June 11, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 97 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page S3299]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              NOMINATIONS

  Mr. McCONNELL. This week, the Senate is making more progress in the 
personnel business. Since returning to more prompt consideration for 
unobjectionable, lower level nominees, we are continuing to fill 
important vacancies around the executive branch and on the Federal 
bench.
  Yesterday we confirmed several more well-qualified nominees to 
important seats on the Federal judiciary--Ryan Holte of Ohio and 
Richard Hertling of Maryland to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and 
Rossie David Alston, of Virginia, to the U.S. District Court for the 
Eastern District of Virginia. These brandnew judges possess impressive 
legal and academic credentials.
  In the case of Mr. Holte, who taught law school for several years, 
125 former students wrote our colleagues on the Judiciary Committee to 
say their former professor would ``provide impartial, unbiased, and 
principled decisions, and will apply the law faithfully no matter the 
litigants.''
  That is exactly what this body should look for in every nominee we 
consider for the Federal bench. So I am glad we will have the 
opportunity this week to consider six more distinguished judicial 
nominees.
  First up today will be Sarah Daggett Morrison, tapped by the 
President to serve the Southern District of Ohio. Ms. Morrison is a 
graduate of Ohio State University and Capital University Law School. 
Earlier this year, the Judiciary Committee reported her nomination 
favorably on a voice vote.
  After Ms. Morrison's nomination is confirmed, we will turn to 
consider Pamela Barker for the Northern Virginia District of Ohio, 
Corey Maze for the Northern District of Alabama, Rodney Smith for the 
Southern District of Florida, Thomas Barber for the Middle District of 
Florida, and Jean-Paul Boulee for the Northern District of Georgia.
  Following them, we will fill two more executive branch vacancies, one 
each at the State Department and in the diplomatic corps. I hope my 
colleagues will join me in voting to confirm each of these nominees 
with strong bipartisan support on the floor.

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