[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 121 (Monday, July 12, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S4812]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                     Nomination of David H. Chipman

  Madam President, we have before us a nomination. I am not sure when 
it will be called, but it was a product of our Judiciary Committee. 
David Chipman was nominated by President Biden, to serve as the next 
Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
  Madam President, you know the answer to this question but most don't: 
When was the last time that Agency had a Director chosen by Congress 
through the orderly process? Well, it was about 6 years ago. That was 
the last time. It turned out to be the only time in the history of the 
Agency.
  But why would an Agency of the government go on for years without a 
duly selected Director? Well, it was an intentional strategy by those 
gun groups to make sure that this Agency, as important as it is, didn't 
have a leader, and as a consequence was not as effective as it should 
be
  David Chipman was born in New Hampshire and has a B.S. from American 
University and an M.S. from Johns Hopkins. In our committee, we 
recognized the fact that he had 25 years of law enforcement experience. 
He is a responsible gun owner himself, and he has advocated for 
commonsense gun safety measures.
  I think he is well qualified to serve as the head of the ATF. He 
spent decades working in that Agency, including serving as a special 
agent in Virginia, Texas, and Michigan. He would be the first former 
ATF agent to head the Bureau, and this experience has equipped him with 
the skills he needs.
  Chipman would only be the second confirmed Director in the Agency's 
history, as I mentioned. A lifelong gun owner, he knows firsthand the 
responsibility of gun ownership and the commonsense safety measures 
that go hand in hand with it.
  He is uniquely positioned to counter a false narrative, pushed by the 
gun lobby, that he has a radical or somehow contrary to the Second 
Amendment view.
  Chipman's knowledge of firearms and gun policy is unparalleled. He 
gained his insight not only working in law enforcement but also as an 
adviser to one of the Nation's top violence prevention organizations.
  Congress and the Biden administration must take action to address gun 
violence in the city of Chicago, in the city of Springfield, IL, and 
all across this Nation. It is an urgent issue for all of us. That is 
why we should pick, as quickly as we can, a leader like David Chipman 
to lead the ATF Agency.