[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 122 (Wednesday, September 19, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9490-S9491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NOMINATION OF ROBERT BONNER

  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I rise to urge the Senate to act very 
swiftly to confirm the nomination of Robert Bonner to be Commissioner 
of Customs.
  I remind my colleagues that Customs is one of the first lines of 
defense we have in our country. They inspect baggage and the goods of 
people coming into the United States. They help to assure that we are 
safe by inspecting any item that might threaten our national security 
and public welfare. They do a good job.
  Last week's attacks demonstrate how important it is that Customs and 
all of our agencies have our full support. We must make sure that the 
agency is as robust as we possibly can.
  What is the problem? The problem is that the Finance Committee has 
reported out Mr. Bonner to be Customs Commissioner, and someone on the 
Senate floor is holding him up. We cannot put him in place because 
there are a few Senators who for some reason don't want him to be 
Customs Commissioner.
  I strongly urge this body to quickly and immediately confirm Robert 
Bonner to be Commissioner of Customs. He is more than eminently 
qualified. I cannot think of a more qualified person. He has been a 
Federal district judge. He has been the head of the DEA. He has an 
extensive background and experience for the job.
  I have personally met with him. I have spoken with him. I have asked 
many questions of him. He is one of those people who--as soon as you 
sit down and talk with him--you immediately know has it. He is 
qualified. He is going to do a great job. I guarantee you that he will 
be terrific.
  This is the very time that we need him to get on the job. The Acting 
Commissioner, Mr. Winwood, is doing a great job. I met with him for a 
good couple of hours last week getting a security briefing on what 
Customs is doing. He is terrific, too. But he needs help. He very much 
urged me to do all I could to help the Senate confirm the nomination of 
Mr. Bonner.
  I call upon my colleagues. Come on. We are Americans. Let's work 
together. Let's get the job done. Mr. Bonner is a great man. Let's 
confirm him so we can get him on the job and so Customs can begin to do 
the things it wants to do and continue to do in helping protect our 
country.
  I also say that part of that is strengthening our Customs Service 
along the northern border. I am quite concerned. In my State of Montana 
there are reports of a lot more goods coming across the border--
sometimes, of all places, Glacier National Park because it is 
unprotected and particularly in the summertime. But there is a lot 
coming across. It is particularly drugs and illegal substances of all 
kinds. It is becoming a problem. We need stronger Customs enforcement 
along the northern border.
  But to sum up, I plead with my colleagues. Come on. Let's confirm 
him. He is a good man.
  I see my good friend from North Dakota on the floor. I think he has 
some of the same concerns.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, if my colleague from Montana will yield 
for a question, I heard the statement by my colleague from Montana, and 
I couldn't agree more. It is critically important at this point in time 
to have this Congress confirm the President's nominee for the head of 
Customs. The Customs Commissioner job has been open for some long 
while.
  The President, in my judgment, submitted the name of someone who is a 
well-qualified person who will do a good job. It is hung up. There is a 
hold on it over some other issue. It doesn't make any sense.
  The Customs Service at this point is right at the center with a range 
of other agencies having to deal with this terrorist threat. A 
significant amount of our law enforcement is embedded in the Customs 
Service. We need good leadership.
  The Senator from Montana says the Acting Commissioner is a good guy. 
I agree with that. I have great confidence in him. But there is nothing 
quite like having someone there who has been confirmed by the Congress 
to say: Here is the direction we are going to take with this agency.
  It is important this week that we implore our colleagues who are 
holding nominees up--especially in critical areas--for the sake of this 
country, to get out of the way and to get the President's appointees, 
especially for an agency such as this, in place.
  Mr. Bonner is a well-qualified man who will do a great job.
  I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the statement by the 
Senator from Montana.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, if I might, I very much thank my colleague 
for his statements as well. This Senate, when it is business as usual, 
probably is not quite as efficient and productive as it could be. I am 
a firm believer in the basic underpinnings of democracy. We don't want 
to be too efficient, because as representatives of our people from 
different parts of the country, there are different aspirations, 
different hopes, and different points of view. We want a melting pot 
kind of basis to work together and pass legislation. But this is not 
the time for business as usual. We have a national crisis. We are 
virtually at war. There is a lot of talk of unity and of working 
together. There has been tremendous cooperation in both Houses, by both 
parties, and at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. But on something as 
vital as this, I just very much hope that whoever the one, or two, or 
three Senators are who for extraneous, independent, and separate 
reasons--whatever they may be--are holding up Mr. Bonner, that they 
will reconsider for the sake of our country, and particularly with an 
agency as important as this at this time.
  I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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