Barrasso: Senate Republicans are Determined to Overcome Senate Democrats’ Confirmation Obstruction

"Instead of deliberation, Senate Democrats chose unprecedented delay. That ends now."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, today spoke on the Senate Floor about Senate Republicans will today break the Democrat confirmation logjam and move quickly to confirm President Donald J. Trump's nominees.

Click HERE to watch Senator Barrasso's remarks.

Sen. Barrasso's remarks as prepared:

"Senate Republicans are prepared to break the Democrat nominations blockade. Senate Republicans are determined to overcome Senate Democrats' confirmation obstruction. Senate Republicans are prepared to restore the Senate to the way it is supposed to work.

"For two centuries, most presidential nominees have sailed through this chamber by voice vote and by unanimous consent. That was the gold standard of advice and consent. Senator Schumer and Senate Democrats abandoned it. Instead of deliberation, Senate Democrats chose unprecedented delay. That ends now.

"This year, Democrats have forced the Senate to waste 210 hours on pointless procedural theatrics. That's 210 hours not used for debating legislation to fight crime, secure the border, unleash American energy, and grow the economy.

"Modern presidents have over 1000 positions to be filled. Only 12 percent of President Trump's team is on the job.

"Today, because of Democrat delays, positions vital to America's safety, prosperity, and diplomacy remain empty. The Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center - the person responsible for protecting us from foreign spies. Empty. The Undersecretary for Nuclear Security at the Energy Department - the person responsible for safeguarding our nation's nuclear weapons. Empty. Ambassadors to key NATO allies - as war rages in Europe. Empty. The Inspector General at the Central Intelligence Agency. Empty. The Deputy Trade Representative - as America negotiates historic trade deals. Empty. Empty positions cannot keep our nation safe.

"Empty positions invite Russia, China, and Iran to test us. The unquestionable, the undeniable, the irrefutable, the inescapable fact is that Democrat obstruction makes America less safe.

"Let me point out what makes Democrat obstruction even more disgraceful. It destroys their own precedent. On May 25, 2001, 32 nominees from President George W. Bush were confirmed in a single group. A few months later, 55 more were confirmed in the same way. On February 11, 2010, 77 nominees from President Barack Obama were confirmed exactly the same way. In 2017, 65 total nominees from President Donald Trump were confirmed - all in one day. The Senate approved those nominees then. That was the long-established Senate tradition. That's the way the confirmation process is supposed to work.

"Four years ago, 36 nominees from President Joe Biden were confirmed in a single group. Who personally came to the Senate Floor and asked for unanimous consent? The current Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. All of these groups of nominees - from President Bush to President Biden - were confirmed by unanimous consent. Now that Donald Trump is president again, Senator Schumer calls this process 'beyond the pale.'

"When the Minority Leader claims this week Republicans are breaking Senate norms, he's trying to rewrite history. For the past 25 years, the Senate has confirmed routine nominees together in groups. For Republican and Democrat presidents alike. Democrats are now denying President Trump the team he needs in place and on the job to govern our country. The American people elected President Trump to lead - not to watch his administration be held hostage by partisan politics.

"Today, Senate Republicans will return to the very practice that Democrats endorsed until President Trump was elected in 2024. Every committee hearing and markup will still happen. Every FBI background check will still happen. Every ethics review will still happen. Every nominee will still appear before committees. Every nominee will still answer questions from Senators. Every nominee will still receive a vote in committees. Scrutiny of each and every nominee will continue. What comes to an end is Senator Schumer's reign of procedural terror. The Schumer Confirmation Shutdown ends today.

"And to my Democrat colleagues, I say this. If you disagree with our effort to get the Senate working again - It is up to you to explain to the American people why you chose to paralyze the Senate. You must explain why you chose to stop doing the work you were elected to do.

"Republicans are getting the Senate back to work on behalf of the American people. Beginning next week, the backlog of President Trump's nominees will be confirmed and put to work getting America back on track."

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