The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“Nomination of David H. Chipman (Executive Calendar)” mentioning Christopher Murphy was published in the Senate section on page S5204 on July 30.
Of the 100 senators in 117th Congress, 24 percent were women, and 76 percent were men, according to the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Senators' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
Nomination of David H. Chipman
Mr. President, now on one final matter, the President has made an inexplicable choice in nominating David Chipman to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This nominee has a long track record of open hostility to law-abiding Americans' Second Amendment rights. He is a loud, proud, would-be gun-grabber who has made it a personal mission to erode the Bill of Rights for the citizens of this country.
This is an especially awful time to be taking aim at Americans' right to keep and bear arms. Remember, as the political left has sought to vilify and defund the police across our country, homicides have, of course, surged. Last year's spike in the national murder rate was the steepest since, believe it or not, 1960.
So, as Democrats have made political war on the police, many citizens have started to think about self-protection. We have seen members of racial minority groups joining the parade of first-time gun owners in record numbers. But then Democrats don't like that either. Apparently, the left neither wants strong police forces, nor do they want Americans equipped for self-defense.
This nominee is unsuited enough for this job on policy merits, but somehow all this is just the tip of the iceberg of the concerns.
Mr. Chipman also comes with a distressing workplace reputation. Current and former ATF agents, once his colleagues, have described him as an ``activist'' and a ``bully.'' Those are direct quotes. By one account, his policy views are ``extreme'' and his demeanor unsettling. I understand that just this week, even graver concerns have surfaced. According to one report, multiple ATF sources say there exists an internal complaint over racially insensitive comments allegedly made by the nominee in the workplace.
I don't expect that a Democratic President would pick somebody to run the ATF who will have our side of the aisle popping corks, but this is another level altogether.
Anyone who supports the Bill of Rights should oppose this nomination. There is no way this nominee is the best the Biden administration can do.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Alerts Sign-up