▶ 0:19:06>> the committee will come to order. Today's agenda is 10 nominations and one bill. The nominations are melissa holyoak and philip williams to be U.S. attorneys. They are listed for the first time. Today we will vote on robert cekeda, director of atf.
▶ 0:19:44We will go to john shepard, western district of arkansas in the st. John eastern district of louisiana. Mr. for walsh. Robert rotter, daniel satterlee, david st. Pierre.
▶ 0:20:10We will vote on s.3798, the safe access to cash act of 2026. Senator cruz will speak on that bill first I would like to see
▶ 0:20:41The nominees that we are considering. Mr. cekada, he protected his americans at the state and federal levels. Mr. cekada spent more than a decade as a police officer. He received numerous awards.
▶ 0:21:12He spent 20 years at the agency that he will soon be heading. He did that as a special agent managing reasonable offices. Our judicial nominees are highly qualified, each has extensive litigation experience. They did it with skill and professionalism.
▶ 0:21:42Two of them, doug sheppard already have experience presiding in courtrooms at the state level. They will make excellent changes.
▶ 0:22:07The nominees we are considering today, each has decades of experience with law enforcement. I believe all see -- all three will have the community as well. We will be considering the nomination to serve in my state of iowa as sheriff.
▶ 0:22:30He has done outstanding work to keep the people of iowa county safe, I hold him in a high regard. I hold him in high regards as many iowans hold him in high regard. I urge my colleagues and urge you in supporting him.
▶ 0:22:55I want to thank secretary noem for her zest -- testimony at the oversight hearing. I'm glad she didn't follow the precedent set when secretary mayorkas refused to come the last year he was in office. The hearing highlighted the successful steps the department has taken to secure the border and homeland from thousands of undocumented immigrant criminals.
▶ 0:23:24It is critical democrats fully fund dhs and do so immediately. I expect timely responses to the members questions for the record. I say that correctly to secretary noem.
▶ 0:23:44The government accountability office still does not have access to the department of homeland security officials for the review I have asked the secretary to complete. >> I have served on this committee for more than 25 years and have been honored to do so. I have never been through a hearing like I have with secretary noem last tuesday.
▶ 0:24:14The secretary took an oath to tell the truth. She repeatedly failed to do so. When I asked her if her dhs department had court auditors secretary noem responded we follow court orders when they are given to us. This is demonstrably false.
▶ 0:24:37Even the trump department of justice admitted in sworn declaration that ice has violated over 50 court orders in the state of new jersey alone. The chief federal district judge in minnesota, a republican appointee found over 200 instances of ice violating court orders in just the last two months. Secretary noem also denied that dhs has detained U.S. citizens and we know better.
▶ 0:25:07Americans around the country including in my home state of illinois know that this is false. One of my constituents was detained for hours after they rammed her car and forced her to the ground. My staff documented the rest -- arrest and attention of 40 U.S. citizens.
▶ 0:25:33Secretary noem also lied about the rule of the chief of staff, corey lewandowski. When asked directly whether Mr. lewandowski has any role in improving dhs contracts she denied it with an unequivocal note. Dhs records show Mr. lewandowski personally approved the multimillion dollar contract last year and he routinely signs off on large awards before they reach the secretary's desk.
▶ 0:26:07The secretary's testimony was not just evasive or troubling, she repeatedly made false statements under oath. This should concern every member of the committee, republican and democrat alike. Let me say on a more personal note several questions were repeatedly asked of her really got to the heart of who she is.
▶ 0:26:40The question of common decency. A victim in illinois barely survived firing shots from the ice agents. We refuse to say I'm sorry. I said the wrong thing. She claimed they were domestic terrorists. There was no evidence of that.
▶ 0:27:04Imagine those families just having lost a daughter or son, morning their loss and they have their member of their president's cabinet that their deceased child was a domestic terrorist. I know the phrase I'm sorry it is just unacceptable in this administration.
▶ 0:27:30The most common decency and most parents understand it is just what we expect to teach our children. We can't simply sign a blank check they have seriously weakened our capacity to prevent cyber security terrorist attacks. From the first days of the trump administration we have sounded the alarm.
▶ 0:27:59Officials have gutted our national security apparatus to support mass deportation. That leaves america dangerously exposed. Let me give an example. Homeland security investigations, dedicated team of agents with iran's effort for international sanctions.
▶ 0:28:25Those investigations are now stalled as the agents are too busy with immigration enforcement. Last spring they were forced to recall dozens of agents who specialize in counterintelligence and cybersecurity from immigration duty last week fbi director patel attempted to distract from his olympic trip by firing a
▶ 0:28:58Dozen personnel who worked on counterintelligence. We are in the midst of a war and the counterintelligence of these agencies have been fired for political reasons. They have a specialized unit to investigate foreign adversaries. As a result of the president's misguided priorities and the incompetent leadership under secretary noem and director patel america is less safe in an increasingly dangerous world.
▶ 0:29:39Do we have quorum yet? I will be brief. >> I just want to clarify what I said this week in the hearing with secretary noem. Every once in a while I get a little bit hot around the caller.
▶ 0:29:56The reason I was angry was an hour before the hearing I get a letter dated march 23 from secretary noem responding to a letter that I wrote a month ago saying that I simply wanted anonymized list of incidents in north carolina under operation charlotte's web.
▶ 0:30:23They supposedly detained 500 people. I got my window broken out. I had somebody hand me a piece of paper saying we could embrace you -- reimburse you. All I wanted was a list of the 500 incidences they referred to, what happened? Where they detained? Do they have a criminal background beyond crossing the border?
▶ 0:30:52I want it done in an orderly fashion. I'm not going to give you that information. That was another bad management decision and a long list of bad management decisions. I did say I'm objecting to any nominations on the floor between now and the time I get an answer to the question.
▶ 0:31:19Beginning march 19, this pains me for this committee in particular because I'm proud of being one of the members that make quorum here. I'm serious about it, I will hold my own nominations. I will not vote for anything until we get it done. Thank you.
▶ 0:31:44Sen. Whitehouse: Thank you, chairman. I think we are taking up marshall's nominees for the first time in this. I expect to support marshall's nominations to the extent this committee could keep that out of the political warfare that we are so often engaged in. They all seem to be qualified.
▶ 0:32:14Sen. Whitehouse: It calls to mind for me a recurring problem that I have had with the marshall service.
▶ 0:32:56Sen. Whitehouse: The threat environment for federal judges has been described as the worst ever. What I have asked the marshall service repeatedly, I have more than a dozen masks, a really simple question.
▶ 0:33:11Sen. Whitehouse: If the evidence suggests that there is there is a campaign to threaten judges, if the evidence suggests they are being orchestrated, if the evidence suggests there is an enterprise or a conspiracy that is producing these threats, will the marshall service be willing to investigate the editor of the
▶ 0:33:42Sen. Whitehouse: Threat and look at the larger picture. That is a super easy question for the marshall service to answer. The answer is yes, of course. It is telling to me that I cannot get that answer. I will give the department of justice credit that they scheduled a meeting for me to explain themselves and it happened while I was snowed in so we rescheduled it.
▶ 0:34:13Sen. Whitehouse: The fact that I have to ask this question a dozen or more times and never once get the simple answer, yes, of course that there is evidence that the editor of a threats was connected to some campaign or organized effort to threaten the federal judiciary. Of course we will investigate that. I really would like to get that answer.
▶ 0:34:42Sen. Whitehouse: I have been in communication with the chief justice to make sure as the chairman of the judicial conference that he is making sure the marshall service is properly doing its job. I think if you will let me change the topic for one minute you just produced a quorum, I will close my remarks at that point so we could get ahead.
▶ 0:35:11Sen. Whitehouse: I think the committee should have a bipartisan concern about a marshall service that is not serving the federal judges it is sworn to protect by refusing to conduct investigations behind the threat and look at those patterns, conspiracies, and enterprises.
▶ 0:35:33Sen. Grassley: I'm willing to help you any way that I can. You don't have to ask me. If you want some help from me. I would be glad. >> if their answers are inadequate I would be pleased to take it up with you and I'm grateful for your assistance.
▶ 0:35:59Sen. Grassley: We now have a quorum. I'm going to call up the nomination, robert cekada from the atf. >> well he is a career professional who is committed to fighting crime, I'm glad we had a chance to sit down together.
▶ 0:36:20Sen. Grassley: His hearing testimony does not assure me he would stand up in this administration to ensure this controversial agency's weaponized against the american people. I regret to say I will be opposing his nomination.
▶ 0:36:36Sen. Grassley: Clerk will call the roll. [voting]
▶ 0:37:21Sen. Grassley: >> the aye's are 13, the nay's are nine.
▶ 0:37:31Sen. Grassley: The nomination will be fairly reported. Judge from the U.S. western district of texas.
▶ 0:37:40Sen. Durbin: I'm deeply concerned Mr. davis will not be able to put aside his partisan advocacy he faced as part of the bench. He has argued the t -- key provision is champion for so many years, violates the constitution. Whistleblowers play an important role, those who defraud the government of $6.8 billion in settlements and last year.
▶ 0:38:11Sen. Durbin: They comprise $5.3 billion of that amount. I'm also troubled by his refusal to disavow his controversial college commentary. One example, he defended the former republican official bill bennett who said I do not know -- I do know it's true if you wanted to reduce crime you could if that were your sole purpose of war every black baby in this
▶ 0:38:43Sen. Durbin: Country and your crime rate would go down. I recognize that nominees often write those in college and no longer reflect those views today. When I asked if he still believe the statement was accurate he refused to answer. His failure to disavow this article is plain unacceptable. How could people of color have faith Mr. davis will treat them fairly?
▶ 0:39:14Sen. Durbin: I urge my colleagues to oppose the nomination. [voting]
▶ 0:39:57Chair Grassley: The majority will be favorably reported. Now john shepherd. Judge, U.S. district court in the western district of arkansas, the clerk will call the roll. [voting]
▶ 0:40:53Chair Grassley: The majority vote reported. The nomination will be reported. Anna st. John.
▶ 0:41:10Sen. Durbin: She raises serious questions about her ability to impartially administer justice. Her practice largely consists of challenging class action settlements. She has made time -- clinically charged cases. Her public commentary is also troubling. She has criticized what she calls woke ideology.
▶ 0:41:36Sen. Durbin: She has challenged first amendment protections guaranteed by new york times versus sullivan. I want to ask the committee to ask the committee to pay particular attention to this. In november, 2021 she testified against bipartisan legislation ending forced arbitration in cases of workplace sexual assault and harassment. It brought broad support from lawmakers of both parties. Ms. st.
▶ 0:41:59Sen. Durbin: John argued in defense of her forcing victims into closed-door arbitration hearings and claimed ending force arbitration terms these women into unwilling ponds. The issue was brought before the committee at the urging of former fox news host gretchen carlson, one of the leading advocates for legislation following her harassment by roger ailes.
▶ 0:42:28Sen. Durbin: She is speaking out publicly about Ms. st. John's nomination. Women around the country bravely share the urgency of ending force arbitration, st. John gas of these women. She downplayed their stories and minimize the pain.
▶ 0:42:53Sen. Durbin: They praised her courage to speak out for their harassment that she witnessed in her own personal life. Some posed for pictures. We voted unanimously for that bill. Now we have a nominee who is opposed to it and says it was wrong, I will vote no.
▶ 0:43:12Chair Grassley: The clerk will call role. [voting]
▶ 0:43:56Chair Grassley: The majority voting for the nominee will be favorably reported. Christopher wolf, judge, U.S. district court from the western district of texas. >> I have a statement relative to the nomination. I would ask it be made part of the record. [voting]
▶ 0:45:07Chair Grassley: The majority of the committee voted favorably, it will be reported. Robert rotter to serve as the U.S. district in iowa. [voting]
▶ 0:46:18Chair Grassley: The majority in favor, the nomination will be reported. Daniel satterlee, U.S. marshal, south dakota. The clerk will call the roll.
▶ 0:47:22Chair Grassley: The majority favoring satterlee will be reported. David st. Pierre, U.S. marshal district of maine, the clerk will call the roll. [voting]
▶ 0:48:28Chair Grassley: The majority favoring Mr. st. Pierre, will be reported. We will now turn to our legislation, the safe access to cash act of 2026. As I said in my opening statement it is led by senator cruz, sponsored also by senator gallego. I will pull up the manager's amendment, w al 26 101.
▶ 0:49:04Chair Grassley: We will adopt the manager's amendment. Hearing no opposition. Senator cruz should speak now.
▶ 0:49:22Sen. Cruz: Banks were plagued by bonnie and clyde. The customers, tellers, owners alike. In 1934 they enacted the bank robbery act making bank robbery a federal offense and unleashing the full power of federal law enforcement. Bank robberies fell dramatically.
▶ 0:49:48Sen. Cruz: The violent shootouts shattered bank vaults and faded into history. The vault itself has moved. Today it sits on the sidewalk. On the corner of a convenience store at a gas station on a back country road exposed them beyond the protective arm of federal law. Criminals have taken notice.
▶ 0:50:17Sen. Cruz: Atm's have replaced banks as the main target of cash robbery. Here with the senator on the banking committee I introduce the safe access to cash act bringing the federal bank robbery act into the 21st century. Millions of americans rely on atm's to access cash as a lifeline to catch the bus, to buy groceries, to make rent.
▶ 0:50:45Sen. Cruz: They are living in rural and urban cash deserts were the only source might just be a lonely atm. Take the tragic story of juan lopez, remembered as a hard-working man and a good father. He was on the phone with his sister withdrawing cash when he was blue -- brutally murdered by a group of men. It was black friday, he was just 29 years old. His story is not an isolated tragedy.
▶ 0:51:17Sen. Cruz: Most of these crimes are never even reported. There are five hundred 30,000 atm's in the united states handling 10 billion transactions every year. As they decline with roughly 20% fewer today than a decade ago, thefts are rising, increasing 21% year-over-year.
▶ 0:51:41Sen. Cruz: In some cases robbers could walk away with 15,000 in five minutes and under current law prosecutors often lack the authority to pursue them. As far as federal law is concerned it is smarter to hold up a mom and pop shop or a man waiting at an atm then to try to break into a protected bank vault. That makes it harder for working-class americans to get by.
▶ 0:52:10Sen. Cruz: Veterans and social security benefits, cash assistance, federal disability. The safe access to cash act closes that gap allowing federal law enforcement to investigate and bring to justice crimes like these. For that reason our nation's leading law enforcement organization supports the bill including the national association of police organizations.
▶ 0:52:39Sen. Cruz: Some organizations that represent stores and retailers from the small mom-and-pop shops to national chains such as the association of convenience stores in the retail industry leaders association. So do groups that they are -- that bear the financial cost of atm robberies including the national atm council, the national armored car association and the largest atm manufacturers and servicers. Let me close by thanking chairman grassley for his leadership.
▶ 0:53:11Sen. Cruz: I'm grateful to ranking member durbin and his staff for the thoughtful input as this bill has taken shape. Thank you to senators white house and koons. My thanks to senator gallego in his partnership for making this possible. Today's cash robberies don't make place behind tempered steel doors.
▶ 0:53:35Sen. Cruz: They happen at the corner store, the gas station, the standalone atm where everyday americans are most vulnerable. I asked the members of this committee to vote yes to ensure safe access to cast -- cash for working americans.
▶ 0:53:53Sen. Durbin: There are two machines that look identical. One is an atm and the other is a crypto atm which is not affected. I support this bill but there is more work to do. There are more than 30 thousand crypto atm's across the united states. They looked just like atm's. Here's how the scammers use these machines to target vulnerable senior citizens.
▶ 0:54:21Sen. Durbin: The senior gets a call claiming to be from the bank or the government. The caller claims their accounts have been frozen because of unpaid bills or because the -- they have fines for skipping jury duty. The scammer directs the bed -- victim to the nearest crypto atm and instructs them to insert cash. Once the money is in the machine it is virtually impossible to trace.
▶ 0:54:49Sen. Durbin: The fbi received 12,000 reports of americans falling victim to crypto atm's last year. 12,000. Total savings, $333 million. My crypto atm fraud prevention act would establish nationwide prevention to reduce the risk of fraud at crypto atm's and would require operators to give clear warnings about scams, set reasonable daily transaction limits and allow them to get a full refund.
▶ 0:55:20Sen. Durbin: I am not offering this as an amendment today but I hope we will work together on a bipartisan basis. Thank you.
▶ 0:55:28Chair Grassley: Are there any other speakers on this subject? Hearing nobody asking for the floor. I would like to ask to report the bill by voice. Favorably reporting s.38 favorably reporting s.3798, all in favor say aye. The aye's have it. The bill will be reported. Meeting adjourned.