[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 63 (Thursday, April 11, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2399-S2400]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                     Nomination of David Bernhardt

  Mr. McCONNELL. Today the Senate will vote to confirm the President's 
choice to serve as Secretary of the Interior. As I have discussed this 
week, David Bernhardt is no stranger to the Department. He has served 
twice before. In fact, this body has confirmed him twice before. Each 
time his professionalism and dedication proved us right. As Solicitor 
and as Deputy Secretary, Mr. Bernhardt has offered capable leadership 
and a firm grasp on the complex policy environment surrounding our 
Nation's public lands.
  His expertise has not gone unnoticed. Praise for Mr. Bernhardt has 
poured in from a list of more than 40 stakeholder organizations; from 
agriculture, trade, conservation, and Native American organizations.
  They describe him as a leader whose ``experience is sorely needed.'' 
They laud his commitment to ``make the lands he manages accessible to 
the recreating public.''
  So we have before us an opportunity to confirm a well-qualified 
steward of our Nation's public lands and resources. Yesterday, a 
bipartisan majority of our colleagues voted to end debate on his 
nomination, and I hope each will join me in voting yes once more later 
today.

[[Page S2400]]

  Of course, confirming Mr. Bernhardt will be just the latest in a 
series of many Executive Calendar accomplishments. Following on the 
heels of last week's turn back toward the Senate's historic tradition 
concerning nominations, we have been able to approve a number of the 
President's nominees at a much more reasonable pace in the last several 
days.
  I have noted, with particular interest that, for all the breathless 
warnings my Democratic colleagues issued about the kinds of people we 
would be confirming, these unobjectionable nominees have actually 
mostly coasted through on a bipartisan basis.
  We saw support from both sides of the aisle for Roy Altman to the 
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and for 
Daniel Domenico to the District of Colorado.
  We saw an overwhelming bipartisan vote in favor of confirming GEN 
John Abizaid to serve as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and a voice-voted 
confirmation for Jeffrey Kessler to serve as Assistant Secretary of 
Commerce.
  These are not lightning-rod people whom my Democratic colleagues 
would have eagerly debated and investigated for an additional 30 hours. 
They are the kind of thoroughly qualified public servants who used to 
sail briskly through the Senate without opposition.
  Now, even as my Democratic colleagues continue to require us to file 
cloture on individuals whom they actually go on to support, we are able 
to fill out the President's team at a more reasonable clip. There are 
still many empty seats left to fill, but this week's progress marks a 
great new beginning not just for the administration that needs its 
personnel but for the health of this institution.