[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 218 (Friday, December 17, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S9274]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              Nominations

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, on nominations, in a few moments, we are 
going to begin confirming a slew of nominees to serve in the Biden 
administration that, up until now, have been needlessly obstructed by a 
handful--just a handful--of Senate Republicans. But under the rules, 
they can do that.
  Confirming these nominees is one of the most basic constitutional 
responsibilities of the U.S. Senate. It is bigger than the interests of 
any one Senator. It is about ensuring our government is able to 
effectively serve the American people here at home and advance the 
American interests overseas.
  For decades, both sides--both sides--have understood that each 
President, regardless of party, deserves to have their administration 
filled, and we have worked together to make that happen, particularly 
for noncontroversial and less senior nominees. But today's blockade is 
a beast of a different nature.
  Right now, over 150--150--of President Biden's nominees are stalled 
by a handful of Republican Senators who have hijacked the rules of the 
Senate for no other reason than obstruction for its own sake. Many 
received bipartisan support in committee.
  These aren't low-priority nominees--whatever that means. Many of 
these men and women would deal with matters of diplomacy and national 
security. That is what Republicans are blocking. Some of them would 
help implement the bipartisan infrastructure bill. That is what 
Republicans are blocking.
  From fighting inflation to relieving supply chains, to advancing U.S. 
national security, many of the men and women who are nominated would be 
the ones who would actually do this work. Let me repeat that. For all 
the howling and hollering we hear from Republicans about inflation, 
national security, and economic recovery, they are blocking the very 
same people whose jobs it would be to tackle these issues. It is 
``Alice in Wonderland'' logic.
  There are no justifications for their delay--none. Listening to the 
other side twist themselves into pretzels, it is clear that their game 
is simple, cynical, self-interested obstruction. And I thank my 
colleagues on this side of the aisle for coming to the floor day after 
day to shine a spotlight on the real-world impact of Republicans' 
obstruction.
  This is the consequence of Republican obstruction. We are going to 
keep voting in this Chamber as we work to get these nominees confirmed.