[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 25, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S1828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Nomination of James Bishop

  Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I rise today in opposition to 
Congressman Bishop's nomination to be the Deputy Director of the Office 
of Management and Budget.
  The Office of Management and Budget, or OMB, is responsible for a 
range of critical functions, from developing and executing the Federal 
budget to improving Agency performance and reviewing regulations.
  Given his record and views, I have serious concerns about how 
Congressman Bishop will help lead this important office.
  First of all, I am concerned by his willingness to break the law, 
especially when it comes to Congress's power of the purse. He supports 
the administration's efforts to illegally withhold funding that 
Congress has passed into law.
  Like all of my colleagues in Congress, I swore an oath to uphold and 
follow the laws set forth in our Constitution, which affirms that 
Congress--and Congress alone--is responsible for deciding how Federal 
funds are spent, not the President or members of his administration.
  The administration's actions so far to freeze congressionally 
approved funds have already rocked communities all across my home State 
of Michigan, as well as across the entire Nation. These communities 
count on the funds appropriated by Congress to upgrade their roads and 
bridges and pay their police and first responders.
  If confirmed, Congressman Bishop will only be a rubberstamp for 
Donald Trump and Director Vought's flagrant disregard for the spending 
laws passed by Congress.
  Congressman Bishop has also been a staunch supporter of mass layoffs 
within the Federal workforce that undermine our government's ability to 
provide vital services to the American people.
  Our nonpartisan civil servants play vital roles in protecting our 
national security, caring for our veterans, and ensuring the safety of 
our transportation system. If we allow the Trump administration to 
indiscriminately fire these nonpartisan experts and replace them with 
their political cronies, they will only put our Nation and our people 
at risk.
  Finally, I am alarmed by his complete disregard for the law when it 
comes to whistleblower protections. As a Member of Congress, he 
revealed the name of a whistleblower--in direct violation of the law--
and jeopardized the safety of that individual and their family. We 
simply cannot trust anyone who is willing to break the law to retaliate 
against a whistleblower exposing wrongdoing to help such a critical 
Agency within the Federal Government.
  And if Congressman Bishop is confirmed, I am concerned that he will 
defy our duly passed laws and our Constitution to continue President 
Trump, Elon Musk, and Director Vought's assault on the Federal 
Government and the critical services that it provides all Americans.
  Because of this, I oppose Congressman Bishop's nomination, and I 
would urge my colleagues to do the same.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.