Byron Dorgan: “It is critically important at this point in time to have this Congress confirm the President's nominee for the head of…”

“It is critically important at this point in time to have this Congress confirm the President's nominee for the head of Customs. The Customs Commissioner job has been open for some long while. The President, in my judgment, submitted the name of someone who is a well-qualified person who will do a good job. It is hung up. There is a hold on it over some other issue. It doesn't make any sense. The Customs Service at this point is right at the center with a range of other agencies having to deal with this terrorist threat. A significant amount of our law enforcement is embedded in the Customs Service. We need good leadership. ... It is important this week that we implore our colleagues who are holding nominees up--especially in critical areas--for the sake of this country, to get out of the way and to get the President's appointees, especially for an agency such as this, in place.”