Senate Republicans and President Trump’s Nominees Will Restore American Prosperity

Research | The Leader Board | THE NEWSROOM | Republican LeaderSkip to primary navigation Skip to content×Close THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER McCONNELL×Close THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER McCONNELLxxsearchxMENUFacebookTwitterInstagramFacebookTwitterInstagramVisit Senator McConnell's site here THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER McCONNELLxxsearchxMENUHomeTHE NEWSROOMThe Leader Board01.29.25Senate Republicans and President Trump’s Nominees Will Restore American ProsperityWith Bipartisan Support, Trump’s Nominees for the Treasury, Transportation, Energy, Interior, and EPA Will Help Create a More Prosperous Future for All Americans CREATING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL AMERICANSTreasury Secretary Scott Bessent shares President Trump and Senate Republicans’ commitment to extend the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: “If Congress fails to act, Americans will face the largest tax increase in history, a crushing $4 trillion tax hike. We must make permanent the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and implement new pro-growth policies to reduce the tax burden on American manufacturers, service workers and seniors.” (United States Senate Committee on Finance: Hearing to Consider the Anticipated Nomination of Scott Bessent, of South Carolina, to be Secretary of the Treasury – 1/16/25)Bessent will extricate the U.S. from negotiating a global corporate minimum tax agreement sought by the Biden administration, which would have “subject American companies to foreign tax raids of the kind the U.S. government has long opposed.” (The Wall Street Journal: Treasury Secretary Pick Scott Bessent Says Trump Could Bring ‘New Economic Golden Age’ – 1/16/25; The Wall Street Journal: Editorial: Watch Out for a Global Wealth Tax – 4/28/24)Bessent also emphasized the need to rein in government spending, saying that “[t]he federal government has a significant spending problem, driving deficits that have averaged an historically high 7 percent of GDP annually during the past four years,” and pledged to “work to get our fiscal house in order…” (United States Senate Committee on Finance: Hearing to Consider the Anticipated Nomination of Scott Bessent, of South Carolina, to be Secretary of the Treasury – 1/16/25)At his confirmation hearing, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy discussed his vision for boosting America’s economy through infrastructure: “President Trump, he’s a builder. He wants to invest in rebuilding our nation’s crumbling infrastructure. He asked me to focus… on the big, the durable projects that connect our country and connect our people. If confirmed, I will work to reduce the red tape that slows critical infrastructure projects, ensuring funds are spent efficiently…” (United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Nomination Hearing - U.S. Secretary of Transportation – 1/15/25)ESTABLISHING AMERICAN ENERGY DOMINANCEPresident Trump’s day-one energy executive order declared it the policy of the United States to:“encourage energy exploration and production on Federal lands and waters”“establish our position as the leading producer and processor of non-fuel minerals”“[ensure] that an abundant supply of reliable energy is readily accessible in every State and territory of the Nation”“ensure that all regulatory requirements related to energy are grounded in clearly applicable law” (White House: Executive Order: Unleashing American Energy – 1/20/25)Underscoring Republicans’ commitment to energy security and prosperity, Energy secretary nominee Chris Wright said at his confirmation hearing: “Energy is the essential agent of change that enables everything that we do – everything. A low-energy society is poor. A highly energized society can bring health, wealth, and opportunity for all… To compete globally, we must expand energy production, including commercial nuclear and liquefied natural gas, and cut the cost of energy for Americans.” (United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Hearing to Consider the Nomination of Mr. Chris Wright to be Secretary of Energy – 1/15/25)Interior secretary nominee Doug Burgum discussed the importance of shoring up American supply chains at his confirmation hearing: “We can’t be, at a time of risk, of global risk like we are now… in a position where we’re exposed to supply chains that depend on our adversaries, whether it’s critical minerals with China or whether it’s heating oil from Russia or uranium from Russia. We can’t be dependent on them. We’ve got the resources here. We need to develop them.” (United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Hearing to Consider the Nomination of the Honorable Doug Burgum to be Secretary of the Interior – 1/16/25)Addressing the mission of reducing the regulatory burden on energy producers, EPA administrator nominee Lee Zeldin committed at his confirmation hearing to “protect our precious environment without suffocating the economy. A big part of this will require building private sector collaboration to promote common-sense, smart regulation that will allow American innovation to continue to lead the world.” (United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works: Hearing on the Nomination of the Honorable Lee M. Zeldin to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency – 1/16/25)THESE NOMINEES RECEIVED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT WHEN VOTED OUT OF COMMITTEEScott Bessent was confirmed by the Senate 68-29 after being reported out of the Finance Committee with a bipartisan 16-11 vote. (PN11-1: Roll Call Vote #19 – 1/27/25; Politico: Senate panel advances Bessent nomination – 1/21/25)Sean Duffy was overwhelmingly confirmed by the Senate 77-22 after receiving unanimous support from the Commerce Committee. (PN11-6: Roll Call Vote #21 – 1/28/25; U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: DOT Nominee Sean Duffy Clears Commerce Committee Unanimously – 1/22/25)The Energy and Natural Resources Committee advanced Chris Wright’s nomination 15-5 and Doug Burgum’s nomination 18-2. (Politico: Energy committee sends Trump's Interior, Energy cabinet picks to full Senate – 1/23/25)Lee Zeldin was voted out of the Environment and Public Works committee with bipartisan support, 11-8. (Politico: Zeldin clears EPW committee on path to EPA confirmation – 1/23/25)TRUMP’S NOMINEES ARE READY TO TAKE ON THE CHALLENGES AHEAD“The EPA should support policies and set rules that improve the environment while allowing innovators to grow the economy and protecting the pocketbook of American families. I believe that’s a win-win… Congressman Zeldin has shown that he understands the importance of striking the right balance to improve the lives of Americans across the country and to protect the environment, while also uplifting communities and cities across the nation.” – Chairman Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.)“Past successful Treasury Secretaries have understood business and financial markets, as well as foreign policy, national security, budgets and regulation. Mr. Bessent’s impressive background positions him for similar success.  He has worked for the last three decades as one of the sharpest minds in the global financial industry. He has decades of academic, professional and leadership experience relevant to these positions. When it comes to Mr. Bessent qualifications, there is no room for debate.” – Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho)“Congressman Duffy comes to the Department of Transportation at a pivotal moment.  In aviation, the FAA confronts a persistent shortage of air traffic controllers as it works to instill a culture of safety across the industry. On the roads, President Trump has moved to stop costly and unpopular electric vehicle mandates so every American can buy the car of his or her choice.” – Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas)“Governor Burgum, your nomination to lead the Department of the Interior comes at an urgent time as Americans, under the policies of the Biden administration, are suffering from skyrocketing energy prices that drive up the cost of everything from gas to groceries, from housing to healthcare to restrictive land-use policies that tend to stifle growth generally. The challenges facing American families are mounting and they're staggering.” – Chairman Mike Lee (R-Utah)“If confirmed, Mr. Wright, you will lead an agency with the potential to transform our energy future for the better. Your track record as the founder and leader of Liberty Energy speaks volumes about your qualifications and about the expertise and knowhow that you bring to the job. You understand the energy sector and the many challenges that it faces, including and especially those from the government.” – Chairman Mike Lee (R-Utah)PrintEmailTweetPreviousTHE NEWSROOMSENATE RESOURCESABOUT LEADER McCONNELLFacebookTwitterInstagram