the truth is that mr. grasz and mr. willett are not unique. they are a few of the many nominees whose records show that they cannot fairly and impartially dispense equal justice under law. right now the g.o.p.-controlled senate is executing a breathtaking plan to fill our court with right-wing radical nominees like mr. grasz and mr. willett. it is a plan that has been long in the making for years republicans have worked hard-in-hand with billionaire right-wing groups to ensure that our courts advance the interests of the wealthy and powerful over everyone else. first, after president obama was elected, republicans stopped mainstream judges from filling vacancies on federal courts. they didn't stop the nominees because of the qualifications or records. the republicans stopped those nominees because they didn't want judges who cared more about justice than about protecting the powerful. and then, once the filibuster was gone and republicans had gained the majority in the senate, they shroud the judicial -- slowed the judicial nominations process

nebraskans, again, of all backgrounds and across the partisan spectrum as they urge us to confirm mr. grasz today. thank you, mr. president. i note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: quorum call: quorum call: mr. mcconnell: mr. president parthe presiding officer. the majority leader. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent that further proceedings under the quorum call be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i ask not with stangd -- standing rule it 2 there be time remaining on the glasses nomination equally divided with between the leaders or designees, following the use or yielding back of that time, the senate vote on the confirmation of the grasz nomination and if confirmed the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the president be immediately notified of the senate's action. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: mr. president, i have nine requests for committees to meet during today's session of the senate. they have the approval of the majority and minority

mr. grasz has sterling credentials and strong support from the nebraska legal community. i proudly voted to advance his nomination and the senate will confirm him soon. next we'll vote to advance the nomination of another well qualified individual, texas supreme court justice don willett to serve on the sixth circuit court of appeals. justice willett respects the rule of law and foundational legal principles and he will be a strong addition to the fifth circuit. his story is an inspirational one, adopted at a young age and raised by a widowed mother in a town of 32 people. he was the first person in his family to grad yate from the -- graduate from high school. as our colleague senator cornyn said at the judiciary committee committee hearing, his life will reflect the best of texas and the best of america. from these humble beginnings, justice willett has led a remarkable career. after graduating from duke law school he clerked for judge williams. he has now been nominated to the package to join. he spints a short time in private practice before entering public service an

in that role, mr. grasz professionally and capably defended the laws of the state of nebraska, authoring nine briefs in the united states supreme court. he's earned the respect of the nebraska legal community. timothy angler, president of the nebraska state bar association, has stated he always found steve, quote, to be professional, civil, and ethical in all respects, close quote. in short, steve is an outstanding nebraskan and a talented legal mind. the scores of recommendation letters we have received for steve are a testament to his temperament, his integrity, and his character. these recommendations come from a diverse group of nebraskans, from political officials to church pastors, business and community leaders, and steve's friends and neighbors. steve has bipartisan support from those who know him best. nebraskans from across the political spectrum have pointed to steve's thoughtfulness, fire mindedness, -- fair-mindedness, high ethical standards, and brilliant abilities as a jurist. this includes fo

mr. mcconnell: today the senate will continue another historic week confirming more of president trump's impressive judicial nominees to the federal bench. steven grasz confirmed, don willett confirmed, and soon we'll add james ho to the list by confirming him to serve on the fifth circuit court of appeals. he's an exceptionally well qualified nominee whose career in public service and the private sector have earned him respect from both sides of the aisle. the former democratic mayor of dallas supported his nomination calling him among the most brilliant appellate lawyers in the united states. when we vote to confirm mr. ho, we'll be adding another fair and impartial judge to the federal bench. by doing so, the senate will take another important step to ensure that the federal judiciary fulfilled its proper role in our constitutional system. each of them will be an asset to our nation's courts. under chairman grassley's leadership, the senate judiciary committee has done outstanding work to move these judicial nominees to the floor. i'm grateful for his efforts and i would urge all of my colleagues to join me in voting to confirm mr. ho soon. now, o

through his decades of legal practice mr. grasz has shown that he's the right choice to serve on the eighth circuit. i'm proud to join with our colleagues from nebraska in supporting the grasz nomination. i look forward to advancing his nomination later today and to confirming all three of these circuit court nominees this

through his decades of legal practice mr. grasz has shown that he's the right choice to serve on the eighth circuit. i'm proud to join with our colleagues from nebraska in supporting the grasz nomination. i look forward to advancing his nomination later today and to confirming all three of these circuit court nominees this week. the presiding officer: under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved. morning business is closed. under the previous order, the senate will proceed to executive session to consider the following nomination, which the clerk will report. the clerk: nomination, the judiciary, leonard steven grasz of nebraska to be united states circuit judge for the eighth circuit. mr. hatch: madam president. the presiding officer: the senator from utah. mr. hatch: before i turn to the main portion of my remarks, i would be remiss if i failed to recognize two staffers who were instrumental in helping us pass the tax cuts and jobs act earlier this month. james williams, my senior policy advisor. and nick clayson, a

committee has now heard and soon the full senate will be hearing about the impeccable credentials of mr. grasz. steve has served with distinction for nearly a dozen years. during that time hedonned -- he defend our state's laws with human military and deanscy. whether he was litigating before the u.s. supreme court, steve's professionalism earned the respect of republicans and democrats aligning members of the committee became familiar with steve and in particular his recommendation from president obama's u.s. attorney for nebraska deborah gilig. she wrote to the committee, quote, steve has always enjoyed a reputation for honesty, impeccable integrity and dedication to the rule of law, she wrote to our committee. she continued by noting that, steve, quote, possesses an even temperament. steve has earned the support of republicans and democrats back in nebraska and i hope that when his nomination comes to the floor of the senate, he will -- we will take to heart all of the support that he has across the political spectrum and from well-respected lawyers across our state. thank you for the time,

the clerk: judiciary, leonard steven grasz of nebraska to be united states circuit judge for the eighth circuit. mr. mcconnell: i sent a cloture motion to the desk. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: cloture motion, we, the undersigned senators, in accordance with the provisions of rule 22, do hereby bring to a close debate on nomination of steven grasz of nebraska to be united states circuit judge of the eighth circuit. mr. mcconnell: i ask that the reading of the names be waived. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: i move to proceed to legislative session. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all those in favor say aye. all those opposed, say no. the ayes appear to have it, the ayes do have it. the motion is agreed to. mr. mcconnell: i move to proceed to xoif session -- executive session to consider calendar number 534. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all those opposed say no. the motion is agreed to. the clerk will report. the clerk: nomination, the judiciary, don r. willett of texas to be a circuit judge united st