Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Republican Obstruction Of President Biden’s Qualified And Essential Nominees And Urging The Senate To Confirm Dilawar Syed As Deputy Administrator Of The Small Business Administration

Washington, D.C. –  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor regarding Republican obstruction of President Biden’s qualified nominees and urged his colleagues to drop their opposition to Dilawar Syed’s nomination to be Deputy Administrator at the Small Business Administration. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

The Republican fixation on blocking qualified, uncontroversial, and essential nominees to fill roles in the Biden Administration has hit a shameful new low.

Yesterday, every single Republican on the Small Business Committee boycotted a hearing that would have held a vote on Dilawar Syed’s nomination for the No. 2 spot at the Small Business Administration.

If confirmed, Mr. Syed would be the highest ranking Muslim American in government.

This is the fifth time—the fifth time—that Republicans have failed to show up to a committee hearing for Mr. Syed.

To date—we’ve yet to hear a single legitimate reason for their opposition—at one point some of my Republican colleagues seemed to question Mr. Syed’s allegiance because of his affiliation with a Muslim voter education group. That is repugnant, and after those objections provoked fierce criticism Republicans came up with entirely new fabrications for their resistance.

But at no point have Republicans explained why Mr. Syed is not qualified for the job. Frankly they can’t because Mr. Syed is the definition of a qualified candidate: his nomination has been praised by hundreds of business groups, including the US Chamber of Commerce, hardly a liberal crowd.

It is shameful, unacceptable, and ridiculous for Republicans to keep stalling on Mr. Syed’s nomination. He is eminently qualified to serve in the SBA; why are Senate Republicans opposing Mr. Syed’s nomination?

And let me ask this again, because the question resonates: why are Senate Republicans opposing Mr. Syed’s nomination?

I ask my colleagues to drop their resistance and allow this excellent and straightforward nominee to receive confirmation.

###