ms. warren: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from massachusetts. ms. warren: mr. president, i want to thank the leader for his strong words about the importance of making sure that we advance our military leaders when they have been approved for promotion and pay increases. most people are aware that the senate votes on nominees who have been appointed by the president to occupy top roles in almost all parts of the federal government. cabinet secretaries, judges, ambassadors. less well known is the fact that the senate must also vote to approve thousands of military promotions every year. so if a colonel has done well on the job and their services promotion board decides that they're ready to be a brigadier general, the senate must vote to approve this promotion before it can go through. now typically this vote is a formality. these promotions are processed in big batches rather than one at a time, and they usually happen without even taking a recorded vote. but right now the senator