Amy Klobuchar: “I rise today in support of Dara Lindenbaum's nomination to be a Commissioner on the Federal Election…”

“I rise today in support of Dara Lindenbaum's nomination to be a Commissioner on the Federal Election Commission--FEC--the independent agency responsible for enforcing Federal campaign finance laws. Ms. Lindenbaum is an experienced nominee who is respected on both sides of the aisle; that is why earlier this month her nomination was reported out of the Rules Committee with bipartisan support, including from Ranking Member Blunt. I hope more of my Republican colleagues will join us in supporting her nomination today. I would also like to note that the last time the Senate considered the nomination of FEC Commissioners in December 2020, we confirmed two Republicans and one Democrat, who--importantly--restored a quorum to the Commission. Ms. Lindenbaum's confirmation will simply maintain the Commission's current partisan balance, since she has been nominated to fill the seat being vacated by Commissioner Walther after many years of service. The FEC is charged with a critical role in ensuring accountability in our system of government, and it was established by Congress in the wake of the Watergate scandal to restore the public's faith in our electoral processes, to make it clear that, in America, politicians must play by the rules, so that the votes of the people decide our elections. Now, 47 years later, the work of the FEC is as important as ever. The 2020 election cycle was the most expensive in history.…”