[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 9 (Monday, January 25, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S188-S189]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          GREENAWAY NOMINATION

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, tonight I wish to highlight what my 
colleague, Senator Menendez, talked about in getting on with the 
business of the Senate and defining what takes place in this body, this 
place of the people, where some say we shouldn't move quickly--we 
shouldn't move, period--on decisions that matter because, politically, 
our colleagues on the other side are determined to do whatever they can 
to bring down this administration's ability to function, including the 
majority's ability to function.
  I rise to talk about a target that our Republican friends have in 
their sight and that is Judge Joseph A. Greenaway, Jr., of New Jersey. 
He exemplifies the dreams so many have about what can be accomplished 
in life. He is the son of a nurse and a carpenter. He rose from humble 
beginnings to attend Columbia University and Harvard Law School.
  Joseph Greenaway is a well-qualified judge. He served on our district 
court for over a decade with distinction. His credentials and 
qualifications are beyond reproach, and there is no opposition to his 
nomination to the Third Circuit Court. Yet the Republicans blocked a 
vote--not cast a vote but blocked a vote--on his confirmation tonight. 
It is unconscionable. Let the Senate make its decision. Those on the 
other side who don't want to vote for him, let them say so. Let them 
say it with a vote. But, no, they insist on tying things up, which has 
been the manner of things here for some time now, since President Obama 
has taken office. This man and our country deserve better than what we 
are seeing.
  Some of us in this Chamber came to Congress to move the country 
forward because we are so grateful to this Nation of ours that we want 
to make sure--and I speak for myself, but I am sure I speak for 
others--that we are so grateful for the opportunities that befell us 
and our families. I speak from personal experience. I come from parents 
who were brought here as immigrants when they were infants and had the 
opportunity to do well in business for a number of years after coming 
and being here for 25 years.
  I want to do this job because I wish to help people. I know what it 
is like to be deprived of resources. It is painful. I saw it through my 
entire childhood. My father died when he was 43, without any insurance, 
without any help from the government to help my mother carry on while I 
was in the Army.
  Unfortunately, our Republican colleagues have a different agenda. 
They are focused on bringing this Chamber to a standstill. They are 
focused on delay and stopping progress on nearly every issue. The 
filibuster used to be reserved for only the most controversial issues 
and was meant to allow enough time for debate. Now it is being abused, 
hijacked by Republicans who are more interested in political and 
procedural games than in legislating.

[[Page S189]]

We have seen it in the health care bill, when one of our colleagues on 
the other side said that if they can defeat the health care bill 
President Obama produced with the Congress, they will have presented 
the Waterloo to President Obama's career.
  It is terrible to have that kind of an attitude. Serve the people. 
Forget about stopping things. Talk about them and come out here on the 
floor and say why don't you want to help people. That is what we are 
talking about. Today we see an example in the simplest form.
  Republicans have used the filibuster over 100 times since the start 
of this Congress. They have used it to block health care reform, 
funding for our troops, and even help for our veterans. They are using 
it to block well-qualified judges from serving on the Federal bench.
  Republican obstructionism last year led to the lowest number of 
judicial confirmations in more than 50 years. Republicans sit on their 
hands and block the Senate from considering qualified nominees for 
months on end.
  Last week, we finally had a vote on the confirmation of Beverly 
Martin to serve on the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. She was 
unanimously supported in the Judiciary Committee and then forced to 
wait over 4 months on the Senate calendar for no good reason, except to 
chalk up another victory over progress. What was the final vote on her 
confirmation? It was 97 to 0. They would not let us vote, but there was 
a willingness to have everyone in the Chamber vote for her. No 
opposition, not a single dissenter.
  Once again, we are witnessing a judge being caught in the crosshairs 
of the party of no.
  Judge Greenaway was nominated to serve on the Third Circuit and voted 
unanimously out of the Judiciary Committee. Yet his nomination has 
languished for nearly 4 months. This is unreasonable. Judge Greenaway 
is an exceptional public servant and will be an excellent addition to 
the bench. Judge Greenaway started in public service as an assistant 
U.S. attorney in Newark in 1985. He distinguished himself prosecuting 
bank fraud and white-collar crime cases before being picked to head the 
narcotics division in the U.S. Attorney's office.
  Since 1996, he has served on the U.S. District Court in Newark. In 
his tenure, he has demonstrated his firm commitment to the values we 
want to see in our judges--fairness, equity, and justice. These are the 
same values that will make him a success on the Third Circuit Court of 
Appeals.
  Judge Greenaway has spent his career protecting New Jerseyans and 
their rights. That is why the American Bar Association--his peers--
rated him ``unanimously well qualified'' for this position. That is why 
it is so incomprehensible to understand why they insist on not 
permitting us a vote. Let us vote. Maybe he won't be accepted by the 
Senate. Let us vote, by gosh. We ought to confirm him without further 
delay.
  The Third Circuit Court has a vacancy that needs to be filled. This 
is a noncontroversial, well-qualified judge waiting and anxious to 
serve.
  I call on my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, stop your 
obstructionism and let this vote move forward.
  I thank the Chair and I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Pennsylvania is recognized.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, as I had said earlier, I intended to make 
some comments following the speech by Senator Casey on my 10,000th 
vote. I have since deferred to Senators Menendez and Lautenberg. I 
intend to get to that speech.
  I will make some unanimous consent requests before I speak instead of 
after so that the clerks can go about their business and go home.
  As I mentioned, I have told family members that I was going to 
speak--my wife, my sister, and aunt. So it is coming. First, I will do 
some other business of the Senate.

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