Nominations have long been one of the primary means by which this Committee--especially those in the minority--can provide a check on this rulemaking bureaucracy.

it is with great pleasure that I join my friend Senator Manchin from West Virginia in introducing legislation authorizing a Congressional Gold Medal for United States Air Force Fighter Aces. This bill specifically honors those American…

The White House systematically delayed in enacting a series of rules on the environment, worker safety and health care to prevent them from becoming points of contention before the 2012 election.

I know you haven't been here but will you make any kind of commitment to come up with a conservation plan?

However, our oversight leverage in this Committee has now been completely diminished.

the process for running these nominees through the Senate is unnecessary and contrived simply to ignore a number of Republican concerns. I do not oppose all the nominees, however. I wish to strongly support the confirmation of Deborah…

I think we should sit back and look at how that act would affect minority rights in this Committee.

If you are confirmed, would you respond to him or see that a response is made?

This should be a real concern.

In protest, I put a blanket hold on all Presidential nominees.

I think it is important to remember because President Obama actually mentioned Gina McCarthy's confirmation process in his remarks supporting the Democrats' move to end the 60-vote threshold on nominations.

This is the first nominations hearing we've had since the Democrats exercised the nuclear option on nominations.