Press Releases

Today, Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Congressman Cedric Richmond (LA-02) released the following statement encouraging Senators on relevant committees to oppose the president’s cabinet nominees, after President Trump erratically fired Acting Attorney General Sally Yates. Today, the nominee for Attorney General, Sen. Jeff Sessions, the nominee for Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Rep. Tom Price, and the nominee for, Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos will all be up for a vote to determine if they will be recommended to the full Senate for consideration:

“Last night, the president demonstrated once again his inability to exercise the maturity required to be leader of the free world,” said Rep. Richmond. “In an Orwellian gesture of crushing dissent at the nation's top law enforcement agency, the White House fired Sally Yates simply for pointing out the unlawfulness of the Administration’s recent Executive Orders restricting immigration and travel from Muslim countries."

“In light of the White House's amateurish brand of decision-making and the dire need for competent leadership in this Administration, I urge the Senators on relevant committees to vote against Sen. Sessions, Rep. Price and Mrs. DeVos.”

“These nominees are uniquely unqualified to lead the agencies they have been nominated to lead. If their nominations advance to the full Senate, America will be one step closer to an Attorney General who is hostile to civil rights, a doctor seeking to deny healthcare coverage to the poor and middle class as HHS Secretary, and an Education Secretary who wants to terminate the public education model. Each of these candidates would be a disaster for all Americans if confirmed, and I urge my Senate colleagues to be courageous rather than complicit.”

 “The president should remember that he lost the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes, recognize that he lacks a mandate, and get serious about governing the United States of America. Thus far he and his co-president Steve Bannon have already proven that they are not up to the job. Only the Senate can serve as a check on the rash and amateurish decision making employed by this White House. I urge the relevant committees to show the White House how adults govern and reject these disgraceful nominees.”