[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 18]
[House]
[Page 25256]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        THE NOMINATION OF JUDGE ALITO TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I hope that as this 
Congress, particularly the other body, begins to proceed with their 
hearings on Judge Alito, that no predecisions will be made.
  I, frankly, believe that this is one of the most important 
confirmation processes that we will see in our lifetimes, for it has 
the possibility of altering the Court drastically to one position 
versus another. For any Member of this body or Congress to suggest that 
there may not be a need for a filibuster to me is suggesting that there 
is no need for principles.
  The legacy or the history of Judge Alito is of many different kinds, 
many different decisions. My view is that his nomination and 
confirmation will alter this Court and not make it the balanced Court 
that Americans have come to believe in. So I would warn those who would 
automatically suggest that a filibuster is not appropriate. Hearings 
are appropriate and maybe an up-or-down vote ultimately, but it may be 
that a filibuster is appropriate to save the United States Supreme 
Court.

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