Richard Durbin

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fetterman), the Senator from New Mexico (Mr. Lujan), and the Senator from Arizona (Ms. Sinema) are necessarily absent.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, tomorrow the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on President-elect Trump's planned mass deportation of undocumented immigrants in the United States. Millions--some 13 million--of undocumented immigrants live in this country, and many have been here for a decade or longer. These immigrants have become our Nation's healthcare workers, teachers, farm workers, entrepreneurs, police--you name it. And many of them grew up alongside our own kids, with the same hopes and dreams of their first job, getting a driver's license, and a college acceptance letter. Twelve years ago, in response to a bipartisan request from myself and the late Senator from Indiana, Richard Lugar, President Barack Obama established the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, known as DACA. DACA was a program where, if you were brought to this country under the age of 18 as a child and you had lived here, you had an opportunity to apply for a 2-year period of grace and not be fearful of deportation, through the DACA Program. More than 830,000 young people came forward to sign up for DACA, all of whom were brought here as children, some as young as a few months old, and they became known as the Dreamers. The DREAM Act, the legislation which would have made this law and made it unnecessary for an Executive order, was a bill I introduced 23 years ago. You have to be patient in the U.S. Senate, but 23 years is a long, long time--long for me to sponsor but even longer for those affected by it. These young Dreamers, part of our country, with DACA and otherwise, earned $27.9 billion and contributed $2.1 billion to Social Security and Medicare in the year 2022. They are a big part of America and a big part of our economy. One of those DACA recipients I am going to highlight today. This gentleman's name is Foday Turay. He is currently a prosecutor, a husband, and a father; and he is going to testify before our Judiciary Committee tomorrow. Foday is the 148th Dreamer whose story I have shared on the Senate floor. He came to the United States from Sierra Leone when he was 7 years old, after his grandmother became ill and died. Foday didn't know he was undocumented until much later in life. He decided to apply for a driver's license, and they said: You are not a citizen; you can't apply. He was devastated. He had dreamed of going to law school and becoming an attorney. And now everything seemed utterly impossible because of his citizenship status. But Foday never wavered in his faith and hope to make it in America. He said the day DACA was announced was the best day of his life. Thanks to Barack Obama's DACA, Foday attended college and then Penn State Dickinson Law School, where he received his Juris Doctorate degree. He works full time as a prosecutor for the district attorney's office in Philadelphia. He protects his community from violent crimes, and he helps crime victims navigate a complex legal system. Growing up in the United States since he was 7 years old, Foday has put down deep roots. He met and married his wife, who is a U.S. citizen. And he is a proud homeowner and father to a beautiful 18- month-old baby boy. DACA allowed Foday to pursue his dreams of becoming a lawyer, husband, father, but his life is still in limbo. Why? Consider what happened to DACA the last time President-elect Trump was in office. In 2017, President Trump shut down the program. Thankfully, the Supreme Court blocked his effort, but he also encouraged MAGA Republicans to file lawsuits against DACA, endangering the program's future. I was listening closely--as many Americans were--yesterday to the interview of President-elect Trump on ``Meet the Press.'' President- elect Trump stated in an interview yesterday that he now wants to ``work something out'' to protect Dreamers. My ears perked up. After 23 years, I am ready. Then, he went on to say that Democrats have made it a very, very difficult thing to do. I just want to say to President-elect Trump--and I have said it to his face, and I will say it again: Anytime, anywhere, let's sit down; let's start talking about these hundreds of thousands of young people who are doing their best to lead a good life and to help America, who just want a chance for a future. I am ready and willing to negotiate in good faith with my Republican colleagues in the Senate, too, and the President-elect to finally provide Dreamers with a pathway to citizenship, which they deserve. But there is reason to be skeptical, if not cynical. Last term, President-elect Trump walked away from four different bipartisan compromises with Democrats to solve the DACA crisis. Democrats were willing to provide billions of dollars at one point for President Trump's unpopular border wall in exchange for a bipartisan Dream Act. But we just couldn't seem to reach a positive answer. I am not giving up on this quest, because I am not going to give up on these DACA students. Madam President, you know them, too. You have met them in your State. We all have. They are wonderful people, waiting patiently, hoping the day will come when they get a chance to prove their commitment to this country. Just this year, President-elect Trump demanded congressional Republicans to reject a border deal that was bipartisan. And I thought it was a good bill. When the bill finally came to a vote, the vast majority of Republicans voted against it. So President Trump has in his power the ability to bring around many Republicans on the issue of immigration. I hope DACA and the Dreamers become the exception to some of the rhetoric we have heard. The President-elect has pledged to pursue mass deportation on day one. He has threatened to use the military for that purpose. He has announced the appointment of some hardliners in his Cabinet. We can all agree that any undocumented immigrant found guilty of a serious crime should not be allowed to stay here. I am a Democrat, and I just said that. And I think I speak for my caucus. Virtually all of them agree with what I just said. If you are a danger to this country, we don't want you here, and we don't want you to find entry into our country to lay some claim to citizenship. That is very basic. But the last time the President-elect was in office, it wasn't just criminals who were deported. We saw parents separated from their children, causing permanent trauma. Amazingly, sadly, some of those kids have never been reunited with their families. We saw meatpacking plants and other workplaces raided. This was a raid not targeted to criminals or even those without citizenship status. At some of these raids, we saw U.S. citizens detained for hours. We saw Dreamers like Foday deported, immigrants who were pillars of their community. So once again I come to the floor and say: Would America really be better off with an outstanding public servant like Foday gone from this country? I think not. Would our county be better if we lost farmworkers who have contributed to America for decades or if the military was used to round up hard-working immigrants with no serious criminal backgrounds? The answer is, over and over again, a resounding no. Most Americans agree. Nearly 65 percent of Americans, regardless of party, support a pathway to citizenship for longtime undocumented immigrants. And a majority oppose the use of military to conduct mass deportations. At tomorrow's hearing, we will examine the need to protect taxpaying, hard-working Americans like Foday, and we will discuss the cruelty and chaos that will inevitably result in mass deportation without some thought. Immigrants like Foday deserve stability and certainty, not fear. I stand ready to work on a bipartisan basis to protect families like Foday's and provide them with the security that they deserve. I am not sure if you were in the Senate when we considered comprehensive immigration reform. It was a bipartisan effort. We brought it to the floor, and the bill passed with 68 votes. And what it basically said, if you are undocumented in America, we want to hold you accountable. You have got to come forward and identify yourself, where you live, where you work to our government so that there is a record of who you are and where you are. As I said earlier, if you have a serious crime that you committed or committed once you are here, you are ineligible, as far as I am concerned. If you are a danger to this country, we don't want you; and you should know better than to try to become a citizen of America. But the vast overwhelming majority of people we are talking about don't have criminal records. They go about their lives every day, and we don't know the difference. They are the same people who are in the nursing home taking care of your mom. They are at the daycare center taking care of baby boys and baby girls every single day. We see them at banks. We see them at grocery stores. They are everywhere. They sit next to us in church, and they are undocumented. Should they be deported from the United States simply because of this? I think not. I think the reality is that they can make a great contribution to this country. I think the starting point for our conversation on this subject should be that comprehensive immigration bill that we passed on the floor. I stand ready to work with President Trump and any Member of either party who in good faith wants to solve this problem. I yield the floor.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm Tiffany Johnson to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Ms. Johnson's impressive career in public service, combined with her Federal court experience, will make her an excellent addition to the Federal bench. After earning her B.A. from Princeton University and her J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law, Ms. Johnson began her career in private practice as an associate at Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs, LLP, where she focused on a wide range of complex commercial litigation. In 2017, Ms. Johnson transitioned to public service, joining the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia as an assistant U.S. attorney. In that role, she has litigated both civil and criminal cases in all stages of proceedings, from conducting fact and expert depositions in civil matters, to prosecuting white-collar and public corruption crimes. Ms. Johnson has the strong support of her home State Senators, Mr. Ossoff and Mr. Warnock. In addition, she was rated ``well qualified'' by the American Bar Association. I urge my colleagues to support Ms. Johnson's nomination.

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the scheduled rollcall vote start immediately.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the following staffers in Senator Jon Tester's office be granted floor privileges until December 10, 2024: Eli Cousin, Brittany Adams, and Elizabeth Hague.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, in 2004, the city of Quincy, IL, elected a new mayor. In musing on how he intended to lead, he said: ``It's not about me. One person can't make everything happen. You've got to have a team.'' And while it may be true that great leaders need great teams supporting them, John Spring was the kind of leader, mayor, and community advocate you wanted leading your team. Today, it is with great sadness that I share the news of John's passing. A native of Rock Island, IL, John graduated from Quincy College where he met his future wife Karen, who sadly passed away in 2021. They were married for 50 years. A theme that remained consistent throughout John's life was his dedication to serving his community. He first answered the call to service through teaching. John worked as a teacher in St. Louis and in the Quincy Public Schools, before he was hired at Quincy Notre Dame High School in 1976 as a biology teacher and assistant basketball and football coach. His time at Quincy Notre Dame would provide him with one of his first leadership opportunities, when halfway through the school year, he was asked to put aside his teaching duties and serve as the school's first full-time director of development. He readily accepted the challenge. However, what John was not told when he was offered the job was that the school was in financial trouble, having borrowed more than $100,000 from a local bank to cover operation costs. For many, raising that sum of money would be an overwhelmingly daunting task. But believing in the importance of investing in quality educations for young people, John went to work. Soon after, the school's first fund drive--a way to raise money to cover the gap between the cost of running the school and the amount of tuition the school must charge--was born. It has since become a mainstay of Quincy Notre Dame's fundraising efforts. Proving his leadership abilities and commitment to the school, John went on to become the executive director of the Quincy Notre Dame Foundation for 29 years. He loved the work. So, what might have compelled him to leave that role? A call to serve his community in another manner: as mayor. He first experienced Quincy's political scene as a member of the police and fire commission, and when then-mayor of Quincy Chuck Scholz decided in the fall of 2004 not to run for a fourth term, John once again answered the call to serve his community. His vision was simple: making life better for everyone in the community. John served as Quincy's mayor for 8 years. He was a community favorite. During his tenure, he focused on updating transportation infrastructure and regional partnerships as a way to foster long-term economic growth. And, surprising to no one who knew John, he found success. During his tenure, he led successful efforts to expand Amtrak service to the city, upgrade Maine Street, and implement a multiyear infrastructure plan. And during the 2008 recession that saw many communities suffer, under John's leadership, Quincy opened new businesses, lowered taxes, and helped the county report the second-best employment record in the State. His contributions to the community did not go unrecognized. In 2018, John was inducted into the Quincy Notre Dame Hall of Fame, and recently, he was selected as a 2024 delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Like every good elected official ought to be, John was an attentive listener, a caring community member, and a truly decent man. In all things John did, he led with compassion, humility, and grace. He was a visionary leader who truly represented the best of us. Time and time again, his community called him to serve. And time and time again, he answered the call faithfully. Until the end, John would send my staff and me community updates and ideas to improve the lives of the citizens of West Central Illinois. Loretta and I send our deepest condolences to John's children-- Stacey, John, and Mike--and seven grandchildren as they cope with his tremendous loss. It was a privilege to call John a friend, and we will miss him dearly.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, if you walk around the streets of Chicago and ask people about how they get to and from the city--or around it-- each day, I am sure many of them would tell you: Metra. Metra transports us to Cubs games--in fact, its busiest ridership day was November 4, 2016, during the Cubs World Series victory parade--and it makes sure we can get to work on time. Simply put, the people of Chicagoland depend on Metra rail to get from point A to point B safely and reliably. And this year marks 40 years of Metra's service to our city. Chicago has a rich history when it comes to rail. A century ago, Chicago was the envy of cities across the country, with the largest public transportation system in the world. But by the late 1960s, the system was failing. To put the system back on track, in 1974, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) created the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). After a decade of reorganizing, restructuring, and reimagining what commuter rail could look like and who should be in charge of operating it, in 1985, Metropolitan Rail--or Metra--was born. Since then, Metra has grown into a remarkable operation. With 243 stations on 11 rail lines, Metra is the fourth busiest commuter rail system in the country and the largest outside of New York City. Not only do I represent a State that has long been the railroad center of the country, but working railroads is a tradition in my family. I grew up in East St. Louis, IL, and both of my parents worked for the New York Central Railroad. My two brothers and I also worked for that same railroad. Because of this, I care deeply about making rail travel as good as it can be for Illinoisans. And Metra continues to deliver. It emerged from the pandemic with steadily improving customer satisfaction that hit 92 percent in 2022. Then, in 2023, Metra opened the year by securing its largest ever Federal grant through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's Mega Program: $117 million to rebuild 11 bridges along its Union Pacific North Line. And by the end of last year, Metra had seen the largest ridership increase of any transit agency in the Chicago region--a 37 percent increase--providing more than 32 million rides. But Metra does more than just transport people; it responds to the needs of our city. Look no further than their All Stations Accessibility, or ``ASAP'' Program, an effort for which Metra was awarded more than one Federal grant to make its stations, trains, and platforms more accessible. While the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against Americans with disabilities and requires newly constructed buildings to be fully accessible, several legacy stations in Chicago remain inaccessible. Metra's ASAP initiative aims to make all stations accessible by 2038. Additionally, Metra ensures accessibility as it concerns affordability. In 1984, a one-way ticket to the farthest station cost $5.80. Today, you can travel to the same stations for just $6.75, which would cost $17.50 if that 1984 price kept up with inflation. Metra also has made a substantial commitment to sustainability. As the climate crisis impacts our planet, sustainable transportation has been an increasing sector of interest. Metra knows this, and they will be among the first in the Nation to operate zero-emission train sets. These train sets will allow Metra to retire some of its oldest, most polluting diesel locomotives and reduce their carbon emissions, making Chicago's transportation cleaner and more reflective of the city's value of sustainability. A final example that demonstrates Metra's commitment to Chicago is their proposal to reconstruct and improve the 59th-60th / University of Chicago Station stop. These improvements are crucial because they will support anticipated ridership increases to the Obama Presidential Library, making the space more accessible to Chicagoans and visitors. For so many Illinoisans, Metra is essential to getting around the Chicagoland area in an affordable and accessible way. Metra is public transportation that is just about as good as it comes. I join people across the Chicagoland area in thanking Metra for its 40 years of service to our city. Here is to many more years of safe, efficient, and dependable service.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Arizona (Ms. Sinema) is necessarily absent.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Arizona (Ms. Sinema) is necessarily absent.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I served on the Senate Judiciary Committee for over 20 years, including the last 4 as chairman. During that time, I voted on thousands of judicial U.S. attorneys, U.S. marshals, and Justice Department nominees. Every nominee who has gone through our committee--everyone--shares one thing in common, whether nominated by a Democrat or a Republican President, every single nominee has undergone an FBI background investigation--everyone. President-elect Trump has the right to nominate his preferred candidates for Justice Department and judicial vacancies, but the Judiciary Committee plays a critical role in offering advice and consent on nominations, which includes receiving and reviewing the results of FBI background investigations. After weeks of reports that President-elect Trump planned to bypass the FBI entirely, it was a relief to hear that the Trump transition team had finally signed an agreement this week to allow the FBI to conduct background investigations. But I remain concerned about whether President-elect Trump will require all his appointees to undergo the process. Listen to what the New York Times reported: Despite the signing of the agreement, it remains unclear whether [the] Trump's team plans to send the names of all officials requiring a security clearance or Senate confirmation to the F.B.I. for vetting. If President-elect Trump's nominees are not required to submit to the same FBI vetting procedure as previous nominees, it makes you wonder what they are hiding. The practice of the FBI conducting background investigations is not a new idea. The nominations investigations of the President's nominees dates back 70 years to the Eisenhower administration, and it applies to every Senate-confirmed position, including more than 1,200 positions in the executive branch, 900 Federal judicial nominees, 93 U.S. attorney nominees, and 94 U.S. marshal nominees. Every single one is subject to an FBI investigation. You might ask yourself, Why is it so important to vet all these nominees? Consider the views of Noah Bookbinder and Gregg Nunziata, former Democratic and Republican counsels on the Senate Judiciary Committee, who, on a bipartisan basis, reviewed hundreds of nominees' background investigations. They wrote in the New York Times: Without nominees being scrutinized by the F.B.I., the danger is that neither lawmakers nor the public would know whether they are trustworthy or have issues that compromise their ability to do the job or [even] their loyalty to the United States. As Mr. Bookbinder and Nunziata noted in their op-ed: A nomination was never scheduled for committee consideration without the committee receiving an F.B.I. background check, reviewing it and clearing the nomination to move forward. By design, positions that require Senate confirmation are of great importance. These individuals make critical decisions that protect America, our national security, and affect many thousands of American lives, including who is investigated, who is charged with a crime, and how the justice system operates. It is absolutely critical that people nominated to these positions are upstanding citizens who can be trusted with sensitive life-or-death government information, people who will be immune to blackmail or foreign influence and are truly loyal to the United States. President-elect Trump has reportedly considered using a private investigative firm to conduct these background investigations. That is unacceptable for one basic reason. First, when the nominees submit their paperwork to the FBI as a part of their background investigations, they are on notice that lying or concealing material facts is a felony--a felony. The same goes for individuals who agree to speak with the FBI about nominees' character and fitness. In comparison, there would be no penalties for misleading a private investigative firm. Second, the FBI's resources in determining if a nominee poses a risk far outweigh any private firm's capabilities. Seasoned agents at the FBI field offices nationwide are deployed to pull records, interview individuals, and report their findings. Finally, any private firm paid by the Trump transition team would have an unavoidable conflict of interest. They would have an incentive to clear the backgrounds of nominees so they would get more business from the transition team. By contrast, the only motive for FBI agents is honoring their oath to the Constitution. It is the duty of President-elect Trump to pick nominees of his choosing. It is also the duty of the Senate, under the Constitution, to carefully examine the record of each nominee before this body. To fulfill this constitutional duty of advice and consent on nominations, the Judiciary Committee must continue to receive background investigations conducted by the FBI for every single nominee. We owe the American people a transparent transition of power, but that is only possible if the incoming administration follows longstanding, established practices ensuring that the President's nominees can be trusted in a position of power. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm Sarah Davenport to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico. Ms. Davenport's impressive career as a dedicated public servant for nearly two decades, combined with her Federal court experience, will make her an excellent addition to the Federal bench. After earning her bachelor of music from New Mexico State University and her J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law, Ms. Davenport began her legal career at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico, where she has spent the entirety of her career. Ms. Davenport first served as a law clerk for the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit. She then served as a special assistant U.S. attorney, where she prosecuted drug trafficking, immigration, and firearms offenses. In 2009, Ms. Davenport became an assistant U.S. attorney, primarily handling complex drug trafficking and money laundering investigations. Since 2022, she has served as a supervisory assistant U.S. attorney, where she oversees prosecutors in her office who handle immigration, firearms, drug trafficking, white collar, and violent crime offenses. Ms. Davenport has the strong support of her home State Senators, Mr. Heinrich and Mr. Lujan. In addition, Ms. Davenport was rated unanimously ``qualified'' by the American Bar Association. I urge my colleagues to support Ms. Davenport's nomination.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Booker), the Senator from California (Mr. Padilla), and the Senator from Arizona (Ms. Sinema) are necessarily absent.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that Rebecca Schatz, a member of Senator Butler's staff, be granted floor privileges for the duration of the day.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Arizona (Ms. Sinema) is necessarily absent.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Arizona (Ms. Sinema) is necessarily absent.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Manchin), the Senator from Arizona (Ms. Sinema), and the Senator from Michigan (Mr. Stabenow) are necessarily absent.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Arizona (Ms. Sinema) is necessarily absent.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, the Biden-Harris administration will go down in history as arguably the most productive and consequential administration in the last 75 years. They couldn't have done it without a good partnership in Congress. Today, I want to thank five Democratic Senators who played key roles in the historic achievements of this Congress and many others. They include chairs of four committees and one subcommittee, and they will all be leaving when they finish up their work this month. I have more words of thanks for other departing colleagues and will deliver those soon. Collectively, these five Senators have given nearly 135 years of service to the U.S. Senate. They represent not only a good deal of this body's institutional memory but a large share of its heart and its conscience as well.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Arizona (Ms. Sinema) is necessarily absent.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm Anthony Brindisi to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. Born in New Hartford, NY, Judge Brindisi received his B.A. from Siena College and his J.D. from Albany Law School. After law school, he joined Brindisi, Murad & Brindisi Pearlman, LLP as an associate in Utica. He was a partner at the law firm from 2008 to 2014 and again from 2021 to 2022. He also served as of counsel from 2014 to 2018. As a practicing attorney, he handled primarily civil litigation matters and specialized in personal injury cases. From 2011 to 2019, Judge Brindisi represented district 119, which includes the Utica and Rome region, in the New York State Assembly. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2019 to 2021, representing New York's 22nd Congressional District. Since 2022, Judge Brindisi has served as a judge on the New York State Court of Claims in Utica. In this role, he hears civil claims from an eight-county region across central and northern New York. Judge Brindisi has also served as an acting supreme court justice in Oneida County since the beginning of 2024. Over the course of his judicial career, he has presided over 37 cases that have gone to verdict or judgment. Judge Brindisi has deep ties to the Northern District of New York. He enjoys the strong support of both of his home State Senators, Mr. Schumer and Mrs. Gillibrand, and the American Bar Association unanimously rated him as ``qualified'' to serve on the district court. Judge Brindisi's background as a litigator, public servant, and State court judge ensures that he will be an asset to the district court. I am proud to support his nomination, and I ask my colleagues to join me.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm Elizabeth Cheryl Coombe to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. Born in Ridgewood, NJ, Ms. Coombe earned her A.B. from Hamilton College in 1989 and her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1992. After graduating from law school, she clerked for the Honorable Diana E. Murphy on the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. Ms. Coombe began her public service career as a staff attorney at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from 1994 to 1996. There, she focused on the investigation of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., and of abusive market making activities in the Nasdaq Market. From 1996 to 1997, she worked as a trial attorney in the Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, National Courts Section at the U.S. Department of Justice. Then, between 1998 and 2003, Ms. Coombe served as an assistant U.S. attorney (AUSA) in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. Since 2003, Ms. Coombe has held several roles of increasing responsibility in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York, including as: AUSA; team leader and Plattsburg office supervisor; deputy criminal chief; criminal chief; and most recently as first assistant U.S. attorney. In her current role, she oversees all criminal, civil, and appellate litigation conducted by more than 50 attorneys throughout the district. Throughout her 30-year public service career, Ms. Coombe has tried approximately 19 cases before a jury and 20 bench trials. The American Bar Association rated Ms. Coombe as ``well qualified,'' and her nomination is strongly supported by her home State Senators, Mr. Schumer and Mrs. Gillibrand. With more than 20 years of experience serving as a Federal prosecutor in the Northern District of New York, Ms. Coombe is well-positioned to continue her service to the district on the Federal bench. I am proud to support her nomination.