[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 155 (Wednesday, September 27, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6178-S6179]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          Delrahim Nomination

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today, the Senate is voting to confirm 
Makan Delrahim to serve as the Assistant Attorney General for the 
Antitrust Division. When Mr. Delrahim was 10 years old, his family fled 
the tyranny of Iran and settled in the United States, knowing no 
English. Since then, Mr. Delrahim received his B.S. from the University 
of California in 1991, his J.D. from the George Washington University 
School of Law in 1995, and his M.S. from Johns Hopkins University in 
2002.
  Mr. Delrahim's professional career and broad range of legal 
experiences have prepared him well to lead the Antitrust Division. He 
has experience in both the private and public sectors. He has worked at 
various law firms and served in government, including as staff director 
to then-Chairman Hatch of the Senate Judiciary Committee, deputy 
counsel to the President of the United States, and Deputy Assistant 
Attorney General of the Antitrust Division at the Department of 
Justice. He also served as a Commissioner of the U.S. Antitrust 
Modernization Commission.
  Mr. Delrahim will serve as the highest ranking Iranian-American 
official ever at the Department of Justice. His journey epitomizes the 
American dream. He is well known and liked by my colleagues and me. I 
am pleased to support his nomination today.
  Mr. CRAPO. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, the confirmation of Makan Delrahim has been 
a top priority of mine. I know the man. He worked with us. He headed 
our Judiciary Committee staff. Amidst the rising controversy over 
antitrust law in the 21st century, he is precisely who we need in that 
position. I commend the President for having picked him.

[[Page S6179]]

  All of us, Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives, are 
going to make sure that our markets remain free and competitive. Cheap 
talking points are not going to cut it; only serious debate will.
  I am pleased that recent efforts to rise above the partisan fray and 
treat this subject with the seriousness it deserves have paid off 
today.
  I expect our colleagues to vote for Makan because of the high-quality 
lawyer he really is.
  I thank my colleagues for joining me in this debate. I congratulate 
Makan, who is sure to make us all very pleased with the way he can run 
things and the way he can begin this important work that he knows is 
important. We know it is important; I particularly know it is 
important.
  Makan has been an honest, decent, wonderful man. He is a good father. 
He has been a terrific staffer here on Capitol Hill. He has worked with 
both Democrats and Republicans in good faith. I think almost all of 
them, if they are honest, will say he was a very, very good person to 
work with and a wonderful person to fill this position.
  It is a blessing that someone like Makan, who comes from a very 
humble family, could rise to the top in this particular position in 
antitrust, and I am sure he will do an honest, decent job within the 
antitrust laws as they are configured and written.
  I am proud of him. I think the world of him. I hope everybody will 
vote for him. But if not, I will commend him, and I know he will do a 
good job in this particular position.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.