[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 110 (Monday, July 29, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S5994]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            JONES NOMINATION

  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. I thank the majority leader for his work and the 
Members of the Senate for allowing Todd Jones to get a vote to head the 
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Bureau. This is a job that has gone 
unfilled, as you know, for 7 years, since it became confirmable under 
law--7 years, under President Bush, under President Obama. These 2,400 
agents have had no leader.
  During that time they have investigated extensive crimes, including 
just this year the Boston Marathon bombing, as well as the explosion in 
Texas. These are just examples of what these agents are doing. They 
deserve a full-time leader.
  Mr. Jones is a former marine. He has five children. He has been going 
back and forth in Minnesota between the U.S. attorney's job and doing 
the ATF job for 2 years.
  Enough is enough. I am glad we are moving forward with this 
nomination. I am glad for Mr. Jones, who deserves it, and who has been 
willing to put his name forward, willing to come in, clean up this 
agency after Fast and Furious and all the concerns we all had with that 
effort. He was willing to come in, take over this very difficult job, 
and do two jobs at once. He deserves to be confirmed for this job.
  I am pleased for the agents as well, those 2,400 hard-working people 
who simply go to work every day, immune from the politicians, immune 
from what Democrats think or what Republicans think. They just deserve 
a boss. That is what this vote is about.

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