Floor Statements

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under its previous order.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the remaining votes be 10 minutes in length.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to use my leader time.

Madam President, this week we observe National Police Week, which is an annual gathering of tens of thousands of law enforcement personnel right here in our Nation's Capital. America will pay special tribute tomorrow to the service and sacrifice of our fallen officers as we mark Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Officers from all around the country will join together to honor their brothers and sisters in uniform who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and the rest of the Nation will remember how blessed we are by the selfless sacrifices of this ``thin blue line'' that protects our families and keeps our communities safe.

I extend a warm welcome to the many Kentuckians who have traveled here this week, and along with them, I am thinking especially of four of their comrades whose names will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial this year: Hickman police officer Rodney Smith, whose patrol car was washed into a field while he was checking on members of his community during a flood; Patrolman Scotty Hamilton, of the Parkville Police Department, who was murdered while he was investigating a suspicious vehicle for narcotics activity; Hopkinsville police officer Phillip Meacham, who was shot and killed while off duty as he assisted a fellow officer; and Louisville Metro Police Department detective Deidre Mengedoht, who was struck and killed while conducting a traffic stop on Christmas Eve.

With more than three decades of combined service, these heroic Kentuckians left behind spouses, children, and an entire Commonwealth that mourns their tragic losses. It is my honor to have represented them in the Senate and to represent all those who wear the uniform. It was an honor to proudly cosponsor the resolution designating this as National Police Week.

I also pause to recognize the U.S. Capitol Police, whose officers protect all of us in this building every day. Their professionalism and dedicated service make our democracy possible and allow millions of visitors to observe their government up close each year.

Madam President, on another matter, this morning, we voted to confirm Michael Truncale to serve as a U.S. district judge for the Eastern District of Texas. Now we are considering Kenneth Lee, of California, who is slated to serve as a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mr. Lee is a graduate of Cornell University and Harvard Law School, and he held a clerkship in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Since then, his record has been marked by his success in private practice as a litigator, in his distinguished public service as an Associate White House Counsel during the Bush administration, and in his work as an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University School of Law.

In addition to a ``unanimously well qualified'' rating from the ABA, which is the best it can give, and a favorable report from the Judiciary Committee, Mr. Lee has earned the especially high esteem of one of our own colleagues. The junior Senator from Arkansas attended law school with the nominee. He has personally testified that Mr. Lee is ``not only a brilliant lawyer, but more important, he's a man of high character.''

So I hope, as this body continues our work toward swiftly processing the backlog of well-qualified nominees on the Executive Calendar, that each of my colleagues will join me in supporting the confirmation of Kenneth Lee.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session and be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Madam President, I understand that there are two bills at the desk, and I ask for their first reading en bloc.

I now ask for a second reading, and I object to my own request, all en bloc.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 209, submitted earlier today.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 210, submitted earlier today.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 82, S. 1231.

I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported amendments be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the

Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 15; further, 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 for their use later in the day, morning business be closed, and the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Lee nomination.

If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it stand adjourned under the previous order, following the remarks of our Democratic colleagues.

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

I move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 230.