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Floor Speech

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Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm Sara Bailey, nominated to lead the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Ms. Bailey, like so many of President Trump's nominees, was chosen for her loyalty and MAGA bona fides, rather than any policy expertise or leadership experience. Ms. Bailey has spent years fanning flames of division and hatred in this country, attacking immigrants, Members of Congress, and praising dictators who indiscriminately strip the rights of their citizens.

America is experiencing a drug crisis. Illegal narcotics trafficked from other countries and the abuse of prescription opioids have taken the lives of too many people. This great challenge demands an experienced, accomplished leader to serve as drug czar. Past nominees have been law enforcement professionals who have taken down drug smuggling rings, State public health experts, or physicians with a deep understanding of addiction. Ms. Bailey lacks any serious qualifications for this role. She is not a physician or addiction specialist. She has never been a prosecutor or law enforcement official.

To prove her MAGA loyalty to President Trump, she endorsed the President's irresponsible and deadly plans to cut funding to the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program, which is on the frontlines of keeping illegal drugs off our streets and out of our country. If she were an expert on addiction, Ms. Bailey would know that kneecapping the Federal Agencies that provide substance abuse and mental health services would have deadly consequences.

With his recent pardon of high-profile drug kingpin and former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez and his nomination of Ms. Bailey, President Trump has proven once again that he prioritizes loyalty and political favors ahead of the safety and well-being of the American people.

For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to oppose her nomination.

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