ms. murkowski: thank you, mr. president. i too rise in support of morgan christen, the nominee that is before us today. and i add my thanks to the chairman of the judiciary committee. in fact, the entire judiciary committee for their work in advancing not only judge christen as she has moved forward through the process, but it was just several weeks ago that we were pleased to move through this body the nomination of judge sharon gleason. i think it is worthy of note that alaska in the past months now has moved forward two extraordinary women jurists who will work to serve us in an incredible way. if there is any regret that i have, it is that such exceptional women are being taken from our state judiciary system and moved on to other positions. there is a loss there. we're just going to have to work to fill those back benches there. but i am very pleased today to speak in support of morgan christen, a justice of the alaska supreme court, who has been nominated to serve on the ninth circuit u.s. court of appeals. this is rea

ms. murkowski: madam president. the presiding officer: the senator from alaska is recognized. ms. murkowski: madam president, i feel like this is a little bit of alaska day here. we just celebrated the very successful nomination of morgan christen to the ninth circuit, really quite proud of morgan and her accomplishments as an alaskan and as an alaskan woman to -- to achieve what morgan has achieved, to be the example that she has set really makes me quite proud today. so i am -- i am pleased that the senate gave her such a resounding confirmation. this is quite significant for us, and alaskans are feeling good today. as senator begich has mentioned, alaskans are celebrating other occasions this week as well. i rise today to speak about a resolution that senator begich and i have introduced that recognizes december 18, 2011, as the 40th anniversary of the alaska native claims settlement act. our resolution recognizes and commends the significant achievements that alaska native people have made over the past 40 years through their congressionally created alaska native corporations.

ms. murkowski: mr. president, i rise today to honor a gentleman, john katz. john is a longtime public servant to the state of alaska who is set to retire at year's end. john has served alaska for more than 40 years, working for eight different governors, republican and democrats, liberals and conservatives. he once said that he was comfortable serving so many different governors because the issues for alaska were consistent, whether they be responsible resource developme development, state sovereignty, federal assistance with infrastructure. the one constant figure connecting one administration after the next over eight administrations, the one constant figure has been john katz. john started his career as a high school teacher and coach in baltimore city public schools back in 1966 following his graduation from johns hopkins university. in 1969, he earned his law degree from the university of california at berkeley, and then he moved to alaska to work as a legislative and administrative assistant to congressman pollick and then later for senator ted stevens.