Durbin Deliers Opening Statement In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Five Judicial Nominations, Nominee To Be The 'Drug Czar'

Durbin Deliers Opening Statement In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Five Judicial Nominations, Nominee To Be The 'Drug Czar'

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the judicial nominations of Rebecca Taibleson, nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit; David Bragdon, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina; Lindsey Freeman, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina; Matthew Orso, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina; Susan Courtwright Rodriguez, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina; and Sara Carter Bailey, nominated to be the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).

Before giving remarks on the nominees in today's hearing, Durbin spoke on the longstanding bipartisan Senate tradition, the blue slip. He also highlighted Ms. Carter Bailey's lack of relevant experience and unconditional loyalty to the President.

Key Quotes:

"At the outset, I want to again thank Chairman Grassley and members on both sides of the aisle for defending this Committee's longstanding bipartisan tradition of requiring blue slips from Senators supporting district court nominees from their state."

"As Chair of this Committee, I honored this practice, despite pressure to do away with blue slips from the Democratic side. As a result, many Senate Republicans were able to negotiate with the Biden White House to fill vacancies in their states."

"Other Republicans used blue slips to hold open seats in their states as Democrats have done too. I didn't like it, but I respected their decisions. As a result, several of the district court nominees before us today have been nominated to fill some of those vacancies in red states. Blue slips remain a critical part of this body's advice and consent responsibility, even when they frustrate the party in power."

"[On another note] today we will hear from Sara Carter Bailey, who has been nominated to be Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), also known as the Drug Czar…. Doing something about drugs is certainly [one] of the highest priorities we face… This is an important position that requires a professional who is an expert in combatting, for example, the opioid epidemic. But Ms. Carter Bailey is not a serious nominee. She is another MAGA loyalist and podcaster who President Trump has chosen for this critical role in our government."

"Until she joined ONDCP three months ago, she had never worked in [the] government. She has never served in law enforcement. She has no expertise in public health, nor in drug policy."

"Why is it important to bring this up? Because of two things from the Trump Administration which we ought to take to heart. The first was a statement made by the Trump White House earlier this year about the HIDTA program that provides $300 million to law enforcement."

"Here is what the Trump White House said about it initially: 'For every dollar invested in the HIDTA program, the American people get $68 in benefits, making HIDTA an effective and efficient use of taxpayer money and an important tool of the nation's effort to stop drug traffickers and save American lives.' That was first statement by the White House. The second statement was a budget request."

"Guess what they did to the HIDTA grants? They cut them by 34 percent from [$298.5] million to $196 million. So, I'll have to say to Ms. Bailey, 'whose side are you on at this point?' Law enforcement begs for more money to fight drug problems in our communities, and I want to give it to them. But the White House wants to cut it by 34 percent. What is your position going to be? We will find out."

Video of Durbin's opening statement is available here.

Audio of Durbin's opening statement is available here.

Footage of Durbin's opening statement is available here for TV Stations.

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