On the recordMarch 29, 2017
I rise in support of the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court of the United States. Last week the Judiciary Committee, on which I serve, held a week-long series of hearings concerning Judge Gorsuch's nomination. After listening to the judge's flawless testimony, after listening to him answer questions from my colleagues for days on end, I am even more convinced than ever that he is exactly the kind of jurist we need on the Supreme Court of the United States. I want to briefly explain my support for the judge, and then respond to some of the criticisms that have been leveled against him. First and foremost, Judge Gorsuch understands the proper and necessarily limited role of the judiciary in our constitutional Republic. Last week, over and over, Judge Gorsuch affirmed--even against great criticism that at times can be difficult to understand in its entirety--but responded time and again to criticisms by pointing out that it is his job as a judge to interpret and apply the law--not to make it, not to establish policy, but to apply that policy which has already been placed into law by the legislative branch. When you are reading law, the text matters. Our laws consist of words and each word matters.…
