Senate Considering More Impressive, Uncontroversial Nominees
‘Before the Senate adjourned for Memorial Day, I laid out seven more nominations for our consideration when we returned. Four to fill important vacancies in the administration and three to the federal bench. So this week, the Senate will continue our work to confirm more well-qualified nominees and finally let the American people’s president have more of his team on the job.’
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding the need to confirm more of the president’s well-qualified nominees:
“Before the Senate adjourned for Memorial Day, I laid out seven more nominations for our consideration when we returned. Four to fill important vacancies in the administration and three to the federal bench. So this week, the Senate will continue our work to confirm more well-qualified nominees and finally let the American people’s president have more of his team on the job.
“Yesterday, we began by voting to advance the nomination of Andrew Saul of New York to be Commissioner of Social Security. Mr. Saul is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and has spent decades building a successful career in business and in public administration.
“In addition to his experience in financial management, Mr. Saul has previously served as Vice-Chairman of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority and as Chairman of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, where he oversaw programs relied upon by millions of Americans. It’s no surprise that our colleagues on the Finance Committee voted unanimously to favorably report Mr. Saul’s nomination to the full Senate. I hope members will reach the same conclusion and support his confirmation.
“Then, later, we’ll turn to consideration of David Schenker of New Jersey to be Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs. Heath Tarbert of Maryland to be Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Susan Combs of Texas to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior. And three nominees to preside in a District Court and the Court of Federal Claims. In each case, the president has put forward impressive and uncontroversial individuals. Who I might add, in a previous era, would have been candidates for a voice vote.
“They’re thoroughly qualified for public service. Their nominations should not have been delayed even this long. In the case of Mr. Schenker, for example, our Democratic colleagues have forced the top Middle East job at the State Department to remain open for nearly a year – a year that brought no shortage of crises in that region. So I am glad we are continuing to get things back on track. I hope my colleagues will join me in voting to put each of these public servants to work for the American people.”
Related Issues: Nominations
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