Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Urging Republicans To Stop Stalling The Confirmation Of Dilawar Syed, President Biden’s Nominee To Be Deputy Administrator Of The Small Business Administration

Washington, D.C. –  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor urging Republicans to stop stalling the confirmation of Dilawar Syed, President Biden’s nominee to be Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

There are too many qualified and uncontroversial nominees still awaiting their confirmation because of shameful Republican delay.

Mr. Dilawar Syed is a particularly egregious example. Mr. Syed has been nominated to serve as the second in command at the SBA. He is the definition—the definition—of a qualified, uncontroversial nominee. His nomination has been praised by no less than the US Chamber of Commerce, hardly a liberal crowd.

And he’d be the highest-ranking Muslim in government.

But our Republican colleagues on the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee have not just blocked his vote, they even refuse to give him a markup. Their justifications keep changing from one explanation to another, which is another way of saying there seems to be zero legitimate grounds for opposing him.

Today he had been scheduled to have a markup, but because of Republicans, it has been pushed back yet again on account of their ridiculous concerns.

The political right seems to relish in trying to score political points by connecting far too many of President Biden’s nominees—many of whom happen to be individuals of color—to hot-button partisan issues, whether or not they have any relevance.

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?

Let me ask this again: why are Senate Republicans opposing Mr. Syed’s nomination?

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

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