chief judge patricia wald said about the case load. the d.c.it hears the most complex labyrinth disputes on ordinary americans. clean air and water regulations, nuclear plant safety, health care reform issues, insider trading and much, much more. these cases can require thousands of hours of preparation by judges often consuming days of argument involving hundreds of parties and intervenors and necessitatings thousands of pages of record. all of which culminates in an intri tri cat legal opinion. the nature of the d.c. circuit's caseload sets it apart from other courts. that's what former chief judge patricia wald said. unfortunately, mr. president, today the court is functioning far below its complement of judges. the number of judges was chosen legislatively a long along -- long, long time ago. today only eight of the seats every full. the three remaining vacancies are due in part to republican obstruction of obstruction like cat lynn halligan, twice deeded -- defeated. republicans claim filling these vacancies on the d.c. circuit would amoun

circuit chief judge patricia wald noted -- quote -- "the d.c. circuit hears the most complex, time-consuming, labyrinthine disputes over regulations with the greatest impact on american -- ordinary americans' lives. clean air and water regulations, nuclear plant safety, health care reform issues, insider trading and more. the senate should have the opportunity to vote up or down on all of president obama's nominees to this important court. it is way past time we took action on this nomination. i urge my colleagues to support the millett nomination and yield the floor, mr. president. i note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: quorum call: quorum call: quorum call: mr. reid: mr. president, i ask consent that the quorum call be terminated. officer without objection, so ordered. mr. reid: i now ask consent that as if in executive session, the nomination of rhea sun suh of colorado to be assistant secretary fo for fish and wildle sent to the president on october 30, 2013, be referred jointly to t