[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 221 (Tuesday, December 29, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S7967]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CONFIRMATION OF ERIC J. SOSKIN

  Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, for over 40 years, inspectors general have 
acted as independent, nonpartisan watchdogs tasked with preventing and 
uncovering fraud, waste, and abuse in the Federal Government. Simply 
put, inspectors general make sure government is doing what it's 
supposed to do. To accomplish this immense task, inspectors general 
must be experienced in oversight, trusted by both political parties, 
and ready to hit the ground running on any audits, investigations, and 
other reviews of their agencies.
  Unfortunately, the nominee for inspector general that we considered 
last week does not meet this basic test.
  The Department of Transportation is charged with ensuring that 
America has the safest, most efficient and modern transportation system 
in the world, so that Americans are able to travel safely and 
efficiently by road, rail, or air. The Department has an annual budget 
of over $87 billion and employs over 55,000 personnel, with a footprint 
in every State.
  The DOT inspector general must be ready to oversee the full range of 
these activities, from every dollar that funds our highways to every 
safety decision issued by DOT regulators. To meet this task, the office 
employs over 400 personnel, with an annual budget of over $94 million.
  Eric Soskin, the nominee for DOT inspector general, is not qualified 
to oversee an agency of this size and scope, or to lead the activities 
of one of the largest Offices of Inspector General in the Federal 
Government. Mr. Soskin does not have any experience managing large 
organizations. He has never worked in an Office of Inspector General, 
and he does not have experience in many of the basic activities of such 
an office, like audits or inspections. Although he has legal 
experience, he has not focused on DOT or transportation issues at any 
point in his career.
  While I appreciate Mr. Soskin's service at the Department of Justice 
and his enthusiasm for the position, he simply lacks the qualifications 
to ensure DOT is fulfilling its responsibilities.
  I am most troubled, however, by the increasing politicization of 
inspectors general by the President and by the majority.
  Since 1981, this body has confirmed over 150 inspectors general; 
until last week, all but two of these nominees had been confirmed by 
unanimous consent, a voice vote, or a unanimous vote. The reason for 
this is simple: To do their jobs, inspectors general must be trusted by 
each member of Congress and by every American, regardless of political 
party.
  Until this Congress, when an inspector general has faced significant 
opposition, the Senate either worked through any concerns or declined 
to advance the nomination. The majority did not force through partisan 
or unqualified nominees. That is how we have upheld this institution. 
That is how we have maintained trust in the independence, 
qualifications, and integrity of inspectors general.
  This Congress, we held our first party-line vote in 40 years to 
confirm a deeply partisan inspector general nominee. We have now 
confirmed yet another inspector general on a party-line vote during a 
lameduck session, with a nominee who was already rejected by nearly 
half of the Commerce Committee and as well as on the Senate floor.
  The inspector general is a position that continues across 
administrations. It is one with tremendous authority to look at every 
agency record, to interview any employee, and to carry out criminal 
investigations. We cannot transform this institution into one of 
Democratic inspectors general and Republican inspectors general. This 
is not and cannot become a political position.
  Inspectors General hold government accountable to the law and to the 
American people. And it is our responsibility to protect this 
institution and reject any nomination that will undermine their 
independent, nonpartisan work.

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