Senate advice and consent helps guarantee judicial competence.

I certainly agree, as a number of witnesses have suggested, that we can and should do more to fill the existing vacancies.

Presidential appointments and lifetime tenure insulate judges from political influence.

the reason our federal judicial system exists is for the resolution of wrongs and for controversies.

we may be reducing spending in the short term, it is having long-term consequences in terms of personnel, efficiency of operations, and our ability to execute on our public responsibilities.

I believe that it is important for us as a--it is important for the judiciary to move the parties toward resolution.

sequestration is having quite negative consequences all across the Federal Government.

this needs to be done in a nonpartisan way and in a way that continues to sustain the American judicial system as literally the world leader.

America's federal courts serve as a model for courts and judicial systems around the world.

I would like to enter into the record a statement from Senator Leahy, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, on the Federal Judgeship Act of 2013.

Our actions here are not just meant to deter Assad, but to send a strong message to Pyongyang, to Tehran, to non-state actors around the world.

I have never frankly seen a greater level of public engagement on an issue since, frankly, the healthcare reform debate of 2009.

I do think it's possible for us to take action that reinforces a global red line against chemical weapons use, but to still continue to strengthen and broaden our engagement with the opposition in a way that moves toward a post-Assad Syria…

I think the authorization of the use of force, I think the commitment of Americans' military strength is one of the most important issues that we will ever debate in this Congress.

To quote Yogi Berra, we must not snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

No one doubts that innocent men, women and children have been the victims of chemical weapons attacks in Syria and there is no doubt who is responsible for this heinous use of chemical weapons in Syria. The Syrian regime.

No one doubts that innocent men, women and children have been the victims of chemical weapons attacks in Syria. And there is no doubt who is responsible for this heinous use of chemical weapons in Syria, the Syrian regime.

Madam President, most of our colleagues have finished, a lot of them packed up and are heading back to their home States to begin the August recess. I wish them all well, especially the one who just preceded me on the floor tonight. I…