Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Republicans’ Package Of 97 Extremely Unqualified Nominees
Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor calling out the Senate Republicans jamming through a package of 97 unqualified nominees and continuing to bend the knee to Donald Trump and approving any nominee he wants. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:
Today, Senate Republicans will move forward with a package of 97 nominees that includes some of the most horribly unqualified, shockingly radical nominees Donald Trump has appointed to date.
Historically, when a president nominates such terrible people to positions of power, the Senate has stood as a check on the executive, no matter which president—Democrat or Republican—was in charge.
But not this Senate majority. Not this Republican Party.
Senate Republicans continue to bend the knee to Donald Trump and give him practically any nominee that he wants no matter how bad they are. They support these nominees no matter how unqualified they are, no matter how partisan they are, no matter how unethical they are. No questions asked.
That’s why people like Paul Hollis, to be the Director of Mint at the Department of the Treasury, are in the package. If confirmed, Mr. Hollis’s first act would be to rubber-stamp the Trump $1 coin. That’s why they picked somebody, because Trump wants the $1 coin with his face on it I think. And he refused to share details on how he would increase efficiency at the Mint— because he doesn’t have a plan. He probably doesn’t even know much about it.
It’s why people like Charles Arrington, to be a Member of the Federal Labor Relations Board, are on this package. Unlike nearly all former FLRA members, Arrington is not a lawyer. He has a history of engaging in bad faith bargaining while at the VA.
The Senate should be considering each of these nominees one by one, with time to debate each nominee on the floor, in front of the American people, and with a roll call vote on each nominee, so every single Senator is on the record.
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