[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 131 (Friday, October 1, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11789-S11790]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           NOMINATIONS OF M. JAMES LORENZ AND VICTOR MARRERO

  Under the previous order, the nominations were considered and 
confirmed, as follows:


                             the judiciary

       M. James Lorenz, of California, to be United States 
     District Judge for the Southern District of California.
       Victor Marrero, of New York, to be United States District 
     Judge for the Southern District of New York.

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I rise in strong support of the 
nomination of Victor Marrero to serve as a judge on the United States 
District Court for the Southern District of New York.
  I express my appreciation to Chairman Hatch for moving this 
nomination expeditiously to the floor.
  This is one of those moments where you cannot help but feel proud 
about this country and about how the American Dream is not a myth but a 
reality.
  Where else in the world could a young child, with no knowledge of the 
native language, go to school, learn English, become valedictorian of 
his high school, and embark upon a distinguished and towering career in 
public service?
  Only in America.
  That is the abridged story of Victor Marrero. He came to this country 
with practically nothing. He studied and learned in school. He was 
inspired to public service by President John F. Kennedy.
  And from that day on, he has never strayed from helping people, 
teaching them, from trying to make the world a better and more just 
place.
  President Clinton nominated Ambassador Marrero to this judgeship upon 
my recommendation and on the basis of the Ambassador's extensive 
experiences and accomplishments as both a practitioner of law and a 
public servant.
  Ambassador Marrero's legal career is extensive and distinguished. 
Between his two stints in public service, he spent twelve years as a 
partner at two prominent New York City law firms.
  Ambassador Marrero's public service career is almost without equal in 
its breadth and degree of achievement. He has served as Executive 
Director of New York City's Department of City Planning, Chairman of 
the city's Planning Commission, Commissioner of New York State's 
Division of Housing and Community Renewal, and Under Secretary at the 
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
  In 1993, President Clinton appointed him United States Ambassador to 
the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. In 1998, be 
became United States Ambassador to the Organization of American States.
  Ambasssador Marrero, through charitable work, has helped to enhance 
New York City's public schools, libraries, museums and parks, and to 
help bring opportunity to other Puerto Ricans and Hispanics.
  Perhaps the most telling testament to the esteem in which Ambassador 
Marrero is held is the fact that he has been confirmed by the United 
States Senate on three separate occasions over the past twenty years.
  I am pleased today that Ambassador Marrero will be adding a fourth 
Senate confirmation to an already impressive resume.

[[Page S11790]]

  Mr. LEAHY addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Vermont.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I say, with both the leaders on the floor, 
this is a matter that has had some discussion. I appreciate the 
discussions I have had with both my leader, the distinguished 
Democratic leader, and the majority leader of the Senate, the 
distinguished Senator from Mississippi. The distinguished senior 
Senator from Utah, Mr. Hatch, and I have also had lengthy discussions 
about this.
  As I have stated before--I will not hold the floor here now because I 
know others are waiting to speak; I will speak on this later this 
afternoon--I do have a concern about the slow pace of nominations being 
confirmed, especially with those such as the Paez and Berzon 
nominations that have waiting years, not just weeks and months. We 
should be moving forward on those nominations, as well.
  I have also received the assurance of the distinguished chairman of 
the Senate Judiciary Committee that we will expedite, as much as 
possible, the hearing schedule and the executive session schedule of 
the Committee and that we will get more nominations promptly to the 
Executive Calendar.
  One thing I have learned after 25 years here is that in the last few 
days of any session we suddenly find a lot can be done--provided items 
are available on the calendar. While it is a time, I am sure, to which 
the two leaders look forward with great anticipation--and they have a 
chance to earn a higher place in Heaven because their patience will be 
strained but they will not allow the strain to break them--I hope we 
will have a number of judges who might then be available to start the 
December, if not the January, sessions of their courts.
  I know that Bruce Cohen, counsel on the Democratic side, and Manus 
Cooney, Senator Hatch's chief counsel on the Republican side, have been 
working hard to make progress on these matters.
  I think this is a good step forward. I think it is a positive thing. 
But I hope the leader will be able to use his persuasion on the 
Republican side for Berzon and Paez. I know there are those who will 
not vote for them, but allow them to have an up-or-down vote.
  I can assure the Democrat leader and I can assure the majority leader 
that I have canvassed this side of the aisle and there is no objection 
on the Democratic side--none whatsoever--to going forward with Berzon 
and Paez.
  I know some Senators have told me on the other side they will vote 
against them. I have a number of Senators on the other side who say 
they will vote for them. We ought to give them the courtesy of the 
vote.
  I know that requires scheduling and work, but I urge that upon the 
leadership. I want the leaders to know there is no objection on this 
side.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I would like the Record to reflect that 
Senator Hatch is in agreement with this request. He has worked on it 
very diligently; also, that he has made a commitment to have hearings 
and votes on additional nominees in the near future. I do not recall 
him specifying a day. I think you have some tentative date you have 
worked on.
  Mr. LEAHY. We do.
  Mr. LOTT. One other request. I ask unanimous consent that at 5:30 on 
Monday the Senate proceed--Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a 
quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative assistant proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Bunning). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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