As has been pointed out frequently, the five nominees that we have before us today all are seeking confirmation for lifetime appointments.

We think we have brought forward two of the most talented people we have in our state and the Nation to serve on our Federal bench.

The Judiciary Committee will come to order.

I want to thank Senator Leahy for giving me the opportunity to chair this hearing.

I rise today to express my congratulations to Israel on the 62nd anniversary of its independence. This week, America's closest ally in the Middle East, Israel, commemorated its Independence Day, Yom Ha'atzmaut, 1 day after its Memorial…

I want to commend and congratulate Senator Mikulski for the process that she initiated in the State of Maryland for making recommendations to the President on our nominees to the bench.

It's hard to imagine how you can deal with hunger if you don't deal with poverty.

we have at least transparency between the executive and legislative branches as what the expectations of that program and that specific country is

It's hard to see how you deal with poverty if you don't deal with the problems of corruption.

I am pleased to report to you and my colleagues on the excellent work that is being done to help developing countries capitalize on their natural resource wealth. This unique initiative is called the Natural Resource Charter, and it is…

We need to figure out how we can make sure that our military are fully empowered, all voters are fully empowered during the 2010 elections.

It is an important institution, and it is one that should be in the forefront of advocacy for the civil rights of all Americans.

Well, thank you. I certainly support that.

Well, that is unfortunately consistent with the information that I think each of us has observed in our own communities, and it is clearly a circumstance that we need to take aggressive action, and we thank you for the manner in which you…

The Southern Poverty Law Center has supplied information to this Committee that shows an increase in hate crime activities.

I think that the Chairman is right to recognize that politics is inappropriate in the Department and politics can be evident from both sides of the aisle, certainly, and we need to be concerned.

The number of people who are fraudulently voting is minuscule compared to those who are eligible to vote.

I have tried to work with members of the Judiciary Committee to increase the information made available to the FBI.

I agree with Senator Sessions that we do not want to put a climate out there that causes institutions to do things that are irresponsible.

I share your concern about what we can do to help, and it is frustrating that we cannot move faster to provide the opportunities for all the people in this country.

The rolls should be accurate.

I can tell you, after every election I get more complaints about people who were eligible to vote and who were inappropriately taken off of a roll.

I want all of our laws enforced. Do not get me wrong. But I would hope that we would try to be empowering people to vote who are eligible to vote.

This should be a national priority, to make sure that it is clear that we have the capacity of the Federal Government to support our States.

the segregation of people--the unnecessary segregation of people with disabilities in institutions is equally illegal and must be stemmed.