[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 146 (Monday, September 12, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4527-S4528]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          Judicial Nominations

  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, the Senate gavels back into session to 
consider more Federal judges, continue working to fund the government, 
and to find a path forward to protect marriage equality and other 
critical issues.
  Later this afternoon, the Senate will vote on the confirmation of 
Judge Salvador Mendoza to serve a lifetime appointment on the Ninth 
Circuit Court of Appeals. The child of Mexican immigrant farmworkers, 
Mr. Mendoza was the first Latino judge to ever serve in the Eastern 
District of Washington.
  And if confirmed today, he would be the first Latino from the State 
of Washington ever to sit on the Ninth Circuit. In 2014, the Senate 
confirmed Mr. Mendoza with an overwhelming bipartisan vote, 92 to 4. 
Today, it should be no different.
  If confirmed, Judge Mendoza's elevation will be significant for 
another reason. He would be the 80th, the 80th--8-0--judicial 
nomination confirmed under President Biden. That is more judges 
confirmed under President Biden than were confirmed by this point under 
President Trump, President Obama, and President Bush. It is something 
we Democrats are very proud of because the impact of these judges will 
last for years, if not decades.
  And we are by no means done. After Judge Mendoza is confirmed, we 
will turn to the nomination of Arianna Freeman to serve as circuit 
judge for

[[Page S4528]]

the Third Circuit. She would be the fourth circuit judge nominee we 
would consider since the beginning of this work period.
  Let me say that again. We are going to begin considering the fourth 
circuit court nominee since we returned from the August State work 
period. I said judges would be a priority, and this is what that looks 
like.
  And it is my intention, as majority leader, to keep the Senate 
focused on judges this week and beyond. Our fundamental rights and our 
democracy itself depend on it.