[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 69 (Monday, May 23, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H3699]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IT IS TIME FOR VOTES ON JUDICIAL NOMINEES

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, Senator Jim DeMint 
published an excellent op-ed in The State newspaper yesterday that the 
Senate has an obligation to ensure timely up-and-down votes for all 
nominees, regardless of who is President or which party is in power.
  Ensuring that our courthouses are filled with well-qualified judges 
is one of the most important responsibilities of the U.S. Senate. As 
Senator DeMint notes, the majority of Americans trust the Senate's 
judgment on judicial nominees, and it is unfair for a minority of 
Senators to ignore the will of the American people. If the minority's 
case against these nominees is so strong, they should be able to 
convince other Senators to oppose the nominees during a fair up-and-
down vote.
  This week, Majority Leader Bill Frist will lead the Senate to vote on 
the constitutional option, which will restore a 200-year tradition to 
ensure that each nominee receives a fair vote. After years of debate on 
this topic, it is time for the Senate to follow the will of the 
American people.
  In conclusion, God bless our troops and we will never forget 
September 11.

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