Bill Frist

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today we will vote on the confirmation of Janice Rogers Brown to serve on the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. We are on a good path, a constructive, very positive path for getting up-or-down votes for these judicial nominees, and we will stay on that, as I just mentioned, over the remainder of this week, confirming these judges. After 2 years of delay, Justice Brown will finally get the courtesy of an up-or-down vote. She will finally get the respect she deserves by getting an up-or-down vote. Indeed, all 100 Members, later today, will be able to come to the floor and vote to confirm or reject--yes or no, up or down--her nomination. I am delighted we have finally reached this point. Following the vote on Justice Brown, we will move to the cloture vote on Judge William Pryor. Similar to Justice Brown, Judge Pryor's nomination, in the past, has faced deliberate delay and postponement and obstruction. But with the progress we are making, I believe William Pryor will also now get a fair up-or-down vote, a vote he deserves. So I am very happy we have moved beyond the impasse on his nomination and that we are back to fulfilling our constitutional duty for advice and consent. That is what these nominees deserve. It gives them the respect they deserve. It gives them the courtesy they deserve. Mr. President, I will yield the floor. We will continue to vote on judges this week, and then next week we will be turning our attention to lowering energy prices, to lowering natural gas prices for Americans, and we will be on that bill until completion. That is the Energy bill.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, as we try to complete the business we have been addressing over the last several weeks, the one remaining item we have not really settled on is the Bolton nomination. I filed a motion to reconsider that vote. There are a lot of ongoing discussions. That is very important business that we need to address in the near future, and we will continue to discuss, as we have over the last couple of days, what the appropriate time is for that nomination to be brought back. I intend to do that.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. That is correct. The vote will be at approximately 6 o'clock instead of the usual 5 o'clock on Monday.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, in the last hour or so we made huge progress on an issue that has been very difficult for this body over the last 3 to 4 weeks, in fact I would say difficult for the last 2\1/ 2\ years. The progress we have made is that for these nominees who had not received a fair up-or-down vote for 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, we are finally back in gear and getting up-or-down votes, fulfilling our constitutional responsibility of advice and consent. I am very pleased and I am very proud of this body. People who have been blocked for partisan reasons in the past, who have been obstructed, have been prevented from getting votes, have been allowed to get votes through regular order by going through the Judiciary Committee. Although it took way too long--2 years, 3 years, 4 years-- finally they have been allowed to get an up-or-down vote. I hope it sets the tone, and I believe it will set the tone, as we proceed over the coming weeks and months and address circuit court nominees and, of course, Supreme Court nominees who may or may not occur in the very near future. Justice Janice Rogers Brown will now serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The vote was 56 to 43, a bipartisan vote, which shows that once these up-or-down votes are allowed and the body can express itself the will of the Senate will work and that this highly qualified nominee, as I mentioned a bit ago, who is kind, smart, thoughtful, and qualified, who has had to endure a lot of protracted and often bitter nomination discussions, is now going to be on the D.C. Circuit. The will of the Senate expressed itself. The bipartisan vote was 56 to 43. This last vote on William Pryor, the fact that in the past he had been obstructed through a partisan leadership-led effort in the past, once we sort of broke through that impasse, he received 67 votes on cloture. The vote was 67 to 32, overwhelming bipartisan support, which now will guarantee him what has been denied in the past, and that is a fair up-or-down vote. Again, the body will be able to speak. Everybody who sits at these desks, the people who are in the Chamber now, will be able to express themselves with a vote. That is how we give advice and consent. The vote was 67 to 32. Tomorrow at 4, he, too, will get an up-or-down vote, confirm or reject, on whether Members believe he is a qualified nominee. Members can vote their conscience, vote their judgment of his qualifications. The candidate, the nominee, will receive the up-or-down vote he deserves. We should treat these nominees with respect and in a reasonable period of time when they come to the floor, or they make it to this Executive Calendar, so that they receive that up-or-down vote. I am very pleased where we are. It is huge progress. Both sides of the aisle are working together on this very important judicial nominee process. We will continue that process tomorrow in which case by the end of tomorrow we should have three more up-or-down votes at 4, again tremendous progress. Two of the Michigan judges will be voted on sometime late afternoon or early evening. They will be given up-or-down votes, and I expect all three will be confirmed. I believe we have broken the impasse, as I have said, and we are making real progress. The early part of next week we will be having one more up-or-down vote. That will be on Tom Griffith, and then we will go to the Energy bill. We want to spend plenty of time to give everybody the opportunity to debate and amend. I expect we would spend that whole first week and likely into that second week which would give everybody the opportunity to come forward and express themselves on a bill that I believe will lower gasoline prices--I cannot say that with certainty, but I believe this bill will--and will lower natural gas prices. For people who are thinking about driving on vacations, driving to work, driving their truck, or worried about heating in the future, the American people will know we are doing the Nation's business, that we are doing our very best to lower those prices for them as individuals. I am pleased where we are today. We are making real progress. I know there will be some other comments made tonight before we close. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, we have just voted to confirm Justice Janice Rogers Brown to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. We are making progress. We are securing up-or-down votes on previously blocked nominees. We will now turn to another judge who has been considered in the past, Judge William H. Pryor. For the information of our colleagues, we are going to go immediately to the cloture vote. If cloture is invoked on the Pryor nomination, it is my expectation that we will be able to lock in a time certain for the final up-or-down vote on that nomination. That would be for tomorrow. The Democratic leader and I have consulted back and forth, and we will lock in a vote for 4 p.m. tomorrow, if cloture is invoked through the next vote. Following that vote, tomorrow we will consider the Sixth Circuit nominations and hopefully not use all of the allocated time to which we previously agreed. We will be doing that after the vote tomorrow, and we will be voting on those nominations, as well, tomorrow--late afternoon, hopefully, maybe early evening. President Bush nominated Judge Pryor on April 9, 2003, to serve on the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. While the individual nominees may change, the debate continues to be centered on a simple and unequivocal principle. It is based on fairness, and it is grounded in the Constitution of our great Nation. It is the principle that every judicial nominee that comes to this floor deserves an up or down vote. Judge Pryor is also a qualified nominee. He deserves a fair vote, and it is our duty to cast one. Judge Pryor has broad legal experience as a public servant, as a practicing attorney, and as a law professor. Judge Pryor has served with distinction on the appellate bench since he was recess appointed last year. Many of his opinions have been supported by judges appointed by both Democrats and Republicans. He enjoys bipartisan support inside and outside the Senate chamber. Yet he has had to wait more than 2 years for a fair, simple, and courteous up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time to close debate and vote on this nominee, up or down, yes or no, confirm or reject. I will continue to work to ensure that Judge Pryor and every other judicial nominee get an up-or-down vote on the floor of the U.S. Senate. We are working on a process to start the Energy bill next week, as well as to consider the Griffith nomination on Monday and will announce more on that schedule tomorrow. But Members should expect a vote Monday evening. That pretty much outlines, I believe, the schedule for tonight and tomorrow.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today we will return to executive session for the final statements regarding the nomination of Janice Rogers Brown. We have the up-or-down vote on her nomination scheduled for 5 p.m. today. And immediately following her vote, under provisions of rule XXII, we will proceed directly to the cloture vote with respect to the nomination of William Pryor. I expect cloture to be invoked on the Pryor nomination as well. Once cloture is invoked, I anticipate we will be able to lock in a time certain for a final up-or-down vote on William Pryor. As I mentioned over the last couple of days, we also expect to consider the Sixth Circuit judges on which we have time agreements already in place, as well as the nomination of Tom Griffith to the D.C. Circuit Court. I look forward to the Senate finally working its will with respect to these four or five nominations over the next 2 days. We will have a busy week focused on these judicial nominations. Mr. President, I have a very brief statement on judges. Does the Democratic leader have any comments with regard to the schedule? I think our schedule is pretty clear. After discussions between the two of us and among our leadership in our various caucuses, we have a good plan for the next 4 weeks focused on judges this week, and then moving to energy next week, with a concentrated push on energy based on a bipartisan bill that came out of committee 2 weeks ago. Following that, we will be addressing appropriations bills that are currently coming out of the Appropriations Committee.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that there now be a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. FRIST

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

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, on Wednesday, I will have the honor of meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan here in the Capitol. We will be meeting to discuss the importance of the United States-Turkish relationship and the ways in which we can strengthen that bond to achieve our common goals. I have had the opportunity to meet with the Prime Minister twice before over the past 12 months. During a trip to the Middle East this spring, I sat down with Prime Minister Erdogan in Jerusalem. Prior to that, we met in Istanbul in the summer of 2004. I look forward to continuing our dialog on the importance of the Turkish-American relationship. Turkey is a critical NATO ally and an indispensable partner in the global war on terror. Despite our two countries' strong ties and close cooperation, there have been strains in the recent past that began with the liberation of Iraq in the spring of 2003. Some in the press speculate that Istanbul and Washington are going their separate ways. This is simply not the case. It is true that March of 2003, the Turkish parliament rejected our request to permit the deployment of U.S. troops to Turkey in order to open a northern front against Saddam's forces. Clearly, we were not pleased. However, Turkey's subsequent offer to send troops to Iraq and President Bush's visit to Turkey last June moved our partnership beyond that matter. Turkey has granted coalition forces overflight rights through Turkish airspace throughout the war in Iraq and has permitted the use of its ports, airbases, and roads for resupplying coalition troops an supporting reconstruction efforts in Iraq. Because of its proximity, Turkey's Incirlik airbase has also served as a vital transit location for coalition troops rotating in and out of Iraq. In fact, from January to April 2004, half of all U.S. troops rotating in and out of Iraq went through Incirlik, and Turkey recently agreed to allow coalition forces to use the base as a logistics hub. Turkey's assistance and support has been invaluable. Turkey has also been a leader in Iraq's reconstruction efforts. At the 2003 Madrid donors' conference, Turkey generously pledged to donate $50 million in aid over 5 years. In addition, Turkish businesses are functioning in Iraq and helping to provide fuel, electricity, and water to the Iraqi people. And many brave Turkish men and women have given the ultimate sacrifice to help build Iraq's nascent democracy. We honor them for their courage. Turkey's contribution to the reconstruction project in Afghanistan must also not be overlooked. Turkey has taken the lead for the International Security Assistance Force twice in the last 3 years, most recently in February of this year. And we must not forget that Turkey had been challenged by terrorism at home by the PKK for years before 9/11. Turkey is threatened today as well. Some PKK terrorists are seeking safe haven in northern Iraq, and so I urge the administration and the Iraqi government to take more aggressive action against the terrorists, and deny them any safe haven from which to launch attacks. Since 9/11, Turkey has also been the target of al-Qaida. In November 2003, 62 people were killed and more than 700 injured in multiple bombings in Istanbul. It was a tragic event that saddened and angered the world, and fortified our resolve to win the war on terror. Turkey has been a dedicated and reliable ally. Our intelligence communities are in close contact in this war, and Turkey has been instrumental in capturing terrorists, disrupting their logistics and planning, and dismantling their vast financial networks. I am confident that Turkey will remain determined and resolute in the war on terror, and that enhanced cooperation between our two countries will prove to be fruitful. Turkey's role as a vital and strategic ally can only be enhanced by its membership in the European Union. The United States strongly supports this. On December 17 last year, EU member states accepted the recommendation of the European commission for the commencement of accession negotiations with Turkey. These talks are scheduled to begin in October. In order to reach this stage, the Turkish government has undertaken sweeping reforms to fulfill the political and economic criteria for membership in the EU. Since October of 2001, the Turkish parliament has passed nine reform packages to bring Turkish laws into line with EU benchmarks--five under the leadership of Prime Minister Endrogan. Reforms include the legalization of Kurdish broadcasting and education, the enhancement of freedoms of speech and association, greater civilian control over the military, and more thorough and transparent investigations into allegations of human rights abuses. It is crucial that Turkey continue to take steps to meet all of the EU's criteria. This will allow the United States to remain a steady and effective supporter of Turkey's ambitions to join the EU. Turkey's accession to the EU will have a profound impact on Muslim populations within Europe, in the broader Middle East and beyond. It will further demonstrate that democratic governance and respect for the rule of law are not unique to one religion or one culture, but are the birthright of all peoples everywhere. Just as the people of Iraq, Lebanon, and Afghanistan are setting a remarkable example for the entire Middle East, Turkey's membership in the EU will inspire hope throughout the entire Muslim world. And, finally, as a secular democracy with a predominantly Muslim population, Turkey's membership in the EU--as in NATO--will demonstrate the United States' and Europe's commitment to diversity and tolerance. We may not always agree on the same course of action--and sometimes we may not agree on the same ends--but Turkey has, for decades, been a friend. And it has consistently expressed its dedication to the values, ideals, and interests that the United States holds dear. Like the United States, Turkey is committed to a democratic Iraq that respects the rights of its own people and is at peace with its neighbors. It is committed to a just resolution to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict in which two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side-by-side in peace and security. It stands against Iran's nuclear ambitions, and squarely for victory in the war against terror. The United States and Turkey share the same objectives: peace, security, and the spread of freedom and opportunity. The partnership between the United States and Turkey has survived disagreements in the past and has been consistently vital in the pursuit of our shared interests. The key has always been strong leadership at the highest levels that articulates our partnership and defends the bilateral ties that help us advance our common goals. Today, we face a golden opportunity to move beyond recent tensions and strengthen our partnership. The first step is for Prime Minister Erdogan to speak clearly in defense of our partnership, and to dispel a wave of anti-Americanism that runs counter to the last 5 decades of cooperation. I'm confident that the prime minister will do so during his visit this week, and when he returns home to Turkey. And I'm confident that the United States-Turkish partnership will endure as we confront the challenges of the 21st century together. I yield the floor.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, this morning we will resume the debate on Executive Calendar No. 72, the nomination of Janice Rogers Brown to be a U.S. circuit judge for the DC Circuit. The cloture vote is scheduled for noon today. We will have a debate equally divided until then. I expect that cloture will be invoked, and once that vote is concluded, I will discuss with the Democratic leader a time for the up-or-down vote on Janice Rogers Brown. I remind everyone that following that confirmation vote, we will proceed to the cloture vote on the Pryor nomination. Again, I hope we can expedite the final vote on each of these nominations once the cloture votes have been completed. We have other nominations to consider this week, including the additional judicial nominations that have time agreements already locked in place.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order, following the remarks of the Senator from South Carolina for up to 10 minutes.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, tomorrow the Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Janice Rogers Brown to be a U.S. circuit judge for the DC Circuit. Earlier today, cloture was invoked by a vote of 65 to 32, and under an earlier agreement we will have an up- or-down vote at 5 p.m. tomorrow. Therefore, tomorrow we will continue with debate on the nomination as provided under the previous agreement. Following that vote, we will immediately proceed to the cloture vote on the nomination of William Pryor to be a U.S. circuit judge for the Eleventh Circuit. We will also consider additional nominations during this week, so Senators can expect votes each day until our executive business is finished.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 8. I further ask that, following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved, and that the Senate then return to executive session and resume consideration of the nomination of Janice Rogers Brown to be a U.S. circuit judge for the DC Circuit.

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate resumes the nomination at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning, the time from 10 to 11 be under the control of the majority leader or his designee, the time from 11 to noon be under the control of the Democratic leader or his designee, provided further that the time rotate in that order until the hour of 4 p.m. I further ask that the time from 4 to 4:10 be under the control of Senator Leahy or his designee, from 4:10 to 4:20 reserved for Senator Specter or his designee, 4:20 to 4:40 for the Democratic leader, and 4:40 to 5 be reserved for the majority leader.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, we are in the midst of debate on Janice Rogers Brown. I know we have the time divided from 3 to about 6 tonight. I ask to speak for about 7 minutes as in morning business.

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

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, yesterday marked the first anniversary of the passing of President Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40th President of the United States. I will take a moment to reflect very briefly on his extraordinary life and on his leadership that changed history. Ronald Reagan was raised in a small town, and it was those small-town roots that never, ever left him. As he explained when he grew up in a small town, reflecting on those small-town roots, in his words: You get to know people as individuals, not as blocs or members of special interest groups. You discover that despite their differences, most people have a lot in common: . . . [W]e all want freedom and liberty, peace, love and security, a good home, and a chance to worship God in our own way; we all want the chance to get ahead and make our children's lives better than our own. Ronald Reagan believed that the Government should serve the people. He believed that America's strength came from creativity, ingenuity, and productivity of the people, not the plans of Government bureaucrats or the theories of intellectual elites. This core belief guided everything he did, everything he said. When he came to office, the American economy was in shambles. Inflation was in double digits. Interest rates were soaring. The American worker was demoralized. He set about slashing Federal income taxes and cutting burdensome regulations. It was his mission to free the American worker and unleash the American entrepreneur. His sweeping tax reforms overhauled the Tax Code and removed 6 million taxpayers from the tax rolls. By the time he left, it was morning in America. President Reagan believed in the aspirations and dignity of the individual. As he said in his second inaugural address, there are no limits to growth in human progress when men and women are free to follow their dreams. He reminded the American people that economic liberty and human freedom were two sides of the same coin. He reminded the world that freedom is the birthright of all peoples. Some call it the Reagan Revolution. Others call it the Reagan Restoration. I prefer the latter. The man from Dixon--lifeguard, radio announcer, actor, Governor, father, adoring husband, President of the United States--restored not only our confidence but our fundamental understanding of the source of America's greatness: each and every one of us striving to realize the American dream. In his 1982 State of the Union Address, President Reagan told the Nation: We do not have to turn to our history books for heroes. They're all around us. To the freedom fighters in the former Soviet Union to his fellow citizens here at home, Ronald Wilson Reagan was one of those real life heroes who brought hope, freedom, and opportunity to millions. I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I understand there is a bill at the desk due a second reading.

Mr. FRIST. In order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions rule XIV, I object to further proceeding.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration and the Senate now proceed to S. Res. 149.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 160 which was submitted earlier today.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Tomorrow, the Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Justice Brown to be a U.S. circuit judge for the DC Circuit. At noon, we will proceed to the cloture vote on the nomination. It is my expectation that cloture will be invoked and we could have an up-or-down vote on confirmation. As I noted earlier, following the disposition of the Brown nomination, we will move forward immediately with the cloture vote on the nomination of William Pryor to be a U.S. circuit judge for the Eleventh Circuit. Members should expect votes throughout the week as we consider these and other nominations that may proceed over the next several days.