[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 201 (Monday, November 30, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7099-S7100]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     BIDEN ADMINISTRATION NOMINEES

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, now on President-Elect Biden's nominees, 
as President-Elect Biden prepares to assume office on January 20, he is 
beginning to announce a slate of qualified, experienced public servants 
whom he intends to nominate to his Cabinet or other key administrative 
positions.
  This morning, the President-elect announced that he has assembled his 
core economic team, led by another Brooklyn native, Janet Yellen, who 
would be the first woman to ever hold the title of Treasury Secretary. 
The President-elect's economic team clearly has the experience, the 
knowledge, and the prowess to meet the seriousness of this moment. More 
than that, they understand the needs of all Americans because they 
represent all different kinds of Americans.
  They will get to work not just on rebuilding our economy but striving 
to

[[Page S7100]]

provide greater and more equitable prosperity to future generations.
  Alongside the President-elect's deeply experienced national security 
team and his soon-to-be-announced health team, his economic team will 
ensure that the incoming Biden-Harris administration will hit the 
ground running.
  Everyone knows that the Senate plays a pivotal role in confirming a 
new President's Cabinet. In the midst of this once-in-a-century crisis, 
it is imperative that the next administration can count on the Senate 
to confirm its Cabinet without delay, so hearings on President-Elect 
Biden's nominees should begin in January, immediately after the Georgia 
runoff elections.
  Let me say that again. The Senate should begin hearings on President-
Elect Biden's nominees in January, immediately after the Georgia Senate 
elections, so that key Cabinet officials can be confirmed on January 20 
and soon thereafter, which is traditional for a new President. Senate 
committees held hearings for President Obama's nominees and President 
Trump's in early January, before the inauguration. Majority and 
minority staff should begin preparation for those hearings as 
President-Elect Biden names his Cabinet.
  Now, President-Elect Biden's slate of intended nominees provides a 
stark contrast to the caliber of nominees advanced by the current Trump 
administration over the past 4 years. The early days of the Trump 
Presidency were defined by high-level appointments of individuals who 
were manifestly unqualified, plagued by ethical complaints, or swimming 
in conflicts of interest--sometimes all three.
  At the time, Republicans in the Senate lined up to confirm President 
Trump's appointments, arguing that a President deserves his Cabinet and 
broad deference on his nominees. I would hope the same deference would 
be extended to President-Elect Biden's nominees, especially considering 
the obvious gulf in quality, experience, and ethics.
  Already, however, the Republicans are twisting themselves into 
pretzels to explain their reflexive opposition to these outstanding 
selections. Neera Tanden, who would be the first woman of color to ever 
run the OMB, the Office of Management and Budget, is so eminently 
qualified that some on the Republican side--grasping at straws--have 
taken issue with comments made on Twitter criticizing the policy 
positions of Republicans in Congress.
  Honestly, the hypocrisy is astounding. If Republicans are concerned 
about criticism on Twitter, their complaints are better directed at 
President Trump, who has made a hobby out of denigrating Republican 
Senators on Twitter.
  I fully expect to see some crocodile tears spilled on the other side 
of the aisle over the President-elect's Cabinet nominees, but it will 
be very tough to take those crocodile tears seriously. Our Republican 
colleagues are on the record supporting some of the least qualified, 
most unethical, and downright sycophantic Federal nominees in recent 
memory
  Many defended the conduct of previous OMB Director Russell Vought, 
who allowed foreign aid to be held up for political reasons, resulting 
in the President's impeachment. Right now, Republicans in Congress are 
looking the other way while President Trump pardons a man who pled 
guilty to the FBI.
  So, again, it will be impossible to take these overblown complaints 
over President-Elect Biden's nominees very seriously. Given the urgent 
need to address COVID-19 and its economic fallout, the Senate should 
follow precedent and promptly hold hearings on President-Elect Biden's 
nominees in January, immediately after the Georgia elections, before 
inauguration.
  The American people cannot afford to wait to have its government 
working at full force to keep them safe, defeat the virus, and get our 
economy back on track.
  I yield the floor.

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