[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 22 (Tuesday, February 5, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S861-S862]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             NOMINATION HOLD

  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, today I am placing a hold on the nomination 
of Elizabeth Darling to be Commissioner on Children, Youth and Families 
at the Department of Health and Human Services.
  Since Ms. Darling has been renominated by the administration in the 
116th Congress, the Department of Health and Human Services gave the 
State of South Carolina a green light for religious-based 
discrimination in its State-contracted foster care agencies. Adults who 
can provide safe, loving, and nurturing homes for foster kids will be 
denied that opportunity on religious grounds.
  I am also concerned about the slow implementation of the Family First 
Act, which the Finance Committee passed on a bipartisan basis in the 
last Congress. A big part of that law has been delayed, and the latest 
information I have heard regarding my concerns is that there are 
``robust conversations'' happening behind the scenes. I expect that to 
improve going forward.

[[Page S862]]

  For these reasons, I will object to any unanimous consent request 
concerning the nomination of Ms. Darling at this time.

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