Tom Harkin: “Bonnie Campbell has, for the last 4 years, directed the Office of Violence Against Women in the Department of Justice. I…”

“Bonnie Campbell has, for the last 4 years, directed the Office of Violence Against Women in the Department of Justice. I can't find one person on either side of the aisle who says she hasn't done a superb job. She has received accolades from all over this country about guiding and directing that office. She is widely supported by the American Bar Association, by people on both sides of the aisle, the party in her home State of Iowa who know the kind of outstanding person she is, how bright she is, how capable she is, what a great job she did as attorney general in the State of Iowa, and now in the Violence Against Women Office in the Department of Justice. People on both sides of the aisle support her nomination, and yet the Senate Judiciary Committee refuses to report her out of committee. She has had her hearing. That has all been taken care of. All the paperwork is done. She has answered all the questions. I say to the Judiciary Committee: Report her nomination out. If for some reason you think she is unqualified--I cannot imagine why--then you can cast your vote, but at least let's bring the nominee to the floor. There are 22 vacancies on the appeals court. That is nearly half the emergency vacancies in the Federal court system. With the growing number of vacancies in the Federal courts, these positions should be filled as soon as possible with qualified people. Yet the Judiciary Committee refuses to move.”