Jack Reed: “before I comment on the nomination, I would like to recognize and thank several people who have been very helpful in…”

“before I comment on the nomination, I would like to recognize and thank several people who have been very helpful in preparing my comments: Kara Stein, Justin Florence, and Sharon Rapport. Mr. President, I also ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a series of letters from national organizations with respect to issues of church and state separation and the nomination of Judge Alito. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Washington, DC, January 10, 2006. Hon. Arlen Specter, Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate, Hart Office Building, Washington, DC. Hon. Patrick Leahy, Ranking Member, Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate, Russell Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Specter and Ranking Member Leahy: Americans United for Separation of Church and State urges you to oppose the confirmation of Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr. to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Americans United for Separation of Church and State represents more than 75,000 individual members and 9,500 clergy nationwide, as well as cooperating houses of worship and other religious bodies committed to the preservation of religious liberty.…”