[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 147 (Thursday, December 4, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6329-S6330]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  NOMINATION OF LYDIA KAY GRIGGSBY TO BE A JUDGE OF THE UNITED STATES 
                   COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS--Continued

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, there will be 2 
minutes of debate prior to a vote on the Griggsby nomination.
  Who yields time?
  The Senator from Vermont.
  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, today we will vote to confirm Lydia 
Griggsby to serve on the Court of Federal Claims.
  I thank the Majority Leader for filing cloture on her nomination. She 
should have been confirmed several months ago but Republicans refused 
to consent to a vote on her nomination for no good reason.
  Lydia was nominated on April 10 of this year. She had a hearing on 
June 4 and was reported out of committee by a unanimous voice vote on 
June 12. She is completely noncontroversial and exceptionally well 
qualified to serve on this court.
  It should not have taken 6 days, let alone 6 months, for the Senate 
to approve her nomination. Despite this unnecessary delay, I am pleased 
that we finally ended the filibuster and will confirm her today.
  Lydia has served on my Judiciary Committee staff since 2006 and 
currently serves as my chief counsel for Privacy and Information 
Policy. In this position, she has worked across the aisle on important 
legislation to

[[Page S6330]]

promote accountability and transparency. Before coming to the Judiciary 
Committee she served on the Senate Ethics Committee.
  I recommended Lydia to the President for this position because I know 
her intellect and good judgment will make her a fine judge. Before 
Lydia came to work in the Senate, she served in the Justice Department 
and tried several matters before the Court of Federal Claims. When she 
is confirmed, it will most certainly be the court's gain and the 
Judiciary Committee's loss.
  I will miss her wise counsel and I wish her all the best.
  Madam President, I yield back all time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is, Will the Senate advise and 
consent to the nomination of Lydia Kay Griggsby, of Maryland, to be a 
Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims?
  The nomination was confirmed.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the motions to 
reconsider are considered made and laid upon the table and the 
President will be immediately notified of the Senate's actions.

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