cecilia elena rouse will soon become the chair of the council of economic advisors. this morning i want to pause for a moment to recognize the historic nature of the nominees that president biden has nominated and that the senate has confirmed in the first month of the nation's administration. so far the senate has promoted the first black secretary of defense and the first woman to serve as deputy secretary of defense. after an unbroken streak of 77 male secretaries in a row, all the way back to alexander hamilton, the senate confirmed the first woman to serve as treasury secretary. by the end of the day we'll have confirmed the first black woman to lead the council of economic advisors, the first latino and the first immigrant to lead the department of homeland security, the second black woman to serve as u.n. ambassador, the third latino to serve as education secretary, and the first openly gay secretary of any cabinet agency. cabinet agencies, we all know, have an immense influence over the policy of the united states. it's critical for their leaders to have live

cecilia elena rouse to serve as the chair of the council of economic advisors. another history making pick will be the first black official to head that department. all three nominees are exceptionally well qualified. all have received bipartisan support in their respective committees, including a unanimous vote in favor of dr. rouse. as we continue the fight against the pandemic on all fronts, in particular the damage it has caused our schools and our economy, these nominees will have a difficult and important task ahead of them. it will be very good news once we have them confirmed and on the job. the senate will then return to the american rescue plan. comprehensive legislation that will help us crush the virus, recover our economy, and get life back to normal. defeating the pandemic is national priority number one. getting our schools to reopen as safely and quickly as possible, helping small businesses hang on until the economy can come roaring back, keeping teachers and firefighters and other essential employees on the job, providing aid to the jobless, fo

the question is, is it the sense of the senate that debate on the nomination of cecilia elena rouse of new jersey to be chairman of the council of economic advisers shall be brought to a close. the yeas and nays are mandatory under the rule. the clerk will call the roll. vote: vote: vote: the presiding officer: are there any senators in the chamber wishing to vote or to change his or her vote? if not the yeas are 94, the nays are 5, and the motion is agreed to. the clerk will report the nomination. the clerk: nomination, executive office of the president, cecilia elena rouse of new jersey to be chairman of the council of economic advisors. mr. brown: madam president. the presiding officer: the senator from ohio. mr. brown: thank you, madam president. a month after janet yellen made history as the first woman to serve as secretary of the treasury, today we're aboutor confirm another woman to step into a leading role in our economy, cecilia elena rouse. when she came before the banking committee, her knowledge about economy and her commitment to the people who make this country work were