The Democratic opposition to Ajit Pai’s re-confirmation was launched today by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), who accused the Federal Communications Commission chairman of abandoning the public interest. Cantwell criticized Pai’s in-progress attempt to eliminate net neutrality rules and said he has taken other actions that hurt Americans.

“Since taking over the FCC leadership in January, Chairman Pai has wasted no time in moving the agency away from its key mission to promote the use and deployment of communications in the public interest,” Cantwell said in a speech on the Senate floor today, according to a transcript provided by her office. “I’m not going to vote for someone who is going to slow down and clog the Internet,” she said later in the speech.