ms. landrieu: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from louisiana. ms. landrieu: mr.esident, i rise to make a few comments about the nominees that are before the senate for confirmation and to thank members on both sides of the aisle for working together to try to move forward on two very important confirmations and nominees for ferc. first let me say there has been some criticism of one of the nominees from some members of the other party and of course everyone is entitled to their opinion. that's what the senate is for. but i'd like to make sure that the senate record reflects an opinion that i admire greatly and i believe is very admired, significantly admired by every member of this senate, and that is the opinion of senator domenici, the republican chair of the energy committee for many years, and a long-serving senator from the state of new mexico. senator domenici, it may not be clearly understood, actually came to the energy committee to testify on behalf of norman bay. his testimony was one of the most artful and compelling that i've seen in my days here whic

ms. landrieu: thank you, mr. president. i see several other colleagues on the floor. i'd like to speak for just up to about three minutes on behalf of the nominee that was just confirmed. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. landrieu: thank you, mr. president. it is truly my distinct privilege to be able to speak on behalf of john weeden degravel, an alf for alf three judge in louisiana. i'm very gratified my colleagues gave him a very strong vote of approval, a unanimous vote just few minutes ago. president obama nominated mr. degravelles earlier this year and i'm very pleased i was joined by senator vitter from louisiana, my colleague, in recommending him for this confirmation today. he is affectionately known to his friends and family as johnny. he has the support of a wide cross section of community leaders in louisiana. and that support is based on an extraordinarily impressive scholarship at the louisiana university, both in his major of sociology and his juris doctor dr.ate from law school. he can excelled a