[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 91 (Wednesday, May 25, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S2695]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                   Nomination of Samuel R. Bagenstos

  Mr. President, let me turn now to the nomination we will be voting on 
in a few moments, Samuel Bagenstos, to serve as general counsel of the 
Department of Health and Human Services.
  Just a few words on why the Senate ought to support the nomination. 
He is an experienced public servant, an accomplished lawyer and 
educator. He currently serves as general counsel to the Office of 
Management and Budget. He previously served as Principal Deputy 
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. He has been a leader in 
the State of Michigan on the issue of workers' rights. He has argued 
cases before the Supreme Court. He is a highly respected law professor 
on leave from the University of Michigan.
  He has got the experience to serve as HHS general counsel and the 
right outlook on what public service in the law is all about. I am 
particularly pleased that he has been a crusader for the rights of 
Americans with disabilities. He has argued cases before the Court on 
the subject. He literally wrote the book--the most prominent law school 
casebook--on disability rights law.
  During the Finance Committee hearing on his nomination, he talked 
about how that experience and perspective will guide his work in the 
Department if he is confirmed. I am sure pleased to see somebody like 
this attracted to public service, protecting vulnerable people--people 
who fall between the cracks all too often, all too often. That is the 
key to improving the health and well-being of all Americans.
  This nominee, Mr. Bagenstos, is the right choice for Health and Human 
Services general counsel. He is highly qualified, deserving of broad 
support. We will be voting on his nomination in a few minutes. I urge 
all Senators to support this nominee.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Ohio.
  Mr. BROWN. Thanks, Mr. President. I always enjoy following my friend 
from Oregon who has done such important work on tax and trade law and 
Medicare and Medicaid and everything since his career began as a young 
Gray Panther.