[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 11, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H370-H371]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              SUPPORTING THE NOMINATION OF MIGUEL ESTRADA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Murphy). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart) is recognized 
for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I also stand to 
support the nomination of Mr. Miguel Estrada. We just heard his 
incredible qualifications as a lawyer, a person who has lived the 
American dream, who came to this country as a teenager barely speaking 
a word of English but through his work, his hard work, his dedication, 
bettered himself to become a highly respected attorney in society.
  Mr. Speaker, some of those now objecting to his confirmation have not 
been able to find one good reason in over a year that this process has 
taken place, one good reason why Mr. Estrada should not be on the 
bench, and yet we have heard a number of discussions d'jour about why 
Mr. Estrada should not be there. I want to mention some of those, Mr. 
Speaker, that I think are rather, frankly, amusing if I may say. Some 
have actually said that Miguel Estrada has never served as a judge 
before; therefore, he is not qualified to hold this position in this 
prestigious court. But, Mr. Speaker, five out of the eight judges in 
that same court where Mr. Estrada has been nominated by this President 
also never had judicial experience in the past. Why was it okay for 
them to not have that experience and why is it not okay for this 
Hispanic brilliant attorney, why does he have to have experience that 
the other five did not have, Mr. Speaker? I do not know. It begs the 
question.

[[Page H371]]

  Mr. Speaker, some people that I admire and care for greatly who were 
born in the United States of Hispanic origin like I was have actually 
said publicly that one of the reasons that Mr. Estrada should not be a 
judge is because he is not Hispanic enough or ``he is Hispanic by name 
only.'' Some of the people who are saying that, again like I am were 
born here in the United States and frankly are just not all that fluent 
in Spanish, and they say that Mr. Estrada, who got here when he was 17 
years old, barely speaking English, is not Hispanic enough, is Hispanic 
by name only? Mr. Speaker, I find that to be frankly offensive, 
personally offensive. I have no problem that people would object if 
they find something objectionable in Mr. Estrada's record, but they 
have been able to find nothing, not one iota of evidence, nothing that 
should disqualify this young brilliant attorney, Mr. Speaker.
  I support Mr. Estrada because it would be a wonderful thing for the 
country. It would be a wonderful thing for Hispanics. It would be a 
wonderful thing for diversity. A vote for Mr. Estrada is a vote for 
diversity. And, Mr. Speaker, I hope that we can all united support the 
nomination of this brilliant, young, talented Hispanic. He deserves it, 
the people of the United States deserve it, and our court system 
clearly also deserves to have Miguel Estrada.

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