The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“Nomination of Shalanda D. Young (Executive Session)” mentioning Patrick J. Leahy was published in the Senate section on page S1691 on March 23.
Of the 100 senators in 117th Congress, 24 percent were women, and 76 percent were men, according to the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Senators' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
Nomination of Shalanda D. Young
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am proud to be here on the Senate floor to offer my strong support for Shalanda Young to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget, as I have spoken about her earlier before the committee.
She has worked on the House Appropriations Committee for nearly 14 years. She has been the House Appropriations staff director since 2017.
It is from my position on the Appropriations Committee that I got to know her very well. I can tell you, without any reservation, there is no one better suited for this position. Her deep understanding of, really, the often arcane Federal budget process, her years of experience on the Appropriations Committee, her tenacity, and her dedication to public service will serve the Agency and the American people.
I think after we had the last closedown of the government--I believe the longest in history--we ended up, finally, with four of us meeting for several weeks in my office here in the Capitol. When we forged the agreement to reopen, Senator Shelby and myself, Congresswomen Lowey and Granger from the House--we were chair and vice chair of our respective committees--but, most importantly, Shalanda Young was there for the House, as was Chuck Kieffer, and she had an opportunity to work for the Senate. Her knowledge of the intricacies of that and her ability to help us reach agreement were absolutely essential.
Ms. Young began her career in public service in 2001 at the National Institutes of Health. She first came to work on Capitol Hill as a detailee for the House Appropriations Committee in 2005. She came back as a professional staff member in 2007. She worked her way up in the committee over the years. She helped develop a budget for and conducted oversight of key Agencies. That has given her a critical insight into the operation of some of our Nation's most important Agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, the General Services Administration. She even served as a staff director for the Legislative Branch Subcommittee, which covers the budget for Congress.
Ms. Young became staff director of the House Appropriations Committee in 2017, coincidentally the same year I became vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee. But she has helped the House navigate some of the most difficult issues before the Chamber. As I said, she was a critical player in helping to end the longest Federal shutdown in history in 2019, and she was instrumental in crafting 2020 bipartisan COVID relief bills.
She has a reputation as a tough but fair negotiator. That is high praise on Capitol Hill because she gets it from both Republicans and Democrats. I can attest to the truth of these statements. I have seen these skills firsthand.
I have already said that the Office of Management and Budget is one of the most powerful government Agencies that most Americans have never heard of. That is true. It wields incredible influence on not just the Federal budget but over policies that affect people's lives.
We need people like Shalanda Young to help steer the Agency in these important decisions. That is why I voted yes on the recent motion, and that is why I want to see her in that position as soon as possible.
I yield the floor.
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