[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 481-482]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN BECOMING RANKING MEMBER OF THE SENATE 
                          JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today, the Senate Judiciary Committee 
convenes for the first time in the 115th

[[Page 482]]

Congress, and we mark an historic moment in the committee's 200-year 
history. Last week, Senator Dianne Feinstein was named the committee's 
ranking member, the first time in American history that a woman has 
served in this capacity. It is striking that 352 Members have served on 
the committee, and only six of those--all Democrats--have been women. 
Three of those six women are proudly serving on this important 
committee today: Senator Feinstein, Senator Klobuchar, and Senator 
Hirono, whom we welcome back to the committee.
  Senator Feinstein has long been a leading voice on this committee. I 
have enjoyed working with her on countless issues ranging from national 
security to immigration reform to Supreme Court nominations. Senator 
Feinstein has broken down barriers throughout her career, and her new 
role as ranking member of the Judiciary Committee is only the latest 
example. As the committee grapples with some of the most pressing 
issues facing our country, we will all be counting on Ranking Member 
Feinstein's leadership. We should all congratulate her on this historic 
moment.

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