Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., threatened to hold up all of President Joe Biden’s nominees to the Department of Transportation and Department of Commerce unless key Biden administration officials agree to testify before Congress on the supply chain crisis.
In a letter sent to the Biden administration, Scott requested that Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo testify before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on the ongoing supply chain issues affecting several parts of the country.
“It has been months since the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, the committee of jurisdiction for these issues, has received testimony from the Secretary of Transportation or the Secretary of Commerce,” he wrote. “I have heard from families and businesses in my state that simply keeping shelves stocked is an everyday challenge.”
Until Buttigieg and Raimondo testify, Scott said he will “hold” Biden’s nominees, which means he will prevent a motion from moving to the Senate floor. This stall tactic can be broken by a cloture vote, but a cloture vote typically requires 60 votes. Democrats only have 50 seats in the Senate.
“The Biden administration continues to show a total lack of concern about the harmful impact its policies, mandates and rhetoric have on families, and the American people deserve better,” Scott said.
“Hardworking families deserve leadership that is accountable and responsive to their needs,” he said. “That is what I’m fighting for every day.”
This is not the first time Scott has threatened to hold up Biden’s nominees. In June, he threatened to delay all Department of Homeland Security appointments until Biden visited the southern border.
“I think the president needs to visit the border and tell us how he is going to address the crisis,” he said at the time. “I am going to hold all nominations … until the president visits the border.”
