Heritage Action supports the Sessions nomination and will include his confirmation vote on our legislative scorecard
Tonight, the Senate is expected to vote on the confirmation of Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) to be the next Attorney General of the United States. Senator Sessions was nominated by President Donald Trump on November 18, 2016.
There is no question that Senator Sessions is an excellent choice to restore law, order and a respect for the Constitution to a Justice Department that became little more than a radical political operation under former President Obama. In his opening remarks, Sessions made clear he would change course:
In the last several years, law enforcement as a whole has been unfairly maligned and blamed for the unacceptable actions of a few bad actors. They believe the political leadership of this country abandoned them.
It should come as no surprise then that numerous federal and state law enforcement officers, including former National Drug Control Policy Director Bob Bennett, National Sheriffs' Association Executive Director Jonathan Thompson, and former Deputy Attorney General of the United States Larry Thompson, have praised President Trump's nomination of Sessions.
Former Justice Department official Hans A. von Spakovsky, who is currently a Senior Legal Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, explains the importance of Sessions nomination at this moment in our nation's history:
In a time where we face a federal government that has expanded its power far outside the boundaries set by the Constitution, often with the help of the U.S. Supreme Court, having an attorney general who believes in the limited government intended by our Founders and respects the sovereignty of local governments is essential to preserving our freedoms, our liberties, and our constitutional republic.
"Sessions' experience as a U.S. senator also gives him a valuable perspective on the job at Justice. He understands and appreciates the importance of the constitutional oversight role of Congress. This is important given the dismissive and contemptuous attitude displayed by former Attorney General Eric Holder and other Obama political appointees towards congressional oversight.
During his confirmation hearing, Sessions made clear the lack of enforcement of existing laws is causing problems in our nation. In particular, America's immigration system "has not been working right," Sessions said. "We've entered more and more millions of people illegally into the country. Each one of them produces some sort of humanitarian concern. But it is particularly true for children. We've been placed in a particularly bad situation."
Sessions also realized there are key areas of overreach, specifically noting a secretive DOJ program known as Operation Choke Point. "A lawful business should not be attacked by having other lawful businesses pressured not to do business with the first business," Sessions said.
Prior to serving four terms as Senator from Alabama, Sessions was an Army Captain, and the Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. In 1981 Senator Sessions was nominated by President Reagan and confirmed by the Senate to serve as the United States Attorney for Alabama's Southern District, serving from 1981 until 1993. Sessions was then elected Alabama Attorney General in 1995, serving as the state's chief legal officer until 1997, when he was elected to the United States Senate.
His experience, record and commitment to the United States Constitution make Sessions a tremendously well-qualified and much-need nominee.
Heritage Action supports the Sessions nomination and will include his confirmation vote on our legislative scorecard