Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Nominations of Chipman to Lead ATF, Jaddou to Lead USCIS, and Strickland to the District of New Mexico

WASHINGTON – The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Margaret Irene Strickland, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Mexico; David H. Chipman, to be Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Ur Mendoza Jaddou, to be Director, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.  Ahead of the votes, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urged his colleagues to support all three nominees. 

Key Durbin quotes:

“She [Strickland] served as a public defender and a civil rights attorney… her breadth of courtroom experience is remarkable.  She has tried approximately 90 cases—there are few people in America who can say that.  And the vast majority of her practice has taken place in federal courts.  The ABA says she is well qualified and I think she’ll do a great job.”

“He [Chipman] spent 25 years in law enforcement, the vast majority with ATF.  As an ATF special agent, he witnessed firsthand the real danger that gun crime and illicit gun trafficking pose to communities and the dangers, particularly, people in law enforcement face because of this.”

“As a responsible gun owner who has advocated for commonsense, constitutional gun safety measures—and as someone who has worked to bolster the health and safety of law enforcement [officers]—Mr. Chipman is uniquely positioned to restore both credibility and accountability.”

“Ms. Jaddou, nominated to head the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, USCIS, has almost 20 years of expertise in immigration law and policy.  She will be the first woman to serve in that position.  She’s well qualified for it.”

Video of Durbin’s statement is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s statement is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s statement is available here for TV Stations. 

Margaret Irene Strickland, nominee to be United States District Judge for the District of New Mexico, advanced out of Committee with a bipartisan vote of 12-10, with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) voting “aye” with every Committee Democrat.

David H. Chipman, nominee to be Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, advanced out of Committee with a vote of 11-11, with every Committee Democrat voting “aye.”  Under the provisions of S. Res. 27, Leader Schumer may now file a discharge motion on Mr. Chipman’s nomination to place him on the executive calendar.

Ur Mendoza Jaddou, nominee to be Director, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, advanced out of Committee with a vote of 11-10, with every Committee Democrat voting “aye.”

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