July 24, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 125 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page S5028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              NOMINATIONS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, on another matter, first, the Senate 
will confirm several more impressive nominations. We are currently 
considering Stephen Dickson, of Georgia, to lead the Federal Aviation 
Administration. After him, we will turn our attention to two district 
court nominees. Wendy Williams Berger is the President's choice for the 
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. She is a two-
time graduate of Florida State University, with nearly three decades of 
courtroom experience, half of which has come on the bench.
  Brian Buescher has been tapped for a vacancy in the District of 
Nebraska, where he has spent nearly two decades practicing law. 
Throughout his career, he has gained expertise in a wide array of legal 
areas and has earned admiration within the Nebraska legal community and 
beyond.
  Those who know Mr. Buescher praise his ``intelligence, integrity, 
professionalism, attentiveness, [and] character.'' The mayor of Omaha, 
where he has spent his entire legal career said: ``Mr. Buescher would 
be an impartial judge capable of setting aside personal opinion.''
  Despite his objective qualifications and all this praise, our Senate 
Democratic colleagues were not satisfied. Here was the bombshell that 
offended some of our colleagues with respect to this nominee. Listen to 
this. The nominee is a practicing Catholic.
  My goodness, imagine that--in the United States of America, a person 
of faith, serving in government. Really?
  In particular, some of our Democratic colleagues raked him over the 
coals in committee for his membership in the Knights of Columbus. It is 
shocking that a nominee for Federal district court would be a member of 
the Knights of Columbus.
  Of course, we all know the Knights--a noted worldwide ``extremist 
sect'' of Catholics, which is about 2 million men strong, known among 
other things for their love of their Catholic faith, their unparalleled 
commitment to charitable work, and for hosting barbecues and pancake 
breakfasts.
  Outrageous. I can't believe I need to repeat it in the U.S. Capitol, 
but there is nothing about living out one's faith that is disqualifying 
for public service--nothing. To the contrary, what the Constitution 
does forbid is imposing any kind of religious test for public office.
  It is the Democrats' opposition to this nominee's faith, not his 
faith itself, that rubs against the grain of our Constitution. 
Fortunately, this tactic didn't fly. Our colleagues on the Judiciary 
Committee saw this tactic for what it is and voted to report Mr. 
Buescher favorably to the floor. I will be proud to vote to confirm him 
later today.

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