[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 169 (Thursday, October 11, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6798-S6799]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENT--EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 4:45 
p.m. today, the Senate proceed to executive session for the 
consideration of the following nominations: Executive Calendar Nos. 
1007, David James Porter; 1081, Ryan Nelson; 1082, Richard Sullivan; 
627, William Ray; 628, Liles Clifton Burke; 629, Michael Juneau; 634, 
Mark Norris; 638, Eli Richardson; 894, Thomas Kleeh; 907, Jeremy 
Kernodle; 895, Peter Phipps; 905, Susan Brnovich; 906, Chad Kenney; 
945, James Hanlon; 947, Lance Walker; further, I ask consent that the 
Senate vote on the nominations in the order listed, with 2 minutes of 
debate equally divided prior to each vote; that for each nomination 
that is confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid 
upon the table, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's 
action, that no further motions be in order, and that any statements 
relating to the nominations be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.


                       Nomination of David Porter

  Mr. TOOMEY. Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the 
nomination of David James Porter, of Pennsylvania, to be U.S. Circuit 
Judge for the Third Circuit.
  Mr. Porter has deep roots in Pennsylvania. It is where he was born 
and raised by two public school educators who taught him and his 
siblings the value of hard work and education. Mr. Porter and his wife 
Valerie settled in western Pennsylvania and have raised their six 
children there during their 28 years of marriage.
  He is widely regarded as one of the preeminent attorneys in western 
Pennsylvania. Mr. Porter has a wealth of legal experience that will 
make him an outstanding judge. Currently, he is a shareholder in the 
Pittsburgh office of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, a leading national 
law firm. During his 23 years at that firm, he has worked as a 
litigator on numerous complex commercial, regulatory, and 
constitutional

[[Page S6799]]

matters in both State and Federal courts, including the Third Circuit. 
He has represented a diverse set of clients, including the New York 
Times and Pennsylvania's former Democratic Governor Ed Rendell.
  Prior to joining Buchanan Ingersoll, Mr. Porter served for 2 years as 
a law clerk for current Chief Judge D. Brooks Smith of the U.S. Court 
of Appeals for the Third Circuit, while he was serving as a U.S. 
District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania. In addition to 
his law firm practice, Mr. Porter has served in numerous professional 
service and other organizations. For example, he has been a leader in 
the Allegheny County Bar Association. His peers elected him to serve as 
the chair of two of that association's preeminent sections: the Federal 
court section and the civil litigation section. He also served on the 
Pennsylvania State Advisory Committee of the U.S. Commission on Civil 
Rights.
  During his distinguished legal career, Mr. Porter has developed an 
outstanding reputation for professionalism, fairness, and integrity. 
His nomination is supported by a diverse group of attorneys and 
organizations, including the Pittsburgh firefighters union--IAFF Local 
No. 1-- the current president and a past president of the National 
Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, and the president of 
the Pittsburgh Steelers.
  Mr. Porter has all the essential qualities needed to excel as a 
Federal judge: experience, intelligence, integrity, and respect for the 
limited role of the judiciary in our constitutional system. I am 
pleased to support this highly qualified nominee and urge my colleagues 
to do the same.

                          ____________________