[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 8398]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            END FILIBUSTERS

  (Mr. SMITH of Texas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, since 2003 Senate Democrats have 
filibustered or threatened to filibuster ten of the President's circuit 
court nominees. This is unprecedented.
  Some believe that applying the filibuster to judicial nominations is 
a long and revered Senate tradition. Not so. Never before has a 
judicial nominee with clear majority support been denied an up or down 
vote on the Senate floor.
  Not until Miguel Estrada's nomination in 2003 has a judicial nominee 
with clear majority support been blocked by a filibuster.
  Fairness in the justice system begins with the confirmation of 
capable judges. Each time a nominee is denied a vote, the American 
people are denied justice. The American people deserve better. It is 
time for every judicial nominee to receive an up or down vote.
  Remember, never before has a judicial nominee with clear majority 
support been denied an up or down vote on the Senate floor.

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