Prepared Opening Statement by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee
Executive Business Meeting
Thursday, March 5, 2026
On today’s agenda, we have 10 nominations and one bill listed.
The nominations of Melissa Holyoak and Phillip Williams to be U.S. Attorneys are listed for the first time, so we’ll hold them over for future consideration.
Today, we’ll vote on Robert Cekada to be Director of the ATF.
We’ll also vote on four judicial nominees: Andrew Davis for the Western District of Texas, John Thomas Shepherd for the Western District of Arkansas, Anna St. John for the Eastern District of Louisiana and Christopher Wolfe for the Western District of Texas.
We’ll also vote on three U.S. Marshal nominees: Robert Rotter, Daniel Satterlee and David St. Pierre.
Lastly, we’ll vote on S.3798, the Safe Access to Cash Act of 2026.
It’s a bipartisan bill led by Senators Cruz and Gallego.
It will help protect Americans who rely on ATMs for cash withdrawals.
Senator Cruz will speak more about his bill momentarily. But first, I’d like to say a few words about the highly qualified nominees that we’re considering today.
Mr. Cekada is well suited to lead the ATF.
Throughout his three-decade career, he’s protected Americans at the state and federal levels.
Mr. Cekada spent more than a decade as a police officer, receiving numerous awards and commendations for his service.
He’s also spent more than 20 years with the ATF – as a special agent, managing regional offices and most recently serving as the Deputy Director.
Our judicial nominees are also highly qualified.
Each has extensive litigation experience. They’ve zealously advocated for their clients in difficult cases with the utmost skill and professionalism.
Two of them, Judge Shepherd and Judge Wolfe, already have experience presiding over courtrooms at the state level.
Although their credentials vary, I’m confident that all four of our judicial nominees will make excellent federal judges.
The three U.S. Marshal nominees that we are considering today are also exceptional.
Each has decades of experience in law enforcement, and I believe that all three will serve their communities well.
I’m particularly pleased that we’re considering the nomination of Mr. Rotter today to serve in my home state of Iowa.
As a sheriff, he’s done outstanding work to keep the people of Iowa County safe.
I hold him in high regard, as do many other Iowans.
I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting him today.
On another matter, I want to thank Secretary Noem for her testimony at our oversight hearing this week.
I’m glad she didn’t follow the precedent former Secretary Mayorkas set when he refused to come before [Congress] the last year he was in office.
The hearing highlighted the successful steps DHS has taken to secure our border and homeland from thousands of undocumented immigrant criminals.
It’s critical that Democrats stop playing politics and fully fund DHS components.
I expect timely and complete responses to members’ questions for the record.
I also want to note that the Government Accountability Office still doesn’t have access to DHS officials for the review I’ve asked them to complete.
That needs to be ironed out.
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