[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 174 (Tuesday, December 10, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S8605]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        MISSISSIPPI REALIGNMENT

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 2871, which was received 
from the House.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 2871) to amend title 28, United States Code, 
     to modify the composition of the southern judicial district 
     of Mississippi to improve judicial efficiency, and for other 
     purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to the measure.
  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time 
and passed; that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and 
that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 2871) was ordered to a third reading, was read the 
third time, and passed.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, tonight the Senate passed by unanimous 
consent a clean extension of the authority the Supreme Court Police use 
to protect Supreme Court Justices, their employees, and guests when 
they leave the Supreme Court grounds. I have worked with my 
counterparts in the House for months to move this extension without 
amendments because that authority is set to expire at the end of this 
month. Last month, the House voted by an overwhelming majority of 399 
to 3 to pass this bipartisan bill, which extends the Supreme Court 
Police's authority to protect Supreme Court Justices, their staff, and 
official guests off Supreme Court grounds through 2019. Congress has 
provided this authority since the 1980s, to ensure the continued safety 
of our Supreme Court Justices and their employees.
  Threats to the safety of Supreme Court Justices are a threat to our 
democracy. In light of recent attacks of Justices off the grounds of 
the Supreme Court, it was all the more imperative that we pass this 
extension without delay. I look forward to President Obama signing this 
bill into law and thank the chairman and ranking member of the House 
Judiciary Subcommittee on the Courts, Representatives Coble and Watt, 
as well as Representatives Conyers, Marino, and Holding for working 
with me to ensure enactment of this extension.
  The Senate also passed by unanimous consent a bipartisan bill to 
reorganize Mississippi's Southern District from five divisions to four 
divisions, which was recommended by Chief Judge Louis Guirola of the 
Southern District of Mississippi. This realignment will allow the 
Southern District to absorb the counties formerly served by a now-
closed courthouse in Meridian, and the District will be able to better 
serve the needs of litigants, jurors, the bar, and the general public.
  This commonsense piece of legislation promotes efficiency and saves 
money in the Southern District of Mississippi. I thank Representatives 
Coble and Watt for sponsoring this important improvement and look 
forward to its swift enaction.
  I yield the floor.

                          ____________________