[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 65 (Thursday, May 9, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S3286]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         OBSTRUCTION AND DELAY

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, by now the minority's tactics, the 
Republican tactics of obstruction and delay are well known, but they 
are also well worn. Those methods were once again on display yesterday 
when Republicans delayed for the second time in 2 weeks a Senate HELP 
Committee vote on the nomination of Tom Perez to lead the Department of 
Labor.
  The able and considerate chairman Tom Harkin had already postponed 
the vote 2 weeks at the request of one of the Republicans. They 
requested more time to review documents related to Tom Perez's 
nomination. It was terribly disappointing that, after they were granted 
additional time as a matter of courtesy, an anonymous Republican would 
employ an arcane procedural tactic to prevent the committee from even 
meeting, and, of course, voting on that nomination.
  Republicans had 7 weeks, 49 days to consider this nomination. He was 
nominated on March 21. Since his confirmation hearing in April, he has 
responded in writing to more than 200 questions.
  He is an extremely qualified candidate for this job. The President 
was smart in nominating him. He is what the American dream is all 
about. He is the son of immigrants. He paid his way through college by 
working as a garbage collector and at a warehouse. He went on to become 
the first lawyer in his family.
  Mr. Perez was appointed by Governor O'Malley of Maryland to be the 
secretary of the Department Labor, where he helped implement the 
country's first statewide living wage law. In his current role as the 
head of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, 
Mr. Perez helped settle cases on behalf of families targeted by unfair 
mortgage lending.
  As anyone can see, he is an extremely qualified nominee. His 
knowledge and experience will make him an outstanding Secretary.
  Unfortunately, impressive qualifications and exceptional character 
are no longer enough to satisfy Senate Republicans. Instead of a fair 
and constructive confirmation process, Republicans have chosen to play 
partisan political games with dozens--scores--of President Obama's 
appointees.
  They have also slow-walked the nomination of dedicated public servant 
Gina McCarthy to lead the EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency. 
This morning, just a few minutes ago, Republican members of the Senate 
Environment and Public Works Committee sent a letter to Chairman Boxer 
indicating they will boycott committee markup of Ms. McCarthy's 
nomination.
  This type of blanket partisan obstruction used to be unheard of. Now 
it has become the pattern Republicans have adopted. They will use any 
procedural roadblock or stalling tactic to deny President Obama 
qualified nominees.
  My Republican colleagues can try every trick in the book--and they 
have and they probably will--but I assure you he will have his day in 
the Senate. I assure everyone Ms. McCarthy will have her day in the 
Senate, and I will do all I can to ensure these highly qualified are 
confirmed, as the President has requested.

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