On the recordJune 20, 2012
I ask unanimous consent that my letter to the minority leader dated May 29, 2012, be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: U.S. Senate, Washington, DC, May 29, 2012. Hon. Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Dear Senator McConnell, I am requesting that I be consulted before the Senate enters into any unanimous consent agreements regarding calendar #714, the nomination of Heidi Shyu to be an Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisitions, Logistics, and Technology. Ms. Heidi Shyu has been the Acting Assistant Secretary for the position to which she has been nominated for nearly one year. Her office directly oversees the Program Executive Office for soldier weapons. I remain concerned with the Army's plans for the improvement of its small arms weapons while our soldiers are at war. For example, I have not seen the Army make sufficient progress on the directive of the then-Secretary of the Army Pete Geren to conduct a competition to replace its individual carbine rifle no later than the end of FY2009. Thank you for protecting my rights on this nomination. I will keep you informed of my continued effort to work with the Army on the nomination of Ms. Shyu as we ensure that our soldiers have the very best modern small arms that American manufacturers can provide. Sincerely, Tom. A. Coburn, M.D., U.S. Senator. ____________________
