“For seven months, Senator Schumer and his band of Democrat obstructionists have thrown the kitchen sink at President Trump’s nominees. That is why 161 highly qualified nominees like Brian have not come to the Senate Floor for a vote.”
WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, today spoke on the Senate Floor about the unprecedented Democrat obstruction to every one of President Donald J. Trump’s nominees.
Senator Barrasso specifically highlighted Wyoming’s Brian Nesvik, the nominee for Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as an example of how Democrats continue to delay the confirmation of highly qualified nominees.
Click HERE to watch Senator Barrasso’s remarks.
Excerpts from Sen. Barrasso remarks:
“I had the honor of introducing Brian at his confirmation hearing in March. The Committee approved his nomination in April. That was 112 days ago. The people of Wyoming are asking, why the long delay? Why isn’t Brian Nesvik on the job today? I’ll tell you why. Unprecedented Democrat obstruction.
“For seven months, Senator Schumer and his band of Democrat obstructionists have thrown the kitchen sink at President Trump’s nominees. That is why 161 highly qualified nominees like Brian have not come to the Senate Floor for a vote. All of them have been voted on and approved by committee. Many received Democrat support in committee. Each and every one of them is now stuck in a Senate procedural purgatory – stalled, stonewalled, and systematically delayed by Senate Democrats.
“This is not Advice and Consent. This is obstruct and delay. If President Trump nominates you, they’re against you. That’s Democrats’ new litmus test. Trump Derangement Syndrome has consumed the Senate Democrat Caucus.
“Historically, the Senate has found ways to work together to fill important positions in a timely manner. During President Trump’s first term, by the time Congress recessed for the August break, the Senate had confirmed 133 nominees. 79 were confirmed by voice vote. During President Biden’s term, 150 nominees were confirmed by the time the Senate departed for August recess. 76 were by voice vote.
“In President Trump’s second term, zero have been confirmed by voice vote. Absolutely zero. Totally unprecedented. President Trump is the only President in modern history to not have a single nominee confirmed by voice vote.
“Obstructionist Democrats are turning the Senate into the world’s slowest human resources department. Democrats have filibustered every Trump nominee following the confirmation of Marco Rubio to be the Secretary of State on Day One of this administration. Democrats did this regardless of qualifications, regardless of bipartisan support in committee, regardless of precedent, and regardless of urgency.
“Democrats filibustered the Chief of Protocol at the Department of State. Democrats filibustered an Assistant Administrator at the Environmental Protection Agency. Democrats filibustered the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information at the Department of Commerce. Democrats filibustered the Under Secretary for Industry and Security at the Department of Commerce. Democrats filibustered the Under Secretary for Research and Engineering at the Department of Defense. Democrats filibustered the Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Democrats even filibustered the General Counsel for the Department of Agriculture.
“All qualified. All delayed – simply because President Trump nominated them. Even positions that have never been subject to a roll call vote in the United States Senate have not been spared. And when nominees finally get a vote on the Senate Floor, many are confirmed with bipartisan support.
“President Trump deserves to have his team in place. And America deserves to have leaders on the job.
“Democrats have set a sad new standard for obstructing confirmations. Republicans will not stand back while Democrats weaponize the Senate rules, sabotage the process, and paralyze the Executive Branch. Republicans will do what needs to be done to get President Trump’s team in place.”
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