Thank you, Congressman Schock, and I know you have to leave. We understand that.

It is extraordinarily important that the judiciary reflects the population in the states.

we established sentencing guidelines for crack cocaine that were 100 times the standard used for powder cocaine.

I commend the President for working with State leadership in moving this nominee forward, and I am pleased and proud to support the nomination of Carlton Reeves and believe he will be a credit to our State, to the Federal bench, and to…

Thank you very much.

At this point, I would like to take the prerogative of the chair to introduce one of the nominees who will be before us today.

I wish you the same good luck in this undertaking.

I think the point he was driving at was before the courtroom, before the case comes to the courtroom, whether there is a balance or fairness in the process or whether there is more power on the government side.

I believe the trial courts are the gatekeeper for the public's first entry into the justice system.

I would like to say a few words about the two nominees from Illinois, Jim Shadid and Susan Myerscough.

Of you, more is expected.

The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts has determined that the Central District vacancies are a judicial emergency.

I think based on all of that, both my experience, as well as my reputation and commitment with working with folks on both sides of the aisle, I think I would be a fair and impartial judge.

Sue Myerscough has over 23 years of judicial experience.

Since there are no Republicans present-- well, never mind.

I rise today to honor my dear friend Marca Bristo and recognize her work as a disability rights activist and the community-based disability agency, Access Living, that she founded 30 years ago in my home State of Illinois. Access Living…

the nonmedical use and abuse of prescription drugs is a serious and growing public health problem in this country. The 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that more than 15 million Americans had used prescription…

We have to go at this as if we were at war. The viability of the Great Lakes is at stake.

Congress must provide the appropriations necessary to complete the study in a timely fashion.

The Great Lakes are a national treasure that must be protected.

We are pleased that such a monitoring effort is called for in the legislation recently introduced by Senators Stabenow and Durbin.

We urge close consultation with the Great Lakes states both to respect their jurisdictional authorities and to utilize their knowledge of the watersheds and associated hydrology.

We support the legislation introduced recently by Senators Stabenow and Durbin.

The best permanent solution for the health of both the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes watershed is ecological separation.

To be done correctly, a study of this magnitude and complexity clearly requires significantly more funding.