for months, Members on both sides of the aisle have been working to find common ground on ways to fix our broken immigration system. This group has been meeting behind closed doors to forge a consensus on a very difficult topic. The group…

On April 12, 2013, I sent you personally a letter requesting that you provide any personal notes from the Advisory Committee that you may have taken regarding Fast and Furious.

I would like to take a moment to pay tribute to former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher who passed away Monday. In the 1970s, Britain was mired in debt and even had to go to the IMF for a bailout. Britain was known then as ``The…

I ask unanimous consent to speak as if in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Tribute to Margaret Thatcher

I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Heitkamp). Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The yeas and nays were ordered.

As of April 10, 2005, the Senate had confirmed zero of President Bush's nominees, and a 10-0 record is one that any President should be proud of.

Yesterday, the Senate confirmed yet another judicial nominee. That was the tenth judicial nominee was confirmed so far this year.

Do you realize out of, I think at that time, maybe about 85 vacancies that there are, that there are 65 that we do not even have the nominations for?

the Senate cannot approve any nominees that have not been submitted to us by the President of the United States.

I am committed to the goals of the Sentencing Reform Act that created the Commission in the first place.

I think that the policy belongs with Congress, and the Sentencing Commission's role is to help Congress to perform that task.

I believe that there are 65 that have no nominee up here.

I have come to the conclusion that whistleblowers are about as respected as skunks at a picnic by their peers and by the organizations that they are in.

I believe this court has an abysmal record of supporting whistleblowers.

During the same time, the Senate has defeated only two nominees.

I, like you, have some philosophical points of view I want to make, not about the nominee but just things that need to be put on the record.

Can you really raise $1 trillion in new taxes without hitting the middle class?

I appreciate that very much, and I appreciate your coming to my office to have a conversation.

How would you approach a vacuum in the law?

I have been a strong encourager of whistleblowing in government and involved with Senator Levin almost 20 years ago on the Whistleblower Protection Act.

What role should the Supreme Court play in making patent law?

My last question to you would be that you have had significant experience arguing patent cases...

I guess I would say would you take a little special effort to become acquainted with these problems and see that justice is done.

I hope you can, but, I mean, I am challenging you.

today the Senate will consider the 10th judicial nomination this year. With today's expected action, we will have confirmed four circuit and six district nominees. At this point in 2005--and that was the beginning of President Bush's…