Hawaii Senate Mazie Hirono to oppose with Duckworth nominees on the floor until there is a move by the White House to diversify the government with Asian American agreements.
“To tell us that you have Kamala Harris, we are very proud of her, you do not need anyone else, is insulting,” Duckworth told CNN, adding that the White House had communicated ‘multiple times’.
“This is not something you would say to the black caucus – that you have Kamala – we are not going to put any African Americans in the cabinet – why would you say that to AAPIs?”
If the two Democratic senators go through the threat, the confrontational stance could jeopardize the executive and judicial choice in a 50-50 Senate if all Republicans vote against one of the president’s candidates – and the move is already under way. ‘ a top Pentagon endanger. choose.
The Democratic senators indicate that they will vote against non-minority nominees on the floor, not in the committee, which could possibly allow Kahl to come out of the Senate Committee of Armed Services.
Duckworth told CNN on Tuesday that she would vote “no” on all the candidates coming Biden, until the president makes a commitment and nominates Asian Americans and islanders in key executive positions. Duckworth was the first Thai-American woman to be elected to Congress and the first female double-member of the U.S. Senate.
“President Biden will be the first president in 20 years without a cabinet secretary who is AAPI,” a frustrated Duckworth told CNN.
Hirono told reporters: ‘This means we want a commitment from the White House that there will be more diversity representation in the cabinet and in senior positions in the White House. And until that happens, we will be able to agree with her on non-diversity nominees. I think this is a reasonable position. “
Biden defended his cabinet choices on Tuesday amid criticism.
“We have the most diverse cabinet in history. We have many Asian Americans who are at the cabinet and sub-cabinet level. Our cabinet is composed,” Biden told reporters before leaving Air Force One in Ohio.
Duckworth praised Biden’s comments during a Democratic rally Monday night on violence against Asian Americans, but after coming off the call, matters became controversial when White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jen O’Malley Dillon expressed concern about the lack of AAPI representation.
“When I asked about the AAPI representation in Part Two, the first words from the staff’s mouth were, ‘We are very proud of Vice President Harris,’ which was incredibly insulting,” Duckworth said.
She said until there are AAPI nominees in vacant posts – such as OMB, or the Federal Communications Commission – or a commitment to future cabinet secretaries, she will not vote.
“Until then, I’m a no-vote on the floor for all non-diversity nominees,” she said, including choices among the cabinet and judicial nominees. She said she would support racial minorities and candidates for LGBTQ.
After notifying the White House, Duckworth said, “They will return to me.”
Duckworth is not the only Democratic senator who is upset about the government over the lack of diversity and that he speaks out publicly about it.
On the same retreat Monday, Hirono criticized the White House for a lack of U.S. representatives in the Biden cabinet, adding that she was not happy with Dillon’s response.
“What I said was that I shared the view of the AAPI community that there were not a significant number of AAPIs at the cabinet level,” Hirono said. “I realize we have Katherine Tai, but I do not think the trade representative understands the community as a cabinet level.”
She also said she expressed concern that the White House was voting on voters’ views on Biden and its agenda, but that the votes did not represent the views of the community.
“I also pointed out that one of the concerns I have about the position of different groups is that I want to see the AAPI community investigated in a consistent way,” said Hirono, a Japanese American. “And I made that point last night.”
Hirono added: ‘It’s everyone’s issue … And if they are presented with polls, I would like to see who is asked, who asked these questions. And my most important point was that the AAPI community should be asked. ‘
Asked if White House officials acknowledged that they would change anything, Hirono said: “What I heard was that they were actually included. I said, no, not in any consistent way. I told them “I gave them examples of why. And so my most important point is that if you consider it an important group of people, they should be asked consistently for their positions.”
And Hirono was blunt when asked if she was satisfied with the White House’s response.
“No,” she told CNN.
This story and headline was updated Tuesday with additional developments.
CNN’s Priya Krishnakumar, Christina Zdanowicz, Alex Rogers, Sarah Fortinsky and Kate Sullivan contributed to this report.