John Bickley

Well, I think, you know, as you know, the Senate under the Constitution has the power of confirmation. And so there are a lot of all the executive branch nominees, the president's nominees for cabinet level positions all come to the United States Center for Confirmation.

So people don't realize this, but the Senate spends about two thirds of its time on personnel because in addition to all the executive branch positions, which there are about 1100, then you've got all the judiciary, all the judges on top of that. So I think getting his team in place, helping move quickly, we confirmed his cabinet at the fastest rate in 20 years.

So people don't realize this, but the Senate spends about two thirds of its time on personnel because in addition to all the executive branch positions, which there are about 1100, then you've got all the judiciary, all the judges on top of that. So I think getting his team in place, helping move quickly, we confirmed his cabinet at the fastest rate in 20 years.

We kept the Senate in session for 10 consecutive weeks for the first time in 15 years. And we hit 200 votes in the Senate for the first time at this point going back to the Reagan administration. So we're here. We're doing the work. There's a lot more to do. And obviously, making sure that all those key positions are filled in the administration is a big part of that.

We kept the Senate in session for 10 consecutive weeks for the first time in 15 years. And we hit 200 votes in the Senate for the first time at this point going back to the Reagan administration. So we're here. We're doing the work. There's a lot more to do. And obviously, making sure that all those key positions are filled in the administration is a big part of that.

But then we've got to start delivering on the legislative agenda. And that's where you get into politics. Energy independence, it's where you get into rebuilding the military, securing the border, providing tax relief for the American people, and reducing spending and getting our country on a more sustainable fiscal path.

But then we've got to start delivering on the legislative agenda. And that's where you get into politics. Energy independence, it's where you get into rebuilding the military, securing the border, providing tax relief for the American people, and reducing spending and getting our country on a more sustainable fiscal path.

Those are the things that the president campaigned on and we need to deliver on for the American people.

Those are the things that the president campaigned on and we need to deliver on for the American people.

Well, you know, it depended on the nominee. We had different issues and individuals that we were working with. But in the end, in the Senate, and fortunately on the executive calendar, these nominations are at 51 votes in the Senate. Most consequential legislation in the Senate takes 60. But at 51, we just had to make sure that we had 53 Republicans. We had to have at least 50 of them.

Well, you know, it depended on the nominee. We had different issues and individuals that we were working with. But in the end, in the Senate, and fortunately on the executive calendar, these nominations are at 51 votes in the Senate. Most consequential legislation in the Senate takes 60. But at 51, we just had to make sure that we had 53 Republicans. We had to have at least 50 of them.

And then with Vice President Vance in the chair, we can get to 51. And we had that circumstance a couple of times, at least on a couple of the nominees. But each one was slightly different and different things that they were doing.

And then with Vice President Vance in the chair, we can get to 51. And we had that circumstance a couple of times, at least on a couple of the nominees. But each one was slightly different and different things that they were doing.

responding to but at the end of the day we got them all in and i think it's important in any administration when a president wins an election especially as decisively as president trump on this last election in november they deserve a lot of deference when it comes to the people that they want in those various agencies and departments delivering on his agenda so we work to get them all through and um you know knock on wood uh so far been very successful with that we got a long ways to go

responding to but at the end of the day we got them all in and i think it's important in any administration when a president wins an election especially as decisively as president trump on this last election in november they deserve a lot of deference when it comes to the people that they want in those various agencies and departments delivering on his agenda so we work to get them all through and um you know knock on wood uh so far been very successful with that we got a long ways to go

Well, the vice president was great. I mean, he talked on several times. We had we had strategies on each of these and people that, you know, some of our senators needed to hear from. And Vice President Vance was was very helpful in making calls and I think developed a high level of trust and confidence with Republican senators.

Well, the vice president was great. I mean, he talked on several times. We had we had strategies on each of these and people that, you know, some of our senators needed to hear from. And Vice President Vance was was very helpful in making calls and I think developed a high level of trust and confidence with Republican senators.

And obviously he had been here and knew a lot of them to start with, which is interesting.

And obviously he had been here and knew a lot of them to start with, which is interesting.

was an advantage but i also think that he was very committed to helping the president get these folks um confirmed and uh was willing to do whatever we needed him to do and so there were you know a number of times where we had him engaging in conversations we had other senators talking to senators and of course the the president at the end of the day ultimately is the person who is most influential in uh in trying to get uh folks to support and vote for his agenda and so as you said it was team effort and um you know we're all kind of