I urge you to respond promptly and thoroughly to those questions, because your nomination does not go forward until the questions are answered.

Do not worry if there is not a great deal of attendance here. That is usually actually a good sign.

It is part of how we, the people, govern ourselves.

We gather in a serious way for these hearings because voting to confirm an individual to the federal bench is one of the most important and lasting decisions that a Senator can make.

One is to respect the role of Congress as the duly elected representatives of the American people.

I urge you to keep that good feeling about juries in mind as, I hope, you proceed to this next judicial office.

I ask I be permitted to speak in morning business for up to 20 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Time to Wake up

I am a big fan of the jury.

I think we often forget that in this popular government, one of the ways in which people have the most direct voice is sitting in the jury box and making the official decisions that will be made in conflicts that are brought before them.

A jury is not just there to be a fact-finding appendage to a court.

It includes an obligation to decide cases scrupulously based on the law and the facts without prejudgment of any case.

I am here for my 38th weekly ``Time to Wake Up'' speech, and today I want to ask the question: What if? What if climate change is real? What if the 30-plus gigatons of carbon pollution mankind is dumping into the atmosphere every year…

I salute you for being willing to put yourself through the wringer of the nomination and confirmation process.

Today is a somewhat unusual day in that it is the 12th anniversary of the attacks on our country on September 11th...

I hope that each judicial nominee who we hear from today understands the importance of those principles.

I look forward to continuing, if I am fortunate enough to be confirmed for this seat, to presiding over jury trials for the remainder of my career.

I would contend that it was not serious and not reasonable and that it left out things...

We lose billions and billions of dollars every year because of the lack of intellectual property protections.

That is somewhat remarkable, isn't it?

I think it would be very, very wise and helpful for you to take Senator Feinstein's advice and spend some time with the Intelligence Committee report on the torture program.

I do not want to let the record of the hearing go forward with the thought that these actually are serious and responsible opinions...

I see that the Senator from New York and the Senator from Colorado are on the floor. I don't know if they seek recognition. I know this has been a terrific day for them as two of the principal architects of the immigration bill we just…

I have about 15 minutes. What I propose to do--I do not know how long the Senators wish to take. What I propose to do is yield to Senator Graham for such time as he may need.

from the beaches of Rhode Island to the glaciers of Montana, natural ecosystems provide us with life's essentials: clean air and water, crops and timber, recreation and lots of local pride. Rhode Island's oceans and coasts, for example…

let me also congratulate our friend Senator Graham for his extraordinary leadership. ____________________