mr. mayorkas. mr. ayorkas actions raised serious concerns in 2013 when he was nominated to serve as deputy secretary of homeland security during president obama's second term. it is why he could not be confirmed to that role until after then majority leader harry reid invoked in the nuclear option on nominations. not a single republican senator was willingup to support his confirmationma and no senator should support it at this time. finally, i am concerned that mr. mayorkas did not seem to express any regret whatsoever for his previous actions during his recent confirmation hearing before the homeland security committee. instead, he appeared to take the view that interfering in eb five cases on behalf of of well-connected politician and stakeholders was somehow the same as casework helped offered to americans who experience problems with international adoption systemsti and it was a baffling comparison. now, every one of our senators know that when a nominee for the cabinet or sub cabinet comes before

mr. mayorkas: mr. chairman, thank you for the opportunity to answer your question and address that aspect of the inspector general's report. i should say at the outset that i have tremendous respect for the system of inspectors general. they provide tremendous value to the agencies and apartment throughout the federal government and the opportunity for leaders to improve the organization's they oversee. i have always cooperated with the inspector general's report, including this inspector general at the department of homeland security. senator, there is an underlying principle to your question which i will articulate and then answer your question specifically. that is when a leader enters federal service with the authority to fix problems, that leader has their responsibility to fix problems. that is what i did. the eb five investor visa program u.s. citizenship and immigration services ed mr. was plagued by problems. i heard about those problems almost every single day i served as the director and i h

mr. mayorkas. mr. mayorkas' actions raised serious concerns in 2013 when he was nominated to serve as deputy secretary of homeland security during president president obamd term. it's why he couldn't be confirmed to that role until after then-majority leader harry reid invoked the nuclear option on nominations. not a single republican senator was willing to support his confirmation then, and no senator should support it at this time. finally, i'm concerned that mr.o express any regret whatsoever for his previous actions during his recent confirmation hearing before the homeland security committee. instead he appeared to take the view that interfering in eb-5 cases on behalf of well-connected politicians and stakeholders was somehow the same as casework help offered to americans who experienced problems with international adoption systems. it was a baffling comparison. now every one of us senators know that when a nominee for the cabinet or subcabinet comes before our committee, they're always asked ques

mr. mayorkas. she has another responsibility over at the judiciary committee. senator, welcome. we look forward to your remark. >> i appreciate this very much, mr. chairman, thank you for the opportunity to introduce president biden's nominee to be secretary of the department of homeland security, alejandro mayorkas we all know as ali. thank you, senator peters and portman for your flexibility in accommodating my schedule this morning. it's really appreciated. i believe ali is uniquely qualified to face the challenges before dhs. it offers a diverse background and a set of experiences in both the private and public sectors that are going to serve him well. ali was born in cuba, fled with his family to the united states in 1960. he attended the university of california at berkeley where he earned a bachelors degree with distinction in 1981. he earned a law degree from loyola law school in 1985. i first met ali in the '90s when i recommended him to president clinton or the position of u.s. attorney f

mr. mayorkas on the finer points of every policy. i'm sure they don't share the exact views of every appointment to a democratic president's cabinet, but that is not a sufficient reason to oppose a nomination, especially one as important as homeland security. you don't have to take my word for it. listen to michael chertoff, president bush's former d.h.s. secretary. he said, quote, if members of congress want done test elements of biden proposals they are free to do so but hostage taking is not an appropriate way to do this, particularly if the result of that is to put the lives of the american people in jeopardy. chertoff went on to say that actions to thwart mayorkas' nomination were, quote, irresponsible and unconscionable. irresponsible and unconscionable. that president bush's -- that's president bush's former secretary of homeland security. not a democrat. well, the senate is not going to tolerate this irresponsible and unconscionable delay. despite the tactics from the republican side, the senate will begin work on this crucia

mr. mayorkas so he can serve as the next secretary of homeland security. mr. president, i yield the floor. a senator: mr. president. the presiding officer: the republican whip is recognized. mr. thune: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, there's been a lot of talk about the legislative filibuster here in the senate over the last few days. as we started the new congress evenly divided between republicans and democrats, the republican leader had proposed that the democratic leader include a commitment to preserving the legislative filibuster in the power-sharing agreement the leaders have been working out. this should have been easy. less than four years ago, with a republican president in the white house and republicans in control of the senate and the house of representatives, a bipartisan group of 61 senators affirmed their support for retaining the legislative filibuster stating, and i quote, we are united in our determination to preserve the ability of members to engage in extended debate when bills are on the senate floor, end quote. 26, mr. president

mr. mayorkas welcome back. six years under my chairmanship this committee held dozens well over three dozen hearings on problems at the border and i was sparked by what happened in 2014 with president obama declared a humanitarian crisis when we had a surge of unaccompanied children as well as families from across the border here legally -- illegally proven things i did not didn't have time to pull these things up but i started developing charts to lay out the problem. what i would like to do is quickly go through a little bit and get responses from you in terms of this year. senator feinstein credited you with the doctoral program. i think the doctoral program is beneficial in addressing a particular problem and also it was you said it as the catalyst by coyotes and produce that 2014 humanitarian crisis where 106,000 people in total unaccompanied and children crosses order illegally. the obama administration recognize that in your deputy secretary at that point in time. a quick answer to these questions in rea

mr. may arcus -- mayorkas. there's an additional burden that requires the senate to address before they can get someone confirmed. in this instance, i think senator hawley is coming up the works with the ability of moving mr. mayorkas as the defense secretary. it's important to remember any defense agency, the department of homeland security has the most, i think, challenging leadership issues. at the back end, for almost all of the trump administration, there were fewer confirmed leaders at the department of homeland security with percentages filled more than any other agency. even more concerning was there was more turnover at the top and had more secretaries at dhs then i think any other cabinet agency, and there were multiple courts and the gao that found the leadership, the acting leadership at the department of homeland security was not legally there, that they had come into office without real authority, because they had followed the lines of succession , and therefore, their actions or decisions may not

mr. mayorkas. ests asked at his senate confirmation hearing about the border wall. >> when i served as the deputy secretary and i met with the border patrol, both ated headquarters and in the field, along the southern border, what i heard from the border patrol was that we need a diverse approach to border security. that in some instances a physical barrier would be effective, but that in other instances more boots on the ground would assist and yet in other circumstances, the use of technology, the use of air and marine assets would be most effective. and i look forward to studying the challenges at the border and developing a sophisticated approach to meet those challenges, to be sure that we're harnessing innovation and technology to the best of our ability. host: to our guest, what do you make of that back and forth there, those comments by the nominee, and why has senator hawley of missouri put a hold on a quick confirmation for the d.h.s. secretary? guest: yeah, you know, ultimately the hold

mr. mayorkas, who would, at 12:01 be responsible for a whole of government approach to make sure these capitols are safe around the country and to make sure d.c. is safe. so every -- almost every homeland security secretary has been confirmed on the first day, and that was in 2009 and in 2017. so the fact that the senate is not holding a hearing so we can confirm our national security members on day one is irresponsible to the american public. >> as someone who is working for joe biden, at the same time you're still in the house under the speaker nancy pelosi, we heard the president-elect say yesterday, he hopes the senate can essentially have half-days. you spoke yourself about the homeland security not being ready for the security to be confirmed on day one. you hope to have them in the earliest days of office so things can get done, the coronavirus pandemic, the stimulus package. will that happen? >> the president-elect has an ambitious agenda because they know the multiple crises this country is facing, whether it's covid-19, the economy, systematic immigration, or the climate. let's speak

mr. mayorkas to be secretary of the department of homeland security, which is absolutely critical. the fact there's any hold up on this appointment and confirmation is simply outrageous. when you think about what people expect of the federal government and there are a lot of different views of what the federal government should do and should not do, the one thing all americans agree on is that it should keep us safe. that means the department of homeland security. it means the department of defense. we now have a defense secretary. we need a secretary of homeland security as well. especially given the attack that we saw on the capitol, the rise of extremist groups and white supremacy, the cyberattack we saw, one of the most damaging cyberattacks we've ever had in this country. the department of homeland security needs steady leadership and needs that leadership now and hopefully we can move it forward as quickly as possible. >> is it a coincidence that that one senator, senator josh hawley, seen raising his fist in seeming solidarity with the mob that invaded the capitol, just as d

mr. mayorkas, he cited the threat of domestic terrorism, frank. how encouraged were you to hear that?>> well, i'm extremely encouraged. he is a high-caliber, experienced individual, but look, this should be no surprise it should be the focus. chris wray has testified recently on the hill saying domestic terrorism has become our number one threat and went a step further in that group it's hate-based domestic terror. we can't pretend it's not there when the fbi director says it's our number one threat. >> transition officials have told nbc news that domestic terrorism is going to be a key focus of the incoming president's national security council. nsc. what, frank, can biden's incoming national security team do differently to make us safer? >> so first, we've already talked about legislative solutions, investigative tools, designating certain domestic groups getting that right but people should understand this is not entirely a law enforcement solution. we're talking about a segment of our population that has essentially been radicalized over the last four years and a deradicalization

mr. mayorkas as quickly as possible. this notion of delaying it indefinitely is a mistake. >> senator dick durbin, i know you have to run to the floor. thank you so much for your time this morning, especially as we're living in this developing news from your neck of the woods at the capitol. thank you. >>> let me bring back in jake vermin and kelly o'donnell who are with me. jake, some news we have heard from the top three leaders on this show this morning. your reaction about where this goes. you heard senator durbin not commit to a timeline for this trial which i thought was particularly interesting. >> yeah, i was texting sources about that comment as well. so what he seems to be signaling, hallie, is that there's some sort of middle ground gro under that they don't have to start the trial immediately. i'm not en tiring sure how that would work, i would assume that would have to be a consent agreement means all republicans and democrats agree there should be some period during which the president can prepare his trial

mr. mayorkas confirmation and i urge all of my colleagues to reject it as well. thank you and i yield the floor. >> you are watching c-span2, your unfiltered view of government. c-span2 was created by america's cable television companies and today we are brought to you today by these television companies who provide c-span2 two viewers as a public service. up next we hear from president biden's nominee for u.s. ambassador to the united nations and that is followed by former homeland security secretary talking about election security and the threat of misinformation but after that representative debbie dingell and tom rae discussed the generate six attack on the u.s. capitol and the second impeachment of donald trump and later a discussion on the supreme court the role of solicitor general. >> the senate foreign relations committee consider the nomination of linda thomas greenfield to be u.s. ambassador to the united nations. she was asked about u.s. relations with china, russia and iran and the coronavirus pandemic and potential reforms at the un. ms. thomas gree

mr. may arcus -- mayorkas.n additional burden that requires the senate to address before they can get someone confirmed. in this instance, i think senator hawley is coming up the works with the ability of moving mr. mayorkas as the defense secretary. it's important to remember any defense agency, the department of homeland security has the most, i think, challenging leadership issues. at the back end, for almost all of the trump administration, there were fewer confirmed leaders at the department of homeland security with percentages filled more than any other agency. even more concerning was there was more turnover at the top and had more secretaries at dhs then i think any other cabinet agency, and there were multiple courts and the gao that found the leadership, the acting leadership at the department of homeland security was not legally there, that they had come into office without real authority, because they had followed the lines of succession , and therefore, their actions or decisions may not have had

mr. mayorkas.sts asked at his senate confirmation hearing about the border wall. >> when i served as the deputy secretary and i met with the border patrol, both ated headquarters and in the field, along the southern border, what i heard from the border patrol was that we need a diverse approach to border security. that in some instances a physical barrier would be effective, but that in other instances more boots on the ground would assist and yet in other circumstances, the use of technology, the use of air and marine assets would be most effective. and i look forward to studying the challenges at the border and developing a sophisticated approach to meet those challenges, to be sure that we're harnessing innovation and technology to the best of our ability. host: to our guest, what do you make of that back and forth there, those comments by the nominee, and why has senator hawley of missouri put a hold on a quick confirmation for the d.h.s. secretary? guest: yeah, you know, ultimately the hold co

mr. mayorkas. ests asked at his senate confirmation hearing about the border wall. >> when i served as the deputy secretary and i met with the border patrol, both ated headquarters and in the field, along the southern border, what i heard from the border patrol was that we need a diverse approach to border security. that in some instances a physical barrier would be effective, but that in other instances more boots on the ground would assist and yet in other circumstances, the use of technology, the use of air and marine assets would be most effective. and i look forward to studying the challenges at the border and developing a sophisticated approach to meet those challenges, to be sure that we're harnessing innovation and technology to the best of our ability. host: to our guest, what do you make of that back and forth there, those comments by the nominee, and why has senator hawley of missouri put a hold on a quick confirmation for the d.h.s. secretary? guest: yeah, you know, ultimately the hold

mrs. devos had no education experience prior to being education secretary. alejandro mayorkas multiple roles, including serving as director of u.s. citizenship and immigration services from 2009 to 2013. he replaces chad wolf, a lawyer and lobbyist. a judge ruled last fall that mr. wolf's appointment as dhs secretary was unlawful. by the way, a number of you have tweeted us to say that earlier in the show, i got my line of presidential succession wrong. i mentioned that the secretary of state is behind the vice president. that's kind of true but not quite right because i was missing a word. "executive." if you just count the executive branch, then the line is correct. but actually, and my brain knows this, the house speaker comes after the vp, then the senate president pro tem, then the secretary of state. sorry about that. it's the top of the hour. monday's a new start. this hour is a new start and monday starts president joe biden's first full week in office. he's already signed dozens of executive orders and it's a lot to take in but that's why we're here. we're dedicating

clerk: nomination, department of homeland security, alejandro nicholas mayorkas, of the district of columbia, to be secretary. mr. schumer: i send a cloture motion to the desk. the presiding officer: the clerk will report the motion to invoke cloture. the clerk: cloture motion, we, the undersigned senators, in accordance with the provisions of rule 22, do hereby bring to a close debate on the nomination of alejandro nicholas mayorkas to be secretary of the department of homeland security, signed by 18 senators as follows, schumer, peters -- mr. schumer: i ask consent the reading of the names be waived. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: i ask the mandatory quorum call be waived. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: i just ask unanimous consent, mr. president, that my motion be made after senator merkley finishes his statement and not be interrupted in the record. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: thank you, mr. president. and i thank my colleague from oregon. mr. merkley: thank you very much to our majority leader. we need to keep the business of this se

mr. biden's homeland security nominee -- >> welcome back -- >> reporter: alejandro mayorkas confirmed. >> you god -- >> i do. >> reporter: especially after the recent attack on the capitol. but missouri senator josh hawley announced he would block a swift confirmation because he opposes the new administration's immigration plans. >> if people qualify under the law to remain in the united states, then we will apply the law accordingly. >> reporter: mr. biden's political career spans five decades. he first ran for the presidency more than 30 years ago. it's a career that began in delaware. his father moved the family there after he lost his job. before coming to washington tuesday, mr. biden bid a teary farewell to his home state. >> excuse the emotion, but when i die, "delaware" will be written on my heart. >> reporter: the president-elect spoke at the national guard base named for his late son beau, an iraq war veteran who mr. biden often thought had a future in the white house. >> i only have one regret, he's not here. we should be introducing him as president. >> reporter: among the exe

mayorkas. [crowd talking] sen. inhofe: this is my last committee meeting to be important, we will start on time. the committee meets to discuss the nomination of mr. lloyd austin iii to be the secretary defense. i think you all for being here. it has been a hardship on many of you and it was on me too. mr. austin, we welcome you. welcome to charlene, your wife. my wife and i were 61 years. think you will make it? [laughter] we are -- mr. austin you will be introduced by senator sullivan. a member of our committee. sen. sullivan: the last time we were together our capital was under siege. america's authoritarian rivals were gloating about her disunity. democracy brings chaos, they tell their people. better to have a strong hand that keeps order. we live in an in person democracy -- imperfect democracy. the american i am proud and honored to introduce understand certain perfections more than many. upon closer inspection, the world's dictators a little to celebrate. congress went back to work on january 6 to count electoral college votes. tomorrow there will be a transfer of power at the top of our government as there has been since the founding of

mr. mayorkas. thank you for your willingness to serve her country. what's again, mr. chairman, thank you. >> thank you, senator peters. mr. mayorkas, thank you again for your testimony this morning, and we appreciate your willingness to serve, especially at a time when our government works to counter so many serious threats and future threats as we talked about today. i also knowledge public service is a family decision and it involves family sacrifices so we appreciate your daughters and your wife being here today, , ad their support for your decision to return to public service. before we indicate a few housekeeping matters. the nominee is filed responses, and to prehearing questions and had his financial statements reviewed by the office of government ethics. without objection this information will be made part othering record and with exception of the financial data which are on file and available for public inspection in the committee offices all will be available in the record. the hearing record will remain open until 5 p.m. today january january 19 for submiss

mr. mayorkas days ago. he is supremely well qualified for the job. the son of immigrants whose family escaped from the holocaust, a prosecutor, a veteran of seven years who led the agency's response on ebola, cybersecurity, border security, counterterrorism and domestic terrorism. just four years ago president trump had his secretary of homeland security installed on inauguration day. as four previous secretaries of homeland security under presidents of both parties wrote recently, after the attacks on the capitol on january 6, it is more urgent than ever to have in place an experienced, capable, and senate-confirmed leader. that person is mayorkas. that was four previous homeland secretaries from both parties. unfortunately, because of the objections of one member, the senate has not been allowed to vote on this nomination yet. it's the senate's responsibility to make sure national security officials are on the job, keeping our country safe. my friends on the other side don't have to agree with mr. mayorkas on the finer points of every policy, but s

mr. schumer: upon the conclusion of morning business, the senate proceed to executive session, resume consideration of the mayorkas nomination as provided under the previous order. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. schumer: for the information of all senators, the senate will vote on confirmation of the mayorkas nomination at 5:for on monday. if there's no further business to come before the senate, i ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order. the presiding officer: the senate stands adjourned until senate stands adjourned until you solemnly swear all things pertaining to the impeachment of donald john trump, former president of the united states now pending, impartial justice according to the constitution, so help you god? >> i do. >> senators sworn in, argument for the impeachment trial of former president donald trump is set to begin tuesday february 9 on whether the former president should be convicted on insurrection. watch the senate impeachment trial live tuesday february 91:00 p.m. eastern on c-span2. c-span.org will listen on the brief c-span radio app. ♪♪ >> you are wat

mr. mayorkas' nomination. on impeachment, as i announced on friday, the republican leader and i have come to an initial agreement about the timing of the impeachment trial of donald trump. this evening managers appointed by the house of representatives will deliver to the senate the article of impeachment and will read the article here in the well of this chamber. tomorrow senators will be sworn in as judges and jurors in the impending trial and the senate will issue its summons to former president trump. after that, both the house managers and the former president's counsel will have a period of time to draft their legal briefs, just as they did in previous trials. once the briefs are drafted, presentations by the parties will commence the week of february 8. i want to thank the republican leader for working with us to reach this agreement which we believe is fair to both sides and will enable the senate to conduct a timely and fair trial on the article of impeachment. the schedule will also allow us to conti