Political Quotes

“reserving the right to object--and I would note something to my friend from New Jersey, as the Senator from New Jersey knows--with respect to the previous nominee, I do not have a hold on the previous nominee. I have lifted my hold pursuant to discussions and negotiations. The same is true with respect to former Senator Ken Salazar, who has been nominated to be Ambassador to Mexico. My understanding is he is going to be confirmed momentarily. I don't have a hold, and I don't believe there are any other holds or blocks to his confirmation. So that will occur momentarily. And, indeed, there have been several other nominees at the State Department where I have lifted the holds in negotiations, including at the request of the Senator from New Jersey. I have worked with my colleagues, but at the same time used the leverage that we have as Senators to try to pressure the Biden administration to follow the law and to defend U.S. national security interests. With regard to this particular unanimous consent request, because Joe Biden is giving Vladimir Putin a multibillion-gift, which is a generational geopolitical mistake, because it strengthens Russia at the expense of America and it undermines U.S. national security interests, I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The Senator from New Jersey.”