[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 181 (Wednesday, November 13, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S6545]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NOMINATION OF STEVEN J. MENASHI

  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I rise today to join many of my 
colleagues who have come to the floor to express my opposition to the 
nomination of Steven Menashi to U.S. circuit judge for the Second 
Circuit.
  I am disappointed that Mr. Menashi's nomination has moved forward 
even though he lacks the support of his home State senators. In the 
rush to confirm judges like Mr. Menashi, the Senate has chipped away at 
the traditions that allow us to properly advise and consent on 
nominations, which is our responsibility under the Constitution.
  Today, we are considering a nominee whose record has raised several 
concerning issues. While working as Principal Deputy General Counsel 
and as Acting General Counsel at the Department of Education, Menashi 
advised Secretary DeVos on the Department's efforts to withhold debt 
relief for students who were defrauded by their colleges, reverse the 
Obama administration's regulations on campus sexual assault, and delay 
the enforcement of rules designed to ensure that students of color with 
disabilities are treated fairly. And while at the White House Counsel's 
Office, Mr. Menashi has advised on the administration's efforts to end 
the deferred enforced departure program for Liberians and to restrict 
access to asylum.
  I am also concerned that, despite a request from all of the 
Democratic Senators on the Judiciary Committee, Mr. Menashi has refused 
to provide information about his knowledge or involvement in the events 
related to the telephone call between President Trump and Ukrainian 
President Zelensky on July 25, 2019.
  It is for these reasons that I am unable to support Mr. Menashi's 
confirmation.
  (At the request of Mr. Schumer, the following statement was ordered 
to be printed in the Record.)

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