On the recordOctober 20, 2011
I want to find ways to make it easier and cheaper for the private sector to create jobs, not for ways to hide taxes and make it more expensive and harder for the private sector to create jobs. Finally, I wish to point out what happened during the confirmation hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee. The chairman of the committee, who is here on the floor, questioned Mr. Bryson about coal. Coal is important to the chairman's State, and it is very important in my State, a big part of our economy. He asked for straight, direct answers, which the chairman did not receive, to the point that he actually invited the nominee to visit with him privately in his office to discuss the issue. So I come here today to say, we need a Commerce Secretary who is committed to making American businesses more innovative at home and more competitive abroad--more innovative at home, more competitive abroad. We need someone who will address the problems of high unemployment, slow economic growth, and rising consumer costs aggressively and dispassionately. In my opinion, John Bryson is not that person. Therefore, I will not support nor will I vote for his nomination. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Texas.
