[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 101 (Wednesday, July 10, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S7677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
immediately proceed to executive session to consider, en bloc, the 
following nominations on the Executive Calendar:
  No. 514, Gary A. Fenner of Missouri to be U.S. district judge for the 
western district of Missouri, and No. 587, the nomination of Mary Ann 
Vial Lemmon of Louisiana to be U.S. district judge for the eastern 
district of Louisiana.
  I further ask unanimous consent that the nominations be confirmed, en 
bloc, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, the President 
be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and that the Senate 
return then to the legislative session.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. DASCHLE. Reserving the right to object, Mr. President. Let me 
begin by thanking the two distinguished colleagues from Nevada for 
their cooperation this afternoon in allowing us to get to this point. 
As the majority leader indicated, they care deeply about this issue. 
Nevada is well served by their representation and their determination 
on this issue.
  I also want to thank the majority leader for his effort to work with 
us. He has said again today what he said yesterday. He is prepared to 
try to work through these things in a way that would allow us to 
resolve all of the outstanding questions.
  He has given me his assurance again today that we will attempt--all 
we can do is attempt--to work through the list of the 23 judges that 
are currently on the calendar. This is the first downpayment.
  I appreciate his willingness to work with us on all of them. I 
believe that this is a good process. I think it is the way we should 
proceed.
  So I am very pleased that we have been able to reach this point.
  So I have no objection.
  Mr. BREAUX. Mr. President, reserving the right to object--and I 
assure the two distinguished leaders that I have no intention of 
objecting--I will just say that I congratulate both leaders for being 
able to reach this point where I think there is, indeed, light at the 
end of the tunnel.
  I think that the courtesies that they have shown to me and to other 
Members of this body on both sides of the aisle really is a very 
positive indication of the cooperation that will allow us to get 
through the list of judges that have been approved by the Judiciary 
Committee.
  I also would echo the comments by the two distinguished Senators from 
Nevada about how far they have been able to go, and I thank them for 
being willing to cooperate on the Defense authorization bill which I 
know is very, very important.
  I congratulate both leaders for the work that they have done. I think 
this is a spirit of cooperation that we need more of. I congratulate 
both of them for their work.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the request of the 
majority leader?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The nominations were considered and confirmed, en bloc, as follows:


                             The Judiciary

       Gary A. Fenner, of Missouri, to be United States District 
     Judge for the Western District of Missouri.
       Mary Ann Vial Lemmon, of Louisiana, to be United States 
     District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I would like to just note with regard to the 
nomination of Mary Lemmon from Louisiana there are other judges that 
had been on the list longer. But there was a particular problem with 
this judge due to the fact that she does hold office. I believe she is 
a judge. And she has to qualify in the next day or two or she would not 
be able to run for reelection. And then, if she did not get this 
position, she would be really caught in the middle. That is why we 
moved this one up to sort of the head of the list. I am glad it worked 
out.
  I thank the Democratic leader for his comments.

                          ____________________