A justice system informed by solid science is imperative.

A DOJ-hosted OFS therefore presents potential conflicts of interest precluding the independence required for a forensic science office to be effective.

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 6, 2011, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Continued Oversight of the…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts, be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on December 6, 2011, at 10 a.m., in room SD-226 of the Dirksen…

we are soon going to a rollcall vote on Edgardo Ramos, of Connecticut, to be U.S. district judge for the Southern District of New York. We also have three others on here: Andrew L. Carter, Jr., of New York, to be U.S. district judge for…

what is the regular order? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Ramos nomination. The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of Edgardo Ramos, of Connecticut, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of…

I do not think that means they can put the Court in a Coliseum if the Court felt that it adversely impacted the integrity of its decisionmaking.

But when the President tried to enlarge the number of Supreme Court Justices back in the Court-packing days, when President Roosevelt did that, what this Senate did was they refused to go along.

I suggest the absence of a quorum but ask unanimous consent that the time be equally divided. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

I fear that what is behind this misguided filibuster attempt is a continuation of a decades-long attempt by some Senate Republicans to play politics with the Federal court and, in particular, to engage in a rear guard action to preserve…

Today the Senate will finally consider nominations to fill four vacancies on Federal district courts, all of which were reported by the Judiciary Committee unanimously in September and early October. All four nominees Edgardo Ramos and…

I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There is a sufficient second. The clerk will call the roll. The assistant editor of the Daily Digest called the roll.

I ask unanimous consent I be recognized for another 5 minutes as in morning business, and the distinguished Senator from Illinois be recognized for 10 minutes as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so…

earlier this week, one of this bill's lead sponsors said here on the floor of the United States Senate that the bill's detention subtitle would authorize the indefinite detention of U.S. citizens at Guantanamo Bay. That is a stunning…

in 2008, I was proud to join Senator Durbin in support of the National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Act, which President Bush signed into law. This last week I have been able to arrange on behalf of the Senate Judiciary Committee for…

I am pleased that the Senate has unanimously adopted my Freedom of Information Act, FOIA, amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. This measure appropriately narrows the overbroad exemptions to FOIA contained in the bill and…

I understand we are still in morning business? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The time for morning business has expired.

today, I am proud to introduce the bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2011 and to be joined by Senator Crapo in doing so. For almost 18 years, the Violence Against Women Act, VAWA, has been the centerpiece of the…

the Udall-Webb-Leahy-Feinstein-Durbin-Paul- Wyden amendment would remove the very troubling detention subtitle from the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012. I am a cosponsor of this amendment because I believe the…

Justice Scalia, under our Constitution, what is the role, if any, the judges play in making budgetary choices or determining what is the best allocation of taxpayer resources? Is that within their proper role or is that somewhere else?

So, contrary to what the bill sponsors claim, they have not incorporated the administration's requests, and the current language does not remove the risk of impeding intelligence investigations or prosecutions of terrorist suspects. As…

For debate only. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Mr. McCAIN. I don't seek recognition.

one of the amendments that have been pending is the Leahy-Graham National Guard empowerment amendment, which is amendment No. 1072. I was just discussing with the distinguished leaders of the Armed Services Committee, Senators Levin and…

I will not use all my time, by any means. I spoke earlier about this. I appreciate the courtesy of the distinguished senior Senator from Arizona. Senator Graham and I, as cochairs of the National Guard Caucus, introduced amendment No…

am I correct that we are on the Defense authorization bill? The PRESIDING OFFICER. That is correct. Amendment No. 1072