The Public Record
Arlen Specter was a prominent American politician who served as a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania for 30 years, from 1981 to 2011. Originally a member of the Republican Party, he switched to the Democratic Party in 2009. During his tenure, Specter was known for his moderate positions and played a key role in various significant legislative efforts, including judicial nominations and health care reform. He was involved in high-profile hearings, including those related to the 9/11 attacks and the confirmation of Supreme Court justices.
I urge the confirmation of Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach to be Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Von Eschenbach is a native Philadelphian. He has had a very distinguished professional record. He has served as the director…
I well understand that there will be no action on this matter during this Congress, but I want to put it into the public milieu so there can be comment about it and it will be pursued in the next Congress. The Department of Justice has…
My bill does not exempt them. My bill just doesn't deal with them. Some say that FISA controls them and, therefore, they are illegal. The President says: No, he has article II power. And the only way that controversy can be resolved is in…
I am glad to respond, and I thank the Senator from California for the question. It would achieve individualized review of warrants on calls originating in the United States, and there are a lot of them. How many there are, I don't know…
It is anomalous that the chairman of the Judiciary Committee would not know the program, but I respect the division which gives that intelligence to the oversight committee. But she and I both wanted to have individualized warrants…
It does not deal with program authority at all. That was in the original legislation that I introduced as a way of getting the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to review the program. But this does not deal with that, and it does not…
The exclusive authority of FISA remains. This bill does not touch that. FISA is now the law of the land, and FISA says that it is the exclusive remedy for wiretapping. This legislation which I am introducing does not alter that, so it…
I don't believe that a shift in tactics ought to wait until after the election. There are too many casualties there.
I only need one sentence to refute the arguments of the Senator from Arizona, and it comes back to Justice O'Connor's opinion again. She says: All agree that, absent suspension, the writ of habeas corpus remains available to every…
A group of attorneys who came to see me on this issue have been representing detainees. They produced summaries of proceedings before this body. It is shocking as to how little information there is in these proceedings under the CSRTs. I…
There are many things I can say in response to what the distinguished Senator from Michigan has said, but silence is the preferable course. Instead, I ask, as the representative of the majority leader, to set the vote at 5:45 with the…
The `Victim-activated Landmine Abolition Act of 2006', which I am joining my friend from Vermont, Senator Leahy, in introducing today would end the procurement of these indiscriminate weapons by the United States. We neither need these…
On the leader's wrap-up, this is inconsistent with morning business, but the leader says: If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order. May…
On behalf of the leader, I state that today we continued debate on the Gulf Coast Energy Security bill and invoked cloture, 72 to 23. Senators wishing to speak on the bill should come to the floor tomorrow. The vote on passage will occur…
I will be glad to yield to the distinguished Senator from Missouri if I may ask one question that was raised by what the Senator from Oklahoma has just said. He has made the assertion that it would cost $20 million to bring the McFarland…
Have you considered and studied the Canadian plan, the point system that Canada has?
We are going to have to deal compassionately with the people that are here illegally.
I do not often quote Senator Kennedy, but I told him I was going to do this.
I think we should not get bogged down on semantics over substance, but ought to deal with what is the substance.
It is my hope that after we complete those hearings that in September we will move ahead to a conference and produce legislation.
If I may comment, I thank the Senator from Colorado. That would be fine for him to manage until Senator Brownback arrives.
May I, before the Senator from Massachusetts continues, ask that the proponent of the next amendment come to the--well, he will be in the vote, so I withdraw that suggestion. We will have just one vote.
Politicians like Arlen Specter
