I would certainly like to thank Senator Bingaman, who just retired just very recently, for the strong support that he has shown me over the years, and including support for this nomination.

I urge his confirmation. While he will be missed as our U.S. Attorney, I know that he will serve New Mexico well on the federal bench.

I'm pleased that the President has nominated him to fill this vacancy, and I'm pleased to be here today to support him.

I strongly support his nomination, and I urge this panel to act quickly to move his nomination to the full Senate for a vote.

I want to echo the remarks that you heard from Senator Tom Udall, our senior Senator, about Mr. Gonzales.

Mr. President, just a few weeks ago Americans gathered all across the Nation to commemorate Veterans Day. It is a day that we set aside to remember, and express our gratitude to, the men and women who have served in our Armed Forces. It is…

The Senator from Alabama--I think we overlapped as attorneys general, and we are good friends--raised this whole issue, and he used the phrase, which has been frequently used on the Republican side, that--and we are getting to this place…

I will finish by thanking my friend, a very close colleague on this particular issue, the Senator from Oregon. I know he has worked diligently on framing the talking filibuster, trying to bring it open, and make it the public process that…

I thank the Senator from Maryland for his sincere effort to pursue bipartisan rules reform because I think, if we all work together, we can make the Senate a much better place. I am reminded, when we have these discussions about the great…

I thank very much the Senator from Maryland for his commitment to pursue these bipartisan rules changes to make sure the rules get changed. I know I reminded him about my predecessor, Senator Domenici. Senator Domenici would fight hard…

The Senator from Maryland has been here a little bit longer in the Senate than I have. Could the Senator talk about how many conferences we have done? The Senator has served in the Maryland Assembly in the legislature. The Senator saw…

To the Senator from Maryland, I have one more question if he has time. First I want to respond as to the motion to proceed and what he has just talked about. This means we cannot get on legislation, as he laid out, for a large number of…

The Senator from Maryland has hit it on the head. Look at what we are talking about on a motion to proceed. I think it would surprise the American people to know that if the majority leader comes to the floor, now we have--this is not to…

I thank the Senator from Maryland. He is passionate about this, and he has explained it very well. I ask any Senator to look at this Executive Calendar today. We are doing exactly what my grandfather advised against when he said that if…

The Senator from Maryland has really hit it on the head. You do not have to go any further than today's Executive Calendar. We all have them on our desks. You pick up the Executive Calendar and, talking about approving these nominees and…

The Senator from Maryland hit on a couple of incredibly important points here, and I hope he has a minute or two to further engage in a colloquy. First of all, we shouldn't be saying all the credit goes to me or to the Senator from Oregon…

Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Oregon, because he has elucidated here the real issue that we face as a Senate. The Senator from Maryland, who is presiding, knows well. He has worked on the rules, and I hope he will join me here…

I thank my colleague very much, and let me say to my colleague from Oregon, who has been a real leader on this, he has been diligent, he has studied this, he cares about it, and he has been a great partner. The packages that were voted on…