extremely well qualified to take on what is not a small responsibility; it is a great responsibility and important, too.

As Senior Vice President and Director of the David M. Rubenstein Center for White House History at the White House Historical Association, Dr. Shogan has already demonstrated her extensive skill set as an archivist.

She is a dedicated public servant, pulling a decade's worth of senior roles at the Library of Congress. She has developed a career in academia, Federal Government service, and nonprofit management. And one of those folks she worked with--worked for--was our former colleague, Senator Joe Lieberman.

At our hearing to consider her nomination before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee earlier this year, Dr. Shogan reaffirmed her commitment to nonpartisanship, which is very important for this role. She highlighted her service as the Vice Chair of the Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission.

Dr. Shogan also shared how she will work to address the backlog of veterans' record requests at the National Archives and Records Administration. As the last Vietnam veteran serving here in the United States Senate, that means a lot to me.

She also has vowed to make sure that the oftentimes long and arduous process that can prevent our veterans from receiving their critical services and benefits that they are entitled to, that they are addressed.

I strongly urge my colleagues to confirm Dr. Shogan as the Archivist of the United States, and I know she will serve our country well.

My talking points now say to yield the floor, but I am not, because I have been asked by the folks who help us manage the floor if I would like to go ahead and speak on two CRAs, which is the Congressional Review Act resolutions. And I would like to do that, if I may. I appreciate the tolerance and consideration of the chairman of our committee.

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