Rules Committee Weakens Senate’s Role on Nominations

WASHINGTON – Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement after the Senate Rules Committee approved, on a party line basis, S. Res. 355:

“Under Republican Senate leadership pressure, the Rules Committee advanced a change today that would weaken the Senate’s remaining role in vetting and evaluating presidential nominations.  Because President Trump is putting forward nominees who have not been properly vetted, the Senate must have the tools it needs to give them careful consideration. Majority Leader McConnell has made clear that he values partisan loyalty over the Senate’s need to serve as an independent check on extreme and unqualified Trump nominees. We urge the full Senate to reject this proposal.”

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.