[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S601-S602]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Nomination of Eric Turner

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, sometime today, we are confirming Scott 
Turner as the new Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. As a 
former NFL cornerback, developer, State and local official, and 
Executive Director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization 
Council, Mr. Turner understands the challenges facing American 
communities.
  While the vast majority of housing and development issues are solved 
at the local and State level, I certainly understand how the Federal 
Government and the programs utilized by many Iowa individuals, 
families, and communities assist with making our cities the best place 
to live, work, and play.
  I look forward to working with Scott Turner to advance Iowa's 
priorities and sound policies for our Nation.
  Even though I did not meet with Scott Turner in my office, as I do 
with most nominees for the Cabinet, I stressed to him today the 
importance of responding to congressional letters and inquiries, and I 
will have an example on that in just a minute.
  I want to explain that Congress has the constitutional duty to 
perform oversight over the executive branch and, as we learn in our 
high school government classes, what we call checks and balances. 
Congress not only passes laws and appropriates money, but we have a 
responsibility to make sure that those laws are faithfully executed by 
whoever is President of the United States. Oversight then allows us to 
hold bureaucrats accountable to the rule of law, and it helps keep the 
faith with taxpayers, because, if we have transparency in government, 
we have greater accountability of the government product or lack 
thereof.
  Let me give you an example where congressional oversight has been 
much needed at Housing and Urban Development. Congress passed 
legislation that became effective July 2013 that requires Federal 
contracts to include anti-retaliation protections for contractor 
employees. This works to make sure that whistleblowers are protected.
  However, over the last decade, the HUD inspector general found that 
thousands of HUD contractors lacked these whistleblower protections 
because the Agency failed to adequately update past contracts to 
include whistleblowers and whistleblower protections.
  Last August, following up on my responsibility to investigate, I 
requested answers and records about these findings, but Housing and 
Urban Development, under the Biden administration, failed to fully 
respond and provide responsive records.
  I fully expect Mr. Turner, as the new Secretary, to respond to all 
the congressional inquiries in a timely and responsible manner.
  I look forward to working with this new Secretary to support long-
term housing and revitalization policies to keep our communities, our 
States, and our Nation strong.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.

[[Page S602]]

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.