[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 5969]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    ALLOW MIGUEL ESTRADA A FAIR VOTE

  (Mr. REHBERG asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. REHBERG. Mr. Speaker, nearly 2 years ago President Bush nominated 
Miguel Estrada to fill a vacancy in the United States Court of Appeals. 
During this time, the President's opponents have turned ``advise and 
consent'' into ``criticize and dissent.'' They have stalled nearly all 
of his judicial nominations and much of his domestic agenda as well.
  The President's opponents are purposely relegating important 
legislation to their ``criticize and dissent'' penalty box. This 
filibuster is not about Miguel Estrada. He is qualified to serve, and 
everybody knows that. No, sadly, this is a part of a larger plot to 
shut down our lawmaking process in an effort to score political points.
  With terrorists knocking at our door, gas and heating prices soaring, 
an economy in need of a jump-start, they want to tie up the vital 
business of America with a filibuster against Miguel Estrada. And it 
will not end with Miguel Estrada. They will continue to obstruct at 
every turn.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge opponents to allow Miguel Estrada a fair vote, 
return to the crucial work for which they were elected, and set free 
the legislative process they are holding hostage.

                          ____________________