[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 1371-1372]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION

  Mrs. SHAHEEN. Madam President, finally, I want to ask unanimous 
consent to move Adam Szubin, who has been nominated to be Under 
Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Crimes. He has also been waiting 
almost a year. He is somebody who Senator Shelby, chairman of the 
Banking Committee, has said is eminently qualified, but the Banking 
Committee still has not voted to move his nomination to the Senate 
floor.
  His position is very critical because he would lead the policy, 
enforcement, regulatory, and intelligence functions of the Treasury 
Department. They are aimed at identifying and disrupting the lines of 
financial support to international terrorist organizations to a whole 
range of other bad actors.
  Next week on the Senate floor we are supposed to take up sanctions on 
North Korea. How can we in good faith tell the American people we are 
going to enforce sanctions on North Korea when we haven't been willing 
to fill the position that is responsible for doing that enforcement? It 
belies understanding that we are not going to move forward.
  Again, this is a position that I know is supported by the Foreign 
Relations Committee. The Republican chair of the Foreign Relations 
Committee has been very supportive of moving Adam Szubin's nomination, 
just as he has been supportive of moving the two Ambassadors, of moving 
Ambassador Shannon.
  This is not a partisan issue. This is an issue about what we are 
doing to ensure the national security of this country. It is 
unfortunate we have rules in the Senate that allow one person to hold 
things up for an indefinite period of time when the national security 
of the country is at stake.

[[Page 1372]]

  Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to 
executive session and the Banking Committee be discharged from further 
consideration of PN371, the nomination of Adam Szubin to be Under 
Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Crimes; that the Senate proceed 
to its consideration and vote without intervening action or debate; 
that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid 
upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further 
motions be in order to the nomination; that any statements related to 
the nomination be printed in the Record; that the President be 
immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume 
legislative session.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  The Senator from Utah.
  Mr. LEE. On behalf of the senior Senator from Alabama, I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  Mrs. SHAHEEN. Again, it is disappointing that the senior Senator from 
Alabama isn't here to talk about his concerns about Adam Szubin and why 
he is still on hold in the Banking Committee and that we haven't heard 
from the majority leader in the Senate about the importance of moving 
not only Adam Szubin's nomination but these other nominations that are 
critical as we make sure we do what we need to, to protect this 
country.
  I am disappointed, but as Senator Klobuchar said, we will be back.
  I yield the floor.
  Madam President, 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. NELSON. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. Ernst). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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