Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Continuing Work To Confirm Nominations And Senate Floor Business This Week
Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on the Senate’s upcoming votes to confirm Administration and judicial nominees, temporary extension of FAA funding, and on military nominations and promotions. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:
It will be a busy day here on the floor, with votes on three highly qualified nominees to serve in the administration and on the federal bench. For the information of Senators, we will hold votes today on three nominations.
Christopher Fonzone to be Assistant Attorney General.
Sara Hill to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma. A member of the Cherokee Nation, Ms. Hill would make history as the first-ever Native American woman to serve as a Federal Judge in the State of Oklahoma.
And finally, Elizabeth Richard to serve as President Biden’s Coordinator for Counterterrorism, a position that has the rank of Ambassador at Large.
Before the Senate adjourns for the holidays, we must also pass a temporary extension of FAA funding or else funding will run out on December 31st. A funding extension for the FAA is critical for minimizing chaos during the holiday season, so Congress must get this done as soon as we can.
Finally, before we leave for the Christmas holiday, the Senate will also finish confirming the last of the military nominees held up by Senator Tuberville.
A few weeks ago, the Senate finally confirmed the vast majority of officers and military nominees that were on hold.
And at the end of last week, the Senate unanimously passed legislation providing for back pay for all military personnel affected by these damaging holds. Providing back pay for these military families was the very, very least the Senate could do to right this awful wrong, and I am glad we did it.
But we’re not quite done yet. There are still 11 nominees that are awaiting confirmation.
We will not leave town until every last one of these delayed nominees is finally confirmed. I hope we can do so quickly.
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