▶ 0:19:30Chair Scott: Will go ahead and get started. We will give the ranking member the opportunity for an opening statement and then I will move to mine.
▶ 0:19:39Sen. Warren: Trump congressional republicans are barreling towards a shut because they would rather shut down the government then roll back the cuts that will kick 15 million people off of health care raise insurance premiums for tens of millions. I think it's shameful. As we are heading to a potential shutdown, the president is pushing forward with a $20 billion bailout to argentina.
▶ 0:20:10Sen. Warren: That's $20 billion for argentina right after argentina struck a deal with china that knocked the legs out from under american farmers who are already struggling with the sweeping tariffs. How does that make any sense at all? Trump's misguided economic agenda is inflicting real pain on american families and it is bound to get worse, a lot worse.
▶ 0:20:38Sen. Warren: But we sit here today ready to rush through another batch of trump nominees as if it is business as usual. Mr. kurtz, nominated to lead community and development planning at hud has refused to protect programs that are critical to increasing housing supply and lowering housing costs.
▶ 0:20:59Sen. Warren: In other words, he is signing on to the administrative agenda to keep housing unaffordable just as the trump tariffs drive up construction costs and his newly announced tariffs on kitchen cabinets threaten to push prices for homes even higher. Mr. hogs -- Mr. hobbs is already undermining the agency mission in his current role as deputy assistance secretary.
▶ 0:21:31Sen. Warren: Actively implementing punitive and costly measures that weaken the ways that hud could help with housing prices. Mr. pill curtain, nominated to lead the investment security and treasury, would be responsible for ensuring the transactions involving foreign companies do not jeopardize our national security. That's a very important job. But this administration treats our economic and national security like trinket set a fire sale ready for whichever billionaire drops by and Mr.
▶ 0:22:03Sen. Warren: Pill curtain has shown -- Mr. pilkerton has shown no willingness to reverse course on that. Finally, Mr. burke, nominated to read terrorist financing and financial crimes that treasury would be responsible for closing anti-money laundering vulnerabilities and coordinating sanctions with foreign partners.
▶ 0:22:27Sen. Warren: But the administration is rolling back efforts to counter illicit finance and has imposed an eight month pause on even basic russian sanctions. Mr. burke couldn't even acknowledge that russia started the war against ukraine. How can he be counted on to coordinate our sanctions against russia? The president promised to lower costs sunday one.
▶ 0:22:57Sen. Warren: Instead, step-by-step, he is selling out our national security and our economic security. He is driving up costs for families while destroying america's credibility abroad. At a time when americans are struggling to afford essentials and with the administration stripping away affordable health care and raising premiums for tens of millions of americans, it is irresponsible for congress to advance these nominees.
▶ 0:23:30Sen. Warren: I will be voting no on all four of them. Thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 0:23:32Chair Scott: Yes, ma'am. Thank you. I call the committee to order and move to session. Today we consider several of the president's nominees whose leadership will help strengthen the foundations of american prosperity, safe housing, strong financial markets and secure communities. For families, a safe and affordable warm -- home is more than a roof over their head, it is the starting point for long-term wealth creation.
▶ 0:24:01Chair Scott: For communities, it is the anchor that supports small businesses, schools, and local economies. That is why moving these nominees to the senate floor is so, so important. Mr.
▶ 0:24:14Chair Scott: Ben hobbs has been nominated to serve as a former staffer of mine, for department of housing and urban development, understands how to turn federal resources into real opportunities for families and neighborhoods, particularly those often left behind. Mr. ronnie kurtz, nominated to serve as the hud assistant secretary for community planning and development, brings practical experience to the local level.
▶ 0:24:49Chair Scott: Where zoning, building codes, and development decisions directly shape the supply and affordability of housing. I look forward to working alongside these two to implement the road to housing act once it is signed into law. We are also considering two nominees at the treasury department whose work will be essential to safeguarding america's financial institutions from illicit actors. Mr.
▶ 0:25:09Chair Scott: Christopher pilkerton, nominated to serve as the assistant secretary of treasury to keep american industry safe from adversaries who seek to exploit our open investment environment for their own malign ends. Mr.
▶ 0:25:27Chair Scott: Jonathan burke, nominated to serve as assistant secretary for terrorist financing brings deep experience in combating and is vital in ensuring that our financial systems remain a source of strength for americans, not a tool for those who wish to do us harm. Taken together, these nominees reflect the presidential commitment to building a team focused on accountability, opportunity, and security.
▶ 0:25:58Chair Scott: Their confirmation is critical to tackling challenges like housing affordability, american economic security, and ensuring families and small businesses can thrive. I urge my colleagues to support advancing them to the full senate. We will now vote on the nomination for Mr. ben hobbs to serve as secretary for housing and urban development. Mr. chairman?
▶ 0:26:30Chair Scott: [calls roll]
▶ 0:27:27Chair Scott: Mr. chairman, the vote is 13 in favor and 11 no.
▶ 0:27:30Chair Scott: Reported favorably to the full senate. We will now vote on the nomination of Mr. ronnie kurtz to serve as the hud assistant secretary for community urban planning and development. The clerk will call the roll. >> Mr. chairman? Mr. crapo? Mr. rounds? Mr. tillis? Mr. kennedy? Mr. hagerty? Miss lewis? Mrs. britt?
▶ 0:28:02Chair Scott: Mr. ricketts? Mr. banks? Mr. cramer? Mr. marino? Mr. mccormick? Ms. warren? Mr. reed? Mr. warner? Mr. van hollen? Ms. cortez masto? Ms. smith? Mr. warnock? Mr. kim? Mr. gallego?
▶ 0:28:35Chair Scott: Miss blunt rochester? Ms. alsobrooks? Mr. chairman, the vote is 13 in favor, 11 opposed.
▶ 0:28:43Chair Scott: Nominations hereby reported favorably to the full senate. We will now vote on the nomination of Mr. christopher pilkerton, nominated to serve as assistant secretary. The clerk will call the roll. >> Mr. chairman? Mr. crapo? Mr. rounds? Mr. tillis? Mr. kennedy? Mr. hagerty? Miss lummis? Miss britt?
▶ 0:29:18Chair Scott: Mr. ricketts? Mr. banks? Mr. cramer? Mr. marino? Mr. mccormick? Ms. warren? Mr. reed? Mr. warner? Mr. van hollen? Ms. cortez masto? Miss smith? Mr. warnock? Mr. kim? Mr. lego?
▶ 0:29:48Chair Scott: Miss blunt rochester? Ms. alsobrooks? The vote is 13 in favor, 11 opposed.
▶ 0:29:55Chair Scott: The nomination is hereby ordered reported favorably to the full senate. We will now vote on the nomination of Mr. jonathan burke , nominated to serve as assistant secretary for financing. The clerk will call the roll. >> Mr. chairman? Mr. crapo? Mr. rounds? Mr. tillis? Mr. kennedy? Mr. hagerty? Miss loomis -- lummis? Ms. britt?
▶ 0:30:28Chair Scott: Mr. ricketts? Mr. banks? Mr. cramer? Mr. marino? Mr. mccormick? Ms. warren? Mr. reed? Mr. warner? Mr. van hollen? Ms. cortez masto? Miss smith? Mr. warnock? Mr. kim? Mr. lego?
▶ 0:31:00Chair Scott: -- Mr. gallego? Miss blunt rochester? Ms. alsobrooks? Mr. chairman, the vote is 15 in favor, nine opposed.
▶ 0:31:19Chair Scott: Nomination hereby voted favorably to the full senate. Any members that would like to make a full statement? Seeing none, without further statements, the executive session is now adjourned. Thank you for being here.