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Floor Speech
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Ms. LUMMIS. Mr. President, not since President Ford has any President been denied at least some of his nominees unanimous consent for confirmation at this point in their Presidency. That is why I come to the floor today to advocate for one nominee who is sorely needed--her name is Jessica Kramer--to be Assistant Administrator in the Office of Water at the Environmental Protection Agency.
Jess, as we all know her given her time working on the EPW Committee, is solid and as sharp as they come. She previously served as an environmental prosecutor and defense attorney for the Wisconsin Department of Justice, as a government affairs specialist for drinking water and wastewater associations, and as deputy secretary for regulatory programs at Florida's Department of Environmental Protection. She also served in the EPA's Office of Water in the first Trump administration. Her impeccable qualifications are part of the reason she received a strong bipartisan vote out of the EPW Committee, a 15-to-4 vote, including by Ranking Member Sheldon Whitehouse. Her background check has been available for a week.
There is no reason her nomination should be delayed any longer. President Trump deserves to have his qualified people at his side, and the American people deserve to have their votes mean something.
89, Jessica Kramer to be an Assistant Administrator of the EPA; that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate; that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
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Ms. LUMMIS. Mr. President, it is my understanding that her background check is available and has been available for a week. I would ask the Senator from Rhode Island to check with the EPW Committee, where her background check should be available.
One way Americans lose trust in government is when their expectations for that government, as expressed through their votes, are not met. You know, we often talk about how elections have consequences.
I will say that I supported many of President Biden's nominees despite disagreeing with them vehemently. Unfortunately, my friends across the aisle are abusing our constitutional role of advice and consent in unfairly denying the American people the change they just voted for last November.
There is plenty of divisiveness in our Nation right now, but rallying behind someone as qualified and supported by so many Republican and Democratic Senators as Jessica Kramer should be something this body could do.
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