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 Ur Mendoza Jaddou (Executive Calendar)” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Senate section on pages S5206 on July 30.
The State Department is responsibly for international relations with a budget of more than $50 billion. Tenure at the State Dept. is increasingly tenuous and it's seen as an extension of the President's will, ambitions and flaws.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
Nomination of Ur Mendoza Jaddou
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, for almost 20 years, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, known as USCIS, has been charged with defending America's status as the land of opportunity. The Agency has nearly 20,000 employees. They operate in 220 offices around the world, where they provide assistance to immigrants seeking a new life in America and help protect America from any foreign threats.
But after 4 years of neglect and mismanagement under the Trump administration, USCIS is in dire need of leadership. Today, the Senate has an opportunity to provide that Agency with that leadership by confirming Ur Jaddou as USCIS Director. Ms. Jaddou may be the most qualified person ever to be nominated for this job. She has nearly 20 years of experience in immigration law, policy, and administration. She is the daughter of immigrants from Mexico and Iraq. She personally understands the importance of ensuring our Nation's immigration system is both accessible and safe. And if confirmed, Ms. Jaddou would make history as the very first woman to lead USCIS.
Let me tell you a little bit about her background. Ms. Jaddou began her career working on immigration policy and oversight for 9 years in the House of Representatives. She worked for my friend and former colleague Zoe Lofgren of California, who is the authoritative voice on immigration in the House of Representatives.
Following that role, Ms. Jaddou served as a senior official in the State Department and then as Chief Counsel at USCIS. As the Agency's highest ranking legal officer, Ms. Jaddou not only sharpened her mastery of immigration law, she also gained valuable experience navigating USCIS's administrative complexities and operations. As Chief Counsel at this Agency, she managed more than 220 attorneys who support the work of tens of thousands of USCIS employees who are located in offices around the world.
Ms. Jaddou's extensive background is exactly what we need at this moment.
As I mentioned, the Trump administration led a deliberate effort to undermine this Agency's work. You remember--anything relating to immigration, the Trump administration tried to create a problem. For instance, when the former President took office, USCIS had approximately $800 million in cash reserves. Not bad. Four years later, those cash reserves had been virtually depleted, putting thousands of Federal employees at the Agency at risk of being furloughed in the middle of a pandemic.
These Federal employees deserve leadership that advocates for their interests and supports their work. Ms. Jaddou is that person. In fact, the union that represents over 13,000 USCIS employees published a letter in support of her nomination, writing: ``Ms. Jaddou is well-
acquainted with the significant financial and operational challenges facing the Agency.''
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce sent a letter in support of her nomination as well. They wrote: ``Ms. Jaddou's knowledge and experience would be indispensable in providing the critical leadership needed to stabilize the agency.''
Leaders inside government and outside government recognize that Ms. Jaddou is the legal expert our Nation needs to take the reins of this vital Agency.
Given the urgent need for Senate-confirmed leadership to address the critical issues they face, as well as Ms. Jaddou's eminent qualifications for that position, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting her nomination
