“[John Brennan’s] extensive intelligence background and executive experience uniquely qualify him to lead the Central Intelligence Agency.”

“Unfortunately, the confirmation process has focused too much this year on partisan, political considerations and not enough on the quality of the nominees.”

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding a Republican filibuster of John Brennan’s nomination to director of the Central Intelligence Agency, as well as the ongoing violence in Syria. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

Each day the world watches in horror as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad carries out a campaign of wanton violence that has killed more than 70,000 of his own citizens. These atrocities have gone on for far too long. It is time that this awful dictator steps down and allows his people to pursue a peaceful transition to democracy.

Assad grows increasingly desperate, as rebels continue to gain ground despite the full force of Assad’s military arsenal. President Assad should understand the world is watching his every action. And we will not tolerate his unforgiveable slaughter of innocent civilians, including through the potential future use of chemical weapons. President Obama has been clear: the use of such chemical weapons would constitute a “red line” for the United States and for the international community.

Rather than continue to kill his own people, President Assad should end the bloodshed and relinquish power to Syria’s citizens.

As America closely observes unfolding events in Syria, and deals with varied threats around the world, it is crucial that President Obama has a seasoned national security team in place.

It’s often said there is no substitute for experience, so it’s natural that 25-year CIA veteran John Brennan was reported out of the Senate Intelligence Committee yesterday on an overwhelming, bipartisan vote. Mr. Brennan is a highly qualified nominee and should be confirmed quickly.

As Deputy National Security Advisor since 2009, John Brennan has been President Obama’s chief homeland security and counterterrorism advisor. He has been at the forefront of every major national security decision made during the Obama Administration. He is responsible for the White House response to pandemics, cyber threats, natural disasters and terrorism attacks. And he played an instrumental role in finding Osama bin Laden and decimating al Qaeda.

But his distinguished intelligence career began more than 30 years ago, when he joined the CIA as a career trainee straight out of graduate schools. Mr. Brennan worked his way up through the agency to serve in senior management roles at the CIA – including as Deputy Executive Director under George Tenant.

Years spent working on covert and analytic missions, and as Chief of Station in Saudi Arabia, gave him a comprehensive understanding of the CIA’s capabilities and inner workings. And Mr. Brennan’s knowledge of the Middle East will be essential as we continue work to defeat al Qaeda and other terrorist threats.

John Brennan has distinguished himself outside of government, as well. He spent four years in the private sector as president and CEO of The Analysis Corporation. His extensive intelligence background and executive experience uniquely qualify him to lead the Central Intelligence Agency.

Just as the CIA faces challenges abroad, it also faces significant decisions about its own future. John Brennan must guide the CIA’s through a thorough consideration of the agency’s relationship with the United States military, how the agency should respond to conclusions of a recent Senate Intelligence Committee report on interrogation practices and the agency’s response to demands for transparency. These considerations must not be made lightly, and John Brennan will give them the attention they deserve in his role as director.

The Senate must also approach its duty to advise and consent with the solemnity it deserves. Unfortunately, the confirmation process has focused too much this year on partisan, political considerations and not enough on the quality of the nominees.

I am disappointed that I am forced to file cloture on Mr. Brennan’s nomination today. My Republican colleagues have already obstructed several critical nominations this year. I hope that pattern of obstructionist behavior will not persist. But I remain optimistic that, in Mr. Brennan’s case, concerns for national security will outweigh the desire to grandstand for the Tea Party.

“Republicans have, again and again, injected politics into the confirmation process.”

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding Republican efforts to obstruct President Obama’s highly qualified judicial and cabinet nominations Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

This week the Senate will consider a handful of nominations. Tonight Senators will vote on confirmation of two district court judges, Pamela Chen to serve as United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York and Katherine Failla to serve as United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York. Later this week we will consider the nomination of Caitlin Joan Halligan to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, which currently has four vacancies.

Ms. Halligan’s colleagues say she has a “brilliant legal mind” and an “abiding respect for the law.” But despite her outstanding credentials and strong support from across the political spectrum, Republicans filibustered her confirmation last Congress.

President Obama is the only president in the 65-year history of the D.C. Circuit Court not to have a single judge confirmed to that court during his first term. Since Ms. Halligan was nominated, two additional vacancies have opened up on the D.C. Circuit. The court desperately needs more judges.

This week, the Senate will also consider the nomination of John Brennan to lead the Central Intelligence Agency. The Intelligence Committee is expected to report his nomination tomorrow. Mr. Brennan served 25 years at the CIA and four years on the White House national security staff, where he played an instrumental role in finding Osama bin Laden and decimating al Qaeda. He is highly qualified, and should be confirmed quickly.

This week will be a test of Republicans’ good will. My Republican colleagues say they respect the Senate’s responsibility to advise and consent. My Republican colleagues say they don’t plan to obstruct the confirmation process for the sake of obstruction. But they filibustered President Obama’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, a former Republican Senator, delaying Secretary Hagel’s confirmation for nearly two weeks.

Republicans say they will not filibuster. But their actions say otherwise.

Republicans say they are just requiring 60-vote thresholds. But the difference between a filibuster and requiring a 60-vote threshold on nominations is a distinction without a difference.

In a nation founded on a principle of justice for all, it is crucial that we adequately staff our federal courts. And at a time when America faces so many threats abroad, it’s crucial we have a talented and dedicated individual like John Brennan leading our most prominent intelligence agency. Yet Republicans have, again and again, injected politics into the confirmation process – both when considering judicial nominees and, most recently, when considering cabinet nominees.

There was once a time when Republicans were the ones defending the right of the President to choose the players on his team. But back then there was a Republican in the White House. In 2001, the Senior Senator from Utah touted the, “longstanding tradition in the Senate… [to] afford the President a significant degree of deference to shape his Cabinet as he sees fit.” Four years later, after President Bush was reelected, the Senior Senator from Arizona pointed out that elections have consequences and said, “The President has a right to put into place the team he believes will serve him best.”

As we consider key nominations this week, and in the weeks to come, I hope my Republican colleagues honor that longstanding tradition of the Senate. And I urge Republicans to consider that – if the Senate fails to properly staff our national security agencies or the nation’s judicial system – our inaction will also have consequences.

“I applaud President Obama for his thoughtful choices to head the Pentagon and the CIA. I’ve worked extensively with these two nominees and have always found them to be men of integrity and dedication. Both will be effective leaders in the positions to which they have been nominated.

“Senator Hagel has a deep understanding of the national security establishment, which grew out of his experiences as a decorated war veteran, a former member of the Senate’s Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees, and a member of the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. Few nominees have such a combination of strategic and personal knowledge of our national defense needs.

“John Brennan’s current role as a top national security adviser to the President, and his 25 years of service at the CIA, make him a very qualified candidate for a job vital to our national security. He has been part of a team that in recent years successfully rolled back terrorist threats to America and its allies, such as the operation that eliminated Osama bin Laden.

“I trust that all Senators will give these two men a fair and constructive confirmation process. The Senate takes seriously its role in advice and consent and I expect that this body will live up to this tradition and responsibility.”

“General David Petraeus is one of this country’s finest public servants, and will retire from the United States military with a far-reaching and unparalleled legacy. This man could leave public service to make millions working in the business community, but he walked away from that money because he thinks he has more to give his country. That dedication is the true epitome of patriotism.

“I am grateful for his three and a half decades of admirable service to this country, including his service during key transitional periods in both Iraq and Afghanistan, when the President and our country needed him. His extensive experience working with the intelligence community will be invaluable at the CIA. I am glad that this distinguished soldier will continue to serve the administration and provide continuity during a critical point for American foreign policy.”

Washington, DC—El Líder de la Mayoría del Senado Harry Reid hizo las siguientes declaraciones después de que el Gen. David Petraeus fuera confirmado como director de la Agencia Central de Inteligencia (CIA):

“El General David Petraeus es uno de los más grandes servidores que tiene nuestro país, y se retirará de las Fuerzas Armadas de Estados Unidos dejando atrás un legado difícil de igualar. Este caballero podría fácilmente irse al sector privado ganarse un salario en los millones, pero no tuvo reparos en ignorar ese dinero, porque cree que puede contribuirle aun mas a su país. Esa dedicación es el máximo ejemplo del patriotismo.

“Estoy muy agradecido por sus más de tres décadas de admirable servicio a la patria, incluyendo todo lo que hizo durante el periodo de transición en Irak y Afganistán, cuando nuestro país y el Presidente mas lo necesitaron. Su extensa experiencia trabajando con nuestros servicios de inteligencia serán extremadamente valiosos en la CIA. Me alegra que este distinguido soldado continúe su servicio en la administración, y que le provea continuidad durante momentos que son críticos para la política exterior estadounidense”.

CONTACTO: José Dante Parra, Reid, (202) 224-2939

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“I am pleased that my friend Leon Panetta will bring his long record of service, first in Congress and then in both the Clinton and Obama Administrations, to the job of Secretary of Defense. His work at the CIA has helped strengthen and rebuild trust in the agency and we all have benefited from his leadership. Director Panetta is taking the helm at a crucial time for the Pentagon, in the midst of two wars and as we close in on our July deadline to begin the drawdown of troops from Afghanistan. We need the kind of experienced leadership he can provide.

“When I met with General Petraeus recently, I expressed my appreciation for his willingness to serve in Afghanistan when the President and our country needed him. I am grateful for his three and a half decades of admirable service to this country. His command of American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan during key transitional periods and his extensive experience working with the intelligence community will be invaluable at the CIA.

“I am glad that both of these distinguished leaders will continue to serve the Administration and provide continuity on our national security agenda. General Petraeus and Director Panetta will ensure smooth transitions during a critical point for American foreign policy – in the midst of two wars, with continued unrest in the Middle East and as we face ongoing threats from international terrorism.”