[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 141 (Wednesday, September 11, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S5972]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                Nomination of Laura Margarete Provinzino

  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Madam President, I rise in support of Laura 
Provinzino's nomination to serve as the next U.S. district court judge 
for the District of Minnesota.
  I want to thank Senators Durbin and Graham for working with me and 
both of them for supporting her and to move her nomination through the 
Judiciary Committee. I want to thank Leader Schumer for making the time 
and Leader McConnell for the Senate to consider her nomination and also 
to thank my friend and colleague Senator Smith for her work in support 
of this nomination.
  We jointly had a committee made up of esteemed members of the bar 
that made recommendations to the White House. Ms. Provinzino is a 
distinguished public servant who has served the people of Minnesota as 
a Federal prosecutor. As an assistant U.S. attorney, she has led 
efforts to prosecute violent crime, human trafficking, child 
trafficking, and crimes against Native American women.
  Through her devotion to justice and the rule of law, she has earned 
the respect and support of attorneys and law enforcement across our 
State. That is why she received a bipartisan vote in the Judiciary 
Committee and why I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will 
support her.
  Public service runs deep in her family, and her family roots stretch 
across all corners of our State, from the Iron Range up north to the 
small rural town of Melrose, where her great-grandparents ran the local 
paper, to the Twin Cities metro area.
  Like her father, she was born and raised in St. Cloud, MN. After 
graduating from St. Cloud Technical High School, she earned her B.A. at 
Lewis & Clark College and was a Rhodes Scholar. She then went on to 
receive her J.D. at Yale.
  She then returned home to Minnesota to clerk for Judge Diana Murphy 
on the Eighth Circuit and joined the U.S. Attorney's Office in 2010.
  As an assistant U.S. attorney, she has prosecuted over 500 cases and 
has served as the Deputy Chief of Violent and Major Crimes. Her work 
has earned the respect and support of law enforcement. The largest 
police organization in Minnesota wrote in strong support of her 
confirmation and praised her ``exceptional legal skills, unwavering 
integrity, and commitment to upholding the rule of law.''
  She has also received support from former law enforcement officials 
who worked closely with her. These officers and case agents wrote that 
she ``is highly respected in the law enforcement community.''
  And 19 former colleagues at the U.S. Attorney's Office, including 
President Trump's U.S. attorney, Erica MacDonald, have likewise praised 
her for her ``sharp legal mind, integrity, professionalism, dedication 
to service, and devotion to enforcing the law.''
  Given her extensive experience, it is no surprise that she has 
received commendations and awards from groups such as the Duluth Police 
Department to Women in Federal Law Enforcement, who honored her with 
the 2023 Top Prosecutor Award.
  The U.S. Department of Justice honored her with the David Margolis 
Award for Exceptional Service. This is the Justice Department's highest 
recognition for service, and she earned it for her work dismantling a 
massive international sex trafficking criminal organization that forced 
hundreds of women to engage in commercial sex across the United States.
  Her efforts in this case are considered a model for prosecutors 
across the country and are used to train Federal and State law 
enforcement on how to pursue international sex trafficking and money 
laundering investigations. Given her leadership on this issue, human 
trafficking prevention groups have strongly supported her confirmation.
  Her work goes beyond women and children and her nationally recognized 
human trafficking work. She has also led the work of our State's U.S. 
Attorney's Office on the Project Safe Childhood Program, which is the 
Justice Department's effort to combat child sexual exploitation and 
abuse.
  And, today, she serves as one of only five ``missing and murdered 
indigenous persons'' U.S. attorneys nationwide as part of the Justice 
Department's efforts to prevent the kidnapping, murder, and trafficking 
of indigenous people. Her area of responsibility covers 22 States. She 
is ready to serve on the bench. The ABA served her with its highest 
ranking of ``well qualified.'' I know she will make an outstanding 
Federal district court judge for the District of Minnesota.

  I ask my colleagues to support her confirmation. Again, I thank 
Senator Durbin for his leadership of the committee and all who worked 
to support her.
  I yield the floor.