[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 17, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S2872]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            VOTE EXPLANATION

  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I regret that due to travel delays on my 
return from Oregon, I missed the vote yesterday on the confirmation of 
the nominee, Paula Xinis, to fill a judicial emergency vacancy in the 
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
  Ms. Xinis was nominated more than a year ago. The ABA Standing 
Committee on the Federal Judiciary unanimously rated Xinis ``Well 
Qualified'' to serve on the district court, its highest rating. She has 
the support of her home State Senators, Senators Mikulski and Cardin. 
She was voted out of the Judiciary Committee by voice vote on September 
17, 2015. In addition, 20 judicial nominees for lower court vacancies 
that were all voted out of committee by unanimous voice vote are 
currently on the Executive Calendar. It is important that the Senate 
work to prioritize filling these vacancies.
  For those reasons, had I not experienced travel delays and been 
present as originally intended, I would have voted in support of her 
nomination.

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