[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S742]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                      Nomination of Russell Vought

  Mr. President, on a separate matter, Democrats last night 
filibustered another one of President Trump's well-qualified nominees. 
I sat in the presiding officer's chair during the wee hours of the 
night listening to concerns by the Democrats.
  The Democrats continue to want to slow things down. Republicans are 
not going to allow it to happen. We will push through their blockade. 
We will man the chair, continue with the Senate in session, and tonight 
we will confirm the 13th member of President Trump's Cabinet.
  We are confirming the Cabinet twice as fast as Democrats confirmed 
President Biden's Cabinet in 2021. This week, we will have confirmed 
five Cabinet members in just 4 days. Tonight's confirmation is for Russ 
Vought. He is going to be the Director of the Office of Management and 
Budget.
  President Trump deserves to have his nominees in place and do it 
quickly. Our pace has matched the urgency of the moment. We will push 
forward and move deliberately to confirm more nominees, that includes 
Robert Kennedy, Jr., to be the Secretary of the Department of Health 
and Human Services. It also includes Tulsi Gabbard to be the Director 
of National Intelligence.
  When necessary, we are voting late into the night, early in the 
morning, on weekends, and that is exactly what Republicans said we 
would do. We are serious about spending the time and pushing through 
the work to make sure the President has his Cabinet and his team in 
place.
  We are moving with the speed and commitment that we said because we 
know the President has a strong and active and bold agenda, and we are 
part of it, and he needs his team in place in order to accomplish it.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Hampshire is recognized.
  Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I come to the floor to join a number of 
my colleagues in expressing my opposition to Russell Vought to head up 
the Office of Management and Budget.