[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 3, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S1002]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NOMINATION OF MERRICK BRIAN GARLAND

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, history was made on Monday. Judge Merrick 
Garland finally got a vote before the Senate Judiciary Committee. It 
was a long time in coming. His nomination was approved by a bipartisan 
vote of 15 to 7. I am not surprised. He is superbly qualified to be the 
next Attorney General of the United States.
  With experience, judgment, and integrity, he checks all the boxes. He 
served with distinction on the DC Circuit Court for 23 years and, in 
that time, developed a reputation for fidelity to the rule of law, a 
strict adherence to judicial independence, and a commitment to treat 
people with fairness, dignity, and respect. It is no surprise that he 
has been endorsed by 60 former Federal judges and by judges, of course, 
who have been appointed by Presidents of both political parties. In 
addition to his experience on the bench, he is a longtime veteran of 
the Department of Justice, where he served before he ascended to the DC 
Circuit.
  He is uniquely qualified at this moment in history to lead the 
Department and to investigate and prosecute, for example, the January 6 
insurrection--the mob that invaded this Capitol Building. The reason he 
is qualified is that he led the investigation and prosecution of the 
Oklahoma City bombing. We remember that very well. That was clearly a 
case of domestic terrorism. His work on that project won praise from 
across the political spectrum.
  He also personally understands the Department's role in protecting 
civil rights. I believe he is the person to restore honor and dignity 
to this Department. He has support from every major law enforcement 
organization in the country, from 150 former Justice Department 
officials of both parties, from the Nation's leading civil rights 
organizations, and from many others--left, right, and center. His 
credentials are second to none, and his character--in particular, his 
selflessness--is a model to us all.
  When we held the markup on his nomination in the committee, the most 
significant witness may have been a lady by the name of Mrs. Tucker. 
She testified on the second panel. She is the mother of two DC public 
school students who were tutored and mentored by Judge Garland. After 
the first child had received his helping hand for several years, the 
second child asked if she could be included in the next round, and then 
they both won the help of Judge Garland. Doesn't it speak volumes of a 
man who has reached that station in life that he would be so humble as 
to sit down and help children whom he had never met before find their 
way through life? It was a touching moment when she testified. It 
really was an insight into his character.
  So you would think, with a 15-to-7 vote, you would think with all of 
these endorsements, and you would think that the fact of there being 
four members on the Republican Senate side of the Senate Judiciary 
Committee behind him that this would be a nomination of an Attorney 
General so important to this Nation that it would be given expedited 
treatment on the floor of the Senate. No. Unfortunately, there was an 
objection to expediting his nomination so he could get to work for the 
Department of Justice, and, as a consequence, we face the Senate 
procedure, which means that it could be days, maybe even into next 
week, before he can take the job. That is unfortunate. We need him now 
more than ever. Even Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has said he 
would support him. Chuck Grassley, my friend and the ranking member of 
the Senate Judiciary Committee, voted for him.
  There is just no reason the Senate should not immediately hold a vote 
for Merrick Garland's nomination. He is the last remaining member of 
President Biden's national security team to be chosen. It is time for 
him to take this job. The Attorney General is needed to fight the 
threat of domestic terrorism, which the FBI Director spoke to yesterday 
in the Senate Judiciary Committee, to reorganize this Department and 
get it moving in the right direction, and to face the many challenges 
when it comes to national security and the administration of justice.
  We should confirm Merrick Garland immediately. I sincerely hope that 
whoever is holding his nomination on the other side can be persuaded to 
give him his chance

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