[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 18, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S5027]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                   Recognition of the Majority Leader

  The majority leader is recognized.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, this week the Senate continues to 
confirm impressive nominees whom President Trump has asked to serve our 
country. We have confirmed two Assistant Secretaries to the Department 
of Education, Scott Stump and James Blew. We have confirmed a member of 
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, Randal Quarles. Now we 
will turn to the judiciary and consider nominees to the Fifth Circuit 
and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
  First is Andrew Oldham of Texas, the President's choice for the Fifth 
Circuit. Mr. Oldham has impressed the legal community in his years of 
public service, most recently as general counsel to the Governor of 
Texas.
  Mr. Oldham has degrees from the University of Virginia, Cambridge, 
and Harvard Law. He clerked on both the DC Circuit Court and the 
Supreme Court. He carries the highest possible rating from the American 
Bar Association, ``unanimously well-qualified.''
  He comes highly recommended by peers and colleagues from across the 
political spectrum. Judith Zaffirini is a Texas State senator. She is a 
Democrat. She wrote the Judiciary Committee to support Mr. Oldham's 
nomination ``confidently, enthusiastically, and without reservation.'' 
She and the nominee have worked together on a number of important 
subjects. Through them all, she explains, ``Mr. Oldham reflected the 
ideal qualities of a judge . . . open-minded, fair . . . thoughtful and 
analytical.''
  Lisa Blatt is a skilled litigator who argues frequently before the 
Supreme Court. She is also a Democrat. She wrote the committee too. Her 
letter describes Mr. Oldham as ``a great listener'' with ``a brilliant 
legal mind, [and] a wonderful sense of humor and collegiality.''
  Her conclusion? He would ``make a superb judge.''
  What about Mr. Oldham's own words? If confirmed, he explained to our 
colleagues during his hearing, he will ``uphold the rights of all 
litigants--big or little--equally, and apply the law to all fairly.''
  He understands his responsibility, clearly. I look forward to 
confirming this nominee, and I urge each of our colleagues to join me.