[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15531]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      CONFIRMATION OF ELENA KAGAN

  Mr. INOUYE. Madam President, I rise to speak in support of Solicitor 
General Elena Kagan.
  Solicitor General Elena Kagan is widely regarded as one of the 
Nation's leading legal scholars. Her public service and legal 
experience, work as a teacher, service as a White House and Senate 
aide, and representing the government as the Nation's Solicitor 
General, have contributed to Ms. Kagan's intellect, judgment, and 
independence.
  As the first woman to serve as dean at Harvard Law School, Ms. Kagan 
was highly respected for her ability to build consensus among diverse 
groups. She diversified the political discourse on campus by hiring 
professors from a wide political spectrum. While working as a White 
House aide, Ms. Kagan was known to reach across the aisle to work with 
both Democrats and Republicans on issues like restricting tobacco 
companies from targeting ads at children. As the daughter of a public 
school teacher and a housing lawyer, Ms. Kagan understands that 
decisions made by the Supreme Court have an impact on the lives of 
Americans. As Solicitor General, she has argued cases to protect 
consumers, prevent elections from being taken over by special 
interests, and protect our national security. Ms. Kagan recognizes the 
extraordinary role of the Supreme Court to uphold the law and enable 
all Americans to receive a fair hearing and an equal chance at justice.
  Solicitor General Kagan has my full support in her nomination to the 
U.S. Supreme Court.

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