[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 64 (Thursday, May 10, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S4849]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, in executive session, I ask unanimous 
consent that the Senate proceed to consideration of the following 
nominations, reported by the Judiciary Committee: Daniel Bryant, PN 
214; Larry Thompson, PN 200; reported by the Banking Committee: Grant 
Aldonas, PN 216, Robert Hubbard, PN 264, Kenneth Juster, PN 192.
  I further ask unanimous consent that the nominations be confirmed, 
the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, any statements 
relating to the nominations be printed in the Record, the President be 
immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then return 
to legislative session.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The nominations were considered and confirmed as follows:


                         department of justice

       Larry D. Thompson, of Georgia, to be Deputy Attorney 
     General.
       Daniel J. Bryant, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Attorney 
     General.


                         department of commerce

       Kenneth I. Juster, of the District of Columbia, to be Under 
     Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration.
       Grant D. Aldonas, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of 
     Commerce for International Trade.


                   executive office of the president

       Robert Glenn Hubbard, of New York, to be a Member of the 
     Council of Economic Advisers.


                      nomination of daniel bryant

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, Dan Bryant is well-known to many of us, 
especially those of us serving on the Judiciary Committee. We knew him 
first as an able member of the House Judiciary Committee staff and 
through his work as the Chief Counsel of the House Judiciary 
Committee's Subcommittee on Crime, working under Chairman Hyde and 
Congressman McCollum. At his confirmation hearing, Mr. Hyde, Mr. 
Conyers, Senator Biden and both Senators from Virginia all came to 
testify on his behalf.
  Mr. Bryant is respectful of the Senate and, I feel, all Senators. We 
are already working with Mr. Bryant as he is serving as a consultant to 
the Department while his nomination is pending. His history and current 
work give me every reason to support his nomination. I look forward to 
working with him in the days and months ahead. His is a most demanding 
job. I congratulate Dan and his family on his confirmation by the U.S. 
Senate.


                      nomination of larry thompson

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am delighted that the Senate Judiciary 
Committee unanimously reported the nomination of Larry Thompson to be 
Deputy Attorney General to the Senate. The Deputy Attorney General is 
number two in command at the Department of Justice and plays a key role 
as a top advisor to the Attorney General. Former Deputies include 
William Rogers and Byron White, Nicholas Katzenbach and Warren 
Christopher, Harold Tyler, Jamie Gorelick and Eric Holder.
  The Deputy has traditionally assumed responsibility for the day-to-
day operations of the Department. The Deputy often has direct oversight 
of a number of divisions and units within the Department, including the 
FBI and those with criminal jurisdiction. The Deputy position may 
assume even greater significance in this Administration, since we have 
not seen any indication that there will be an Associate Attorney 
General with whom the Deputy might share those leadership 
responsibilities.
  I know that Mr. Thompson is a strong conservative. I have confidence 
that we can work together. I believe him when he indicates that he is 
prepared to have a candid and responsive relationship with the 
Judiciary Committee, including the Democratic Senators.
  I know that Mr. Thompson served previously as a United States 
Attorney and that he appreciates, as those of us who served as local 
prosecutors understand, where the front lines of law enforcement are, 
how they must be supported and that partisan politics have no business 
in law enforcement.
  It was not only his testimony but the testimony of Mr. Thompson's 
home State Senators that I found compelling. Both Senator Cleland and 
Senator Miller came to the Committee and gave strong support. Those 
statements matter. His home state Senators would be expected to know 
him best and it was clear to me that they know him well.
  Senator Cleland's endorsement was without reservation. Senator Miller 
described him as a consummate professional, quiet yet strong, someone 
who exercises enormous common sense, a person of great substance and 
little ego, and one who will put principle ahead of politics every 
time. We were assured that Larry Thompson comes with no agenda, and 
will base every decision on what is right, not what is popular or 
politically expedient.
  With those kinds of endorsements and assurances, and with the frank 
exchanges that we had during the course of the hearing process, I feel 
confident in supporting the nomination of Larry Thompson. I look 
forward to working with Mr. Thompson in the days ahead and I 
congratulate Mr. Thompson and his entire family on his confirmation by 
the U.S. Senate.

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