[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 187 (Wednesday, November 28, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S7150]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Nomination of Thomas Farr

  Mr. President, late this afternoon, the Senate will likely vote on 
whether to consider the nomination of Thomas Farr for the Eastern 
District of North Carolina. I have spoken repeatedly--last week, this 
week--on the floor about what an absolute disgrace it is to have his 
nomination before us. What a further disgrace it would be if our 
Republican colleagues march in lockstep approving this awful 
nomination.
  Mr. Farr has been chief cook and bottle washer with North Carolina's 
invidious and despicable efforts to prevent people, particularly 
minorities, from voting.
  Generations of Americans have agitated, protested, marched, and even 
died trying to expand the right to vote, regardless of race or gender. 
Our soldiers, when they are fighting overseas, some of them making the 
ultimate sacrifice, are defending democracy and the right to vote, 
among other things. For the Senate in 2018 to elevate a man to the 
Federal bench who has worked to limit the franchise and gain the 
electoral system would be a black mark on this body--a black mark on 
this body.
  Adding insult to jury, this is a judicial district that is 27 percent 
African American. Two African Americans, both women, were nominated in 
the past. The Republican Senators from North Carolina blocked them with 
the blue slip, a practice that the leader has abolished with Chairman 
Grassley, which is a shame in itself. But now to elevate this man to 
the bench is an insult to African Americans and all Americans--all 
Americans.
  It is amazing to me, utterly amazing--and you see a lot of things 
around here that you don't believe these days--that the Republican 
majority is moving forward with this nomination. I hope my colleagues 
on the Republican side, even at this late hour, take time to study his 
career. I believe they will find that he is unworthy of the Federal 
bench, and I hope at least a brave few will join with Democrats this 
afternoon to reject this awful, awful nomination.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.