Political Quotes

“I think one of the messages that the Senator from Missouri was trying to convey is ``do our job.'' One of our fundamental jobs is to review, vote on, and confirm or not confirm nominees to critical positions in the Department of Defense, and this effort has completely frustrated that goal of doing our job. We have seen repeated blockage of nominees who are fully qualified, forcing votes--and the gentleman from Missouri is talking about we should have had votes this week--forcing votes because one or two people object. And, of course, the final outcome is 90 votes, 85 votes in favor of the nominee. The will of the Senate was very clear: These people should be in their office, doing their jobs, helping us maintain our security, not subject to the whims and the will of one or two people. The nominees I just referred to are three individuals nominated to critical positions within the Department of Defense. The Armed Services Committee held hearings on all three of these nominations months ago, and all three were reported out of the committee by voice vote. I am unaware of any objections to these nominees relating to their qualifications for the positions for which they have been nominated. I need not remind my colleagues that with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a war of choice against a modern, functioning democracy, how critical it is to have people in place in the Department of Defense.…”