[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 11 (Friday, January 20, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S347-S348]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   INAUGURATION AND CABINET NOMINEES

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, in November's election, the people 
called for a new direction, a change from the last 8 years. Today, we 
took a meaningful step toward that new direction as we inaugurated a 
new President of the United States.
  I think it is important for all Americans--regardless of party--to 
remember the significance of inauguration day. As we celebrate our 
Nation's rich electoral tradition, we can begin to move our country 
forward together.
  It is always an honor to participate in the historical transition of 
power and the ceremonies surrounding it. Today was certainly no 
exception. On behalf of the Senate, I wish to express our gratitude to 
each individual, from law enforcement personnel to Inaugural Committee 
staff, to congressional staff of volunteers whose efforts made this 
event a success.
  I wish to again congratulate President Trump and Vice President Pence 
on today's inauguration. We are eager to work with you and the 
administration in advancing policies that can improve the lives of the 
American people.
  Today marks a new beginning. We are faced with many new 
opportunities. We are faced with some new challenges too. I will have 
more to say on that in the coming days. For now, the Senate remains 
hard at work as we move forward with the confirmation process on 
President Trump's nominees. We will have an opportunity to confirm some 
today.
  It is imperative to proceed with confirmations without delay, 
especially when it comes to key national and economic security needs. I 
urge colleagues to remember that we worked with the administration of 
former President Obama after he was first inaugurated. We confirmed 
seven--seven--members of his Cabinet on the day he took office and 
nearly the entire Cabinet was filled within 2 weeks.
  I wish to say, parenthetically, there is a lot the minority can do at 
the very beginning by refusing to give consent to drag this out, and 
that is what apparently is occurring here. The nominations we are not 
doing are not even controversial.
  I would hope the feeling around here would be at least on day one to 
have some level of cooperation. We should work in the same spirit with 
the current administration and put the rest of President Trump's team 
in place as soon as possible. Specifically, it is important that we 
confirm General Mattis and General Kelly to their crucial positions as 
the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security.
  That is not enough. We live in dangerous times. As the Democratic 
leader noted earlier just today, ``We face threats foreign and 
domestic.'' It is critical for the President to have a full national 
security team today, day one. That includes, in particular, the 
Director of the CIA. It makes no sense to

[[Page S348]]

leave the post open, not for another week, not for another day, not for 
another hour. America's enemies will not pause in plotting, planning, 
and training simply because the Democrats refuse to vote. The American 
people expect more.
  Earlier today, the Director and Deputy Director of the CIA resigned. 
They left. They are gone. The Director's job is open and unfilled. We 
need to confirm a new Director today. We need to confirm the rest of 
the Cabinet as quickly as we can.
  Republicans treated a newly inaugurated President Obama's nominees 
fairly, and our Democratic friends should do so now. Our country is 
counting on it. I am told we want to have some debate about this. We 
will have as much debate time, starting right now, as our Democratic 
colleagues would like, but at the end of the debate, today--not 
Monday--we should install a new CIA Director.

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