Grassley Statement at Hearing on Nominations

 

Good morning. I’m pleased to hold this nominations hearing for three very well-qualified nominees to three important positions in our government. Congratulations to all of you and to your families and welcome to the Committee. I’ll now turn to the introductions.

 

Mr. Amin is nominated to be the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator, a position charged with coordinating and developing a national strategy for intellectual property enforcement across the federal government. The IPEC works with industry stakeholders and foreign governments, and is directed to report to the President and Congress regarding domestic and international IP enforcement programs.

 

Mr. Amin is senior counsel of the House Judiciary Committee where he works on important legislation affecting intellectual property and innovation. He is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University with a BA in Neuroscience and Anthropology and of the University of Washington in St. Louis Law School. He has a long and distinguished career in public service, working on Intellectual Property issues at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Office of the Secretary of Commerce, the White House, and the House Judiciary Committee. He’s well prepared for this new job.

 

I’d like to enter into the record a letter from Mr. Amin’s current and former bosses, Chairmen Goodlatte and Smith.

 

Mr. Boyd is nominated to be an Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs. OLA is responsible for implementing strategies to advance the Department of Justice’s legislative initiatives. Additionally, the office also aids in the nomination and confirmation process for federal judges and Department nominees.

 

Mr. Boyd is a graduate of the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama School of Law. Since law school, Mr. Boyd has spent his career in public service, including time as Minority Communications Director on this Committee for then-Ranking Member Sessions. Mr. Boyd spent the last six years serving as Chief of Staff to Representative Martha Roby. And since February of this year, he has served as Chief of Staff in the Office of Legal Policy at the Department of Justice.

 

I’d like to enter into the record letters of support for Mr. Boyd’s nomination from his former boss Congresswoman Roby, and Representatives Brooks, Byrne, and Palmer as well as Senators Shelby and Strange.

 

Mr. Cissna is nominated to be the Director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, one of the most important agencies within the entire Department of Homeland Security. USCIS is responsible for overseeing our nation’s immigration system—including everything from tourist visas to eventual American citizenship—the agency plays a crucial role in ensuring America is, and remains, a nation of lawful immigrants.

 

Mr. Cissna is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia University, and the Georgetown University Law Center. Since graduating law school, Mr. Cissna has served in a variety of positions across the federal government with stints in between in private practice as an Immigration Attorney. He is currently the Director of Immigration Policy at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Policy, and spent the last two years as a Detailee with this Committee working on my staff. Prior to that, he served as Deputy Director and ultimately Director of Immigration and Border Security Policy in the Department of Homeland Security for almost a decade.

 

Congratulations to all three nominees.

 

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