Patrick Leahy: “Senator Specter and I have joined together to offer amendment No. 755 the supplemental appropriations bill to authorize…”

“Senator Specter and I have joined together to offer amendment No. 755 the supplemental appropriations bill to authorize a cost-of-living adjustment, COLA, for the salaries of Justices and judges of the United States for fiscal year 2007. I thank my friend, Senator Specter, for his leadership on this issue. I also thank the chairman of the Financial Services Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Durbin, and the chairman of the full Appropriations Committee, Senator Byrd, for working with us on the modifications made to this amendment. This is a step I supported taking--and that we should have taken--in the last Congress. As the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I have worked diligently to preserve the independence of our Federal judiciary and to treat its members fairly. At the beginning of this Congress, Senator Specter and I introduced legislation, S. 197, to authorize this COLA. It passed the Senate by unanimous consent and now awaits consideration by the House.”