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.
“EXECUTIVE CALENDAR (Executive Session)” mentioning Chris Van Hollen was published in the Senate section on pages S3927-S3928 on May 28.
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:
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senate will proceed to executive session to consider the following nomination, which the clerk will report.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read the nomination of Anton George Hajjar, of Maryland, to be a Governor of the United States Postal Service for a term expiring December 8, 2023.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the cloture motion is withdrawn.
Thereupon, the Senate proceeded to consider the nomination
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam President, I rise to support the nomination of Anton Hajjar to serve on the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service. Mr. Hajjar is highly qualified for this position, and his experience with postal unions and legal expertise provides him with the knowledge and skills required of this role. If confirmed, I am confident that he will serve our country well as a member of the USPS Board.
Mr. Hajjar was raised in a working class Brooklyn family and worked as a summer letter carrier, where he learned the ins and outs of mail delivery in his local community. He worked hard in school and became the first in his family to graduate from college, receiving his bachelor's degree from Fordham University. Before attending Tulane Law School, he worked as a janitor, hospital attendant, U.S. Merchant Marine seaman, taxi driver, and U.S. Custom inspector.
These experiences, along with his upbringing, inspired him to use his law degree to stand up for workers, and he went on to serve as the general counsel for the American Postal Workers Union. His long history with APWU exposed him to a wide array of postal regulatory and legal issues and provided him with important insight into the postal workforce.
Throughout his career, Mr. Hajjar has also demonstrated an abiding commitment to public service. He has worked pro-bono to represent Arab and Muslim Americans in discrimination cases. He volunteers regularly to serve his community in Chevy Chase, MD, including as a member of his church and as an election judge.
His skills and his leadership make him right for this role, but the challenges before him are great. Throughout the tenure of the current Postmaster General, who was installed by the Board of Governors during the previous administration, I have heard from constituents about unacceptable delays and disruptions in mail service. Medication shipments have gone missing, some small businesses cannot get their products to customers, and many customers are getting hit with late fees for bill payments that didn't arrive on time because of mail delivery delays.
Despite unprecedented challenges, the men and women of the USPS have worked tirelessly to deliver the mail. We have seen an incredible outpouring of support for postal workers and the USPS from the American people. But the Board of Governors must restore the public's trust and confidence in the Postal Service. Mr. Hajjar is the right person to help do just that, and I am confident he will be a key player in tackling the Postal Service's current challenges and ensuring that Americans can count on a reliable and sustainable Postal Service for decades to come. I am proud to support his nomination and urge my colleagues to vote for his confirmation.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the Hajjar nomination?
The nomination was confirmed.
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