I am very honored to follow my distinguished colleague from Vermont on issues that he has worked so long and so hard and so well, and that is health care for our Nation and focusing on the fight for women's health, for access to affordable…

Would you agree with me that the protections for whistleblowers ought to be strengthened?

I'm very concerned by the fact of the President's announcement about your tenure and its potentially inhibiting effect on the work that you do and, especially, on whistleblowers.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

This condemnation has to be public, direct, explicit, because he has to show the American people that he will be independent.

I have serious and grave concerns. I am deeply troubled by his failure to commit to certain responses, his lack of an explicit response and commitment to condemn these comments by Donald Trump publicly.

He's not only attacked the American judiciary, he's set a litmus test -- in fact, a set of litmus tests -- that his nominee has to be, quote, 'pro-life', end quote, quote, 'very pro-Second Amendment,' and, quote, 'a conservative.'

This combination of the president's attacks on the judiciary goes to the core, absolutely to a foundational principle of our constitutional system.

I find these attacks on the judiciary absolutely abhorrent and unacceptable.

a court order is binding on all employees of the Department of Homeland Security, is it not?

effectiveness of the quota share transfer between states;

And in your case, Mr. Roth?

Has anyone on this panel received anything in writing providing you with assurance that you will remain in your present position?

You are ultimately the source of vigilance and enforcement against corruption and wrongdoing in our Federal Government without regard to partisan advantage and without respect to fear or favor from the President.

Wouldn't it be helpful to have a clear pledge from the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice as to the provisions of these court orders and a clear commitment to respect and abide by these rulings of the courts?

My office has received reports that numerous law enforcement officers at the Customs and Border Protection reportedly have been illegally arresting, detaining, and intimidating innocent individuals arriving in the United States.

I want to suggest that every Inspector General ought to be assured and given a commitment in writing that they will continue in office unless the President decides, for some reason relating to misconduct of that Inspector General, that he…

sufficiency of the liaison model to address concerns of one region's fishery management council where another region's council has jurisdiction.

Specifically, they raised issues related to the current management structure of black sea bass, summer flounder, and scup, as well as their statutory requirements;

Thank you very much.

current structure of fisheries management in the area;

Have you received anything in writing?

I am honored to follow my distinguished colleague from Vermont who has led the Judiciary Committee with such vision and courage over so many years, and whom I respect as a former prosecutor, as I am, as well as a litigator and a conscience…

I am honored to follow my great colleague and a champion of education and consumer rights, Senator Durbin of Illinois, and to address this body and, most particularly, the Presiding Officer, who has contributed so much himself to the cause…

This is a profound change that prevents agencies from adopting the most effective and appropriate way of protecting the public.