During remarks on the Senate floor Wednesday, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) blocked Sen. Cynthia Lummis' (R-WY) unanimous request to vote on an EPA nominee.
00:00Senator from Wyoming. Not since President Ford has any president been denied at
00:07least some of his nominees unanimous consent for confirmation at this point
00:14in their presidency. That's why I come to the floor today to advocate for one
00:23nominee who is sorely needed. Her name is Jessica Kramer to be Assistant
00:30Administrator in the Office of Water at the Environmental Protection Agency. Jess,
00:37as we all know her given her time working at the EPW Committee, is solid and as
00:44sharp as they come. She previously served as an environmental prosecutor and
00:50defense attorney for the Wisconsin Department of Justice, a government
00:55affairs specialist for drinking water and wastewater associations, and deputy
01:01secretary for regulatory programs at Florida's Department of Environmental
01:07Quality. She also served in the EPA's Office of Water in the first Trump
01:13administration. Her impeccable qualifications are part of the reason she received a
01:20strong bipartisan vote out of the EPW Committee on a 15 to 4 vote including
01:29ranking member Sheldon Whitehouse. Her background check has been available for a
01:36week. There is no reason her nomination should be delayed any longer. President
01:44Trump deserves to have his qualified people at his side and the American people
01:49deserve to have their votes means something. Therefore, notwithstanding Rule 22, I
01:58ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of the
02:03following nomination. Executive calendar number 89, Jessica Kramer, to be an
02:10Assistant Administrator of the EPA. That the Senate vote on the nomination without
02:16intervening action or debate. The motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon
02:23the table. And that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
02:29Objection. The Senator from Rhode Island.
02:37As ranking member on the Environment and Public Works Committee, it's my understanding that there's a pretty
02:41long-standing tradition at EPW that we get the background check before someone comes to the vote.
02:48As my distinguished friend from Wyoming has said, I actually voted for this nominee and have every
02:58confidence that she will do a good job. But I don't believe that the background check is available. If I'm
03:04mistaken about that, then we can review this some other time. But as far as I know, we do not have this
03:11nominee's background check. And that's a matter that I think needs to be taken up with the FBI. You all run the
03:21FBI these days. And if there's a delay getting this background check completed, that delay should be addressed at the FBI where the delay has been caused, rather than breaking a committee precedent. So I will object.
03:32Senator from Wyoming.
03:39It is my understanding that her background check is available and has been available for a week.
03:46I would ask the gentleman from Rhode Island to check with the EPW Committee where her background check should be available.
03:57Mr. President, one way Americans lose trust in government is when their expectations for that
04:04government, as expressed through their vote, are not met. You know, we often talk about how elections have consequences.
04:13I'll say I supported many of President Biden's nominees, despite disagreeing with them vehemently.
04:20Unfortunately, my friends across the aisle are abusing our constitutional role of advice and consent, unfairly
04:29denying the American people the change they just voted for last November.
04:35There's plenty of divisiveness in our nation right now.
04:39But rallying behind someone as qualified and supported by so many Republican and Democratic senators
04:48as Jessica Kramer should be something this body could do.
04:54Mr. President, I yield back.
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