AIJudiciary Committee markup of STOP CSAM Act and DOJ, USCIS, and USPTO nominations

Title

Judiciary Committee markup of STOP CSAM Act and DOJ, USCIS, and USPTO nominations

Purpose

The Senate Judiciary Committee held a business meeting to vote on S.1829, the STOP CSAM Act, aimed at combating online child sexual abuse material, along with several pending Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Commerce nominations. Chairman Grassley opened by noting two U.S. Attorney nominations would be held over a week under committee rules, while other nominees and the bill would proceed to a vote that day. He also used his opening statement to address judicial security, unrest in Los Angeles, and an inspector general report on Afghan evacuee vetting. Begins at▶ 0:22:21

Who spoke

• Chair Chuck Grassley (R-IA)▶ 0:22:21: Announced Bart Davis and David Metcalf's U.S. Attorney nominations would be held over a week under committee procedure▶ 0:22:21, while the committee would vote that day on Stanley Woodward (Associate Attorney General), Elliot Gaiser (Assistant Attorney General, OLC), Joseph Edlow (USCIS Director), John Squires (USPTO Director), and Ronald Parsons (U.S. Attorney for South Dakota)▶ 0:22:50▶ 0:23:21. He described S.1829, the STOP CSAM Act, as strengthening reporting requirements, increasing accountability, and supporting victims of online child sexual abuse material, and urged colleagues to support it▶ 0:24:31▶ 0:24:56. He criticized Democratic leadership for blocking confirmation of the U.S. Marshals Service Director and DOJ's Office of Legislative Affairs head despite shared concerns about judicial security▶ 0:26:15▶ 0:26:36, and condemned violence against federal agents in Los Angeles, citing attacks on officers, burned flags, and vandalism during enforcement of federal search warrants▶ 0:27:20▶ 0:27:48. He closed by citing a DOJ Inspector General report he said confirmed the Biden administration allowed Afghan evacuees with terror-database hits into the country▶ 0:29:58▶ 0:30:29.

Key moments

• Grassley stated two U.S. Attorney nominees, Bart Davis and David Metcalf, would be held over a week per committee procedure since they were listed for the first time▶ 0:22:21.

• Grassley listed the five nominees scheduled for a committee vote that day: Stanley Woodward, Elliot Gaiser, Joseph Edlow, John Squires, and Ronald Parsons▶ 0:22:50▶ 0:23:21.

• The committee planned to vote on S.1829, the STOP CSAM Act, which Grassley said gives law enforcement and victims stronger tools against online child sexual abuse material▶ 0:24:31.

• Grassley said Democratic leadership was blocking confirmation of the U.S. Marshals Service Director and the head of DOJ's Office of Legislative Affairs, both roles he tied to judicial security▶ 0:26:15▶ 0:26:36.

• Grassley said rioters in Los Angeles attacked federal agents, destroyed police cars, burned American flags, and vandalized the city in response to federal agents enforcing at least four federal search warrants▶ 0:27:20▶ 0:27:48.

• Grassley criticized the Democratic vice-presidential nominee for calling federal agents "Trump's modern-day Gestapo" and said the House Democratic leader called for revealing federal officers' identities▶ 0:28:44.

• Grassley cited a DOJ Inspector General report released that Tuesday, which he said confirmed the Biden administration let dozens of Afghan evacuees with terror-screening database hits into the country▶ 0:29:58▶ 0:30:29.