OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Water Resources Development Act of 2016

Floor Speech

Date: Sept. 7, 2016
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Judicial Branch

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Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, there are currently 27 pending nominations on the Executive Calendar and 90 total judicial vacancies. More than half of these nominations have been waiting since 2015 for a confirmation vote.

Hawaii's own Clare Connors was nominated to the Federal bench 1 year ago tomorrow. She is one of the nominees who would be skipped under the Republican leader's compromise offer, which is not a fair offer any way you look at it. Claire's resume is extensive and impressive.

In her time as a U.S. assistant attorney, Clare prosecuted Hawaii's most extensive mortgage fraud case. The case involved 15 criminals who were making it harder for Hawaii's families to obtain mortgages. This is only one example of Clare's nonpartisan commitment to public service.

During her career, Clare has worked for Attorney General John Ashcroft and Attorney General Eric Holder. She is impartial, she is qualified, and she deserves a vote.

If Clare is not confirmed, the Hawaii district court seat would be left vacant for over a year. People who appear before our courts don't want to know or care if their judge is a Democrat or a Republican. They just want to know that when they get their day in court, there will be a competent and qualified judge sitting there. This goes double, of course, for the highest Court in the land, the Supreme Court, which, because of an unfilled vacancy, has resulted in a number of 4-to-4 votes. That is not how the U.S. Supreme Court should operate. We need to do our jobs.

Mr. President, I rise today, therefore, and ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations: Calendar Nos. 359, 362, 363, 364, 459, 460, 461, 508, 569, 570, 571, 572, 573; that the Senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate on the nominations in the order listed; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to the nominations; that any related statements be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative session.

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