I want to start by just thanking you for your remarkable leadership as Secretary of State.

We deeply regretted you were unable to appear before due to your illness, and I am thrilled to see you have made a full recovery.

I certainly look forward to continuing to get your advice, direction, and encouragement as I try to work with my colleagues here to ensure the same sort of success going forward in West Africa that we have recently enjoyed in East Africa.

I might ask one question that gives an opportunity for each of you to reflect on some of the balance between your previous service and the service on which we hope you are about to embark as judges in our federal system.

This is a historically high number for the beginning of a President's second term.

I want to thank Senator Menendez for chairing this critically important hearing and to thank you, Secretary Clinton, for testifying today.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your time and for your consideration of Raymond Moore.

I encourage any Members who are here for introduction who need to do so to feel comfortable excusing yourselves.

We now turn to Senator Gillibrand, who will speak in support of Analisa Torres.

I am pleased we have been able to move so quickly in this new Congress to convene this hearing today.

I thank you for being here today and congratulate you on your nominations, and I know I share the wish of all of you and your families that you might proceed swiftly to consideration by the full Senate.

It is my only hope that the Senate could begin to model that behavior of being fair, prompt, and decisive.