[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 21, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S2106]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Nomination of Vanita Gupta

  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I would guess if the American people 
could give us a word of advice in the Senate, they would suggest that 
we do our best to work together and to try to establish priorities and 
meet them, and that we try to bring to the new administration of 
President Joseph Biden the most competent and qualified people that we 
can to help our Nation through this pandemic and our economic recovery. 
It is in that spirit that I close the debate on Vanita Gupta to be the 
next Associate Attorney General of the United States.
  Yesterday's verdict in Minnesota certainly caught the attention of 
many in America and across the world. The killing of George Floyd was 
resolved in a court of law. Sadly, he will not be with us, but his 
legacy lives on, and it depends on us to use that legacy to make 
America a better nation.
  Can we really come together and put law enforcement at the table with 
community leaders and civil rights leaders and find common ground?
  Can we keep our streets and communities and neighborhoods safe and do 
it without discrimination against any person or group in America?
  These are big challenges--tough challenges. But to meet them, we need 
the right people in positions of leadership. Vanita Gupta is one of 
those people.
  As a former civil rights advocate, she did extraordinary things--in 
Tulia, TX, and many other places--to show progress in the area of civil 
rights.
  As a former acting Assistant Attorney General in charge of civil 
rights, she worked with law enforcement organizations to try to resolve 
the very problems that we have seen in Minnesota and Illinois and 
virtually in every other State. She is a dedicated professional with an 
extraordinary resume who wants to continue to serve this Nation.

  Will she be able to work with law enforcement groups? Well, they 
think so because they support her. There is a long litany: National 
Sheriffs' Association, Major County Sheriffs of America, International 
Association of Chiefs of Police, Major Cities Chiefs, 53 former police 
chiefs or sheriffs, the Police Executive Research Forum, the Federal 
Law Enforcement Officers Association. The list goes on and on.
  But the simplest statement that was made comes from a pretty hard-
nosed group, the Fraternal Order of Police, and those who are in 
politics know you have to work to earn their support. Here is what they 
said about Vanita Gupta: ``Gupta always worked with us to find common 
ground, even when that seemed impossible.''
  Isn't that exactly what we want at this moment in American history as 
we cope with the civil rights challenges of our age? This is our 
chance.
  I hope the Senate, with its vote--I hope it is a bipartisan vote--
will give Vanita Gupta the chance to serve America again.
  I yield the floor.