Amy Klobuchar: “I rise in support of the nomination of Todd Jones to be Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and…”

“I rise in support of the nomination of Todd Jones to be Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. I wish to first thank Senator Coons for his remarks about Samantha Power. I am also looking forward to the vote on her confirmation. I am looking forward to her service. This is a very important job. As the Presiding Officer knows, the ATF has an incredibly important role in investigating crimes and terrorist incidents such as the Boston Marathon. They recently investigated the explosion in Texas that took so many innocent lives. This must be a top priority for the United States of America. Yet this is a position where there are 2,400 agents--2,400 ATF agents--and they have gone without a permanent Director for 7 years, ever since this became a confirmable position. This happened under President Bush. There was not a confirmed Director. It is happening now up until today under President Obama. It is time to change that. It is simply time to change it. I know Todd Jones. For 2 years he has served as the U.S. attorney of Minnesota at the same time he is serving as the ATF Director. That is not an easy job. He has five children. He is a former marine. He was willing to take on the ATF job after the Fast and Furious debacle. He was willing to come in after that and help to clean up that agency and make some very tough decisions. He took on that job while still remaining the U.S. attorney in Minnesota. I would note he served as the U.S.…”