On the recordJune 29, 2011
I want to express my strong support for the managers' amendment to S. 679, the Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011. I support this bill to make the conformation process more efficient and more responsive because it will enable many qualified individuals to take government positions without first going through a sometimes long and arduous confirmation process here in the Senate. I believe the confirmation process is an important constitutional duty of the Senate. But it is simply not needed for every position in the U.S. Government. Not every nominee requires the same level of scrutiny and process. The Founders understood this issue well, as the Constitution is unusually precise in this regard. It specifically enables the Congress to do what we are doing today--to vest the appointment power for inferior officers with the President. And we are doing it because the confirmation process has become so cumbersome that the Federal Government is losing very able and attractive candidates. The confirmation process can take months, from the time the President submits a candidate's name to full consideration by the Senate. This long, drawn-out process prevents the public sector from attracting some of the best and brightest. Although I have supported the goals of S. 679 since its introduction, a few critical changes were necessary to strengthen the bill.…
