Political Quotes

“Mr. President, in the coming hours, the Senate could take up the nomination of Elizabeth Darling to serve as Commissioner for Children, Youth, and Families at the Department of Health and Human Services. If she is confirmed to that role, she would be a key official overseeing the foster care system. I previously had a hold on Ms. Darling's nomination, and I am going to begin my remarks by saying my hold was never about her personally or about concerns with her qualifications. In fact, I believe she is qualified for the position. I placed a hold on her nomination because of serious problems at the Department of Health and Human Services affecting child welfare policies that would fall in her area of jurisdiction if she is confirmed. I think this involves a matter the distinguished Presiding Officer of the Senate might be particularly interested in at this point. I authored, with the former Finance Committee Chair, Senator Orrin Hatch, landmark families legislation called the Family First Prevention Services Act. Family First, that Chairman Hatch and I authored, is a once-in-a- generation bipartisan update of child welfare laws in America, inspired to a great extent by Marian Wright Edelman, the head of the Children's Defense Fund. The implementation of that law, in my view, is moving too slowly.…”