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Floor Speech

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Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I rise today in opposition to Congressman Bishop's nomination to be the Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

The Office of Management and Budget, or OMB, is responsible for a range of critical functions, from developing and executing the Federal budget to improving Agency performance and reviewing regulations.

Given his record and views, I have serious concerns about how Congressman Bishop will help lead this important office.

First of all, I am concerned by his willingness to break the law, especially when it comes to Congress's power of the purse. He supports the administration's efforts to illegally withhold funding that Congress has passed into law.

Like all of my colleagues in Congress, I swore an oath to uphold and follow the laws set forth in our Constitution, which affirms that Congress--and Congress alone--is responsible for deciding how Federal funds are spent, not the President or members of his administration.

The administration's actions so far to freeze congressionally approved funds have already rocked communities all across my home State of Michigan, as well as across the entire Nation. These communities count on the funds appropriated by Congress to upgrade their roads and bridges and pay their police and first responders.

If confirmed, Congressman Bishop will only be a rubberstamp for Donald Trump and Director Vought's flagrant disregard for the spending laws passed by Congress.

Congressman Bishop has also been a staunch supporter of mass layoffs within the Federal workforce that undermine our government's ability to provide vital services to the American people.

Our nonpartisan civil servants play vital roles in protecting our national security, caring for our veterans, and ensuring the safety of our transportation system. If we allow the Trump administration to indiscriminately fire these nonpartisan experts and replace them with their political cronies, they will only put our Nation and our people at risk.

Finally, I am alarmed by his complete disregard for the law when it comes to whistleblower protections. As a Member of Congress, he revealed the name of a whistleblower--in direct violation of the law-- and jeopardized the safety of that individual and their family. We simply cannot trust anyone who is willing to break the law to retaliate against a whistleblower exposing wrongdoing to help such a critical Agency within the Federal Government.

And if Congressman Bishop is confirmed, I am concerned that he will defy our duly passed laws and our Constitution to continue President Trump, Elon Musk, and Director Vought's assault on the Federal Government and the critical services that it provides all Americans.

Because of this, I oppose Congressman Bishop's nomination, and I would urge my colleagues to do the same.

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