never take a child to whatever the local hospital is in the south bronx. no teacher is to go to that hospital. this is in the same city. this is not rule versus urban, this is a huge difference in quality between hospitals that are 1 mile apart. i am not sure what the reason is that you get such a dysfunctional hospital in the south bronx of new york, but i do not have any doubt that that message with them at school has been well thought out. so, to questions, what do we mean by cultural competency? are we really zeroing in on something that is ultimately a very important issue? the second question is, if you look at the bronx hospital, what is going on? >> first of all, i think that there is a whole lot of information and literature coming now that is looking at cultural competency. i would call your attention to a program in harvard -- >> and the definition of cultural competency is what? >> you can narrow it down to two things. number one is respect. respect for culture. >> how do you measure that? >> you could measure rip by how you treat that patient

i am not sure what the reason is that you get such a dysfunctional hospital in south bronx in new york, but i don't have any doubt that the message with in that school has been well thought out. 2 questions. what do we mean by cultural competency? are we really zeroing in on something that is ultimately very important? the second question, you look at that bronx hospital and what is going on. >> there has been a lot of information and literature coming out, looking at cultural confidence and its impact on health care, i call your attention to harvard's program in georgetown. >> the definition of cultural competence is what? >> you can narrow it down to 2 things, respect for the person's culture? >> how do you measure that? >> measure it in how you treat a patient, how you interact with patients, how your staff interacts with patients, there are a number of sarah goods. one of the things we have to do is educate people in the role of culture. we have a large and growing student population in my part of the state, as well as the mexican population, there is no question that language, und

of the south bronx. additionally, she went to cardinal stellar high school. i went to cardinal hayes in the south bronx. it's much more difficult to get into cardinal spellman than cardinal hayes. nonetheless, she graduated valedictorian from spellman, on to princeton, an graduated to go on to yale law school. with her background and potential she could have chosen lucrative careers in the private sector at a big law firm but she didn't. she worked with bob morganthal as an assistant d.a. where she proved her capabilities over the next four years. i have spoken to my colleagues that worked with her over the years, and they used great adjectives like compassion but one common theme is that she is the salt of the earth and that you would be proud to know her. then she went into private practice and served 16 years on the bench of two different courts. what i remember about her, though in those years when shes was one of the commissioners for the board of elections, there are strong opinions there, both dem

and whether you are from the south bronx by the south side of chicago or a south bronx, the american dream inspires all of us. her life story is a the american dream and instead of having this division in the senate we should deny all hundred senators because only 101 people given a voice in the appointment and the seating of a supreme court justice. first and foremost the president to make the nominations and 100 senators who have to sit in place of 300 million americans. we should come together. remember what their vermont marble over this entrance to the supreme court says chemical justice under law. we should get this nomination, we should confirm her, and we should guarantee equal justice under law. thank you very much. [applause] >> back live to the u.s. senate where a debate continues in a bill that promotes u.s. tourism abroad. the legislation creates a non-profit corporation to attract foreign tourists while providing them information about entry requirements. we could see votes this afternoon with a final passage vote possible before the end of the break. live coverage of t

so -- what are you, from the south bronx? e self side of chicago, south burlington vermont -- your life experiences to shake you. she has never forgot where she was from. we are meeting tomorrow morning to speak to senator sessions about this. but we say one thing on a personal point of view. i know how difficult it is for somebody nominated, they cannot speak out. and what difference for us who run for elected office and to debate every day. i think some of these attacks against her are some of the most vicious i have ever seen. one called her the equivalent of the head of the ku klux klan. another call her a bigot. the one thing dead gives me consolation is republican senators have resisted that. a 300 million americans, the president is making the nomination, and 100 senators voted on it. any questions? >> [inaudible] >> thank you. normally, i will not talk about what a nominee says to me. i think a vote on everything since chief justice rehnquist was chief. i never talk about it, though i did raise that question. it would

whether you're from the south bronx or the south side of chicago or south burlington, vermont, the american dream inspires all of us. her life story is the american dream. and so i might add is the journey of the president who nominated her. she deserves a fair hearing. not trial by attack and assaults about her character. and let us proceed to give her that fair hearing without unness delay. i have -- unnecessary delay. i have said in the senate oftentimes on the floor of this great body, that we senators should be the conscience of the nation. as we were called upon to do. and there have been occasions when this senate, republicans and democrats alike, united have shown they can be the conscience of the nation. i would say this is one time we should rise above partisanship and be that conscience when i met with judge sotomayor last week, i asked her about her approach to the law. she answered that, of course, one's life experience shapes who you are. but ultimately and completely her words: as a judge you follow the law. there is not one law from -- for one race or another, there is not 1

and whether you are from the south bronx or the south side of chicago, for a south burlington, the american dream inspires all of us. her american check -- her life story is the american dream. instead of having this division we should unite all 100 centers, because only 100 people get a voice. -- we should unite all 100 senators. first and foremost, a president who makes the nomination, and 100 senators who have to sit in place of 300 million americans. remember what the vermont marble over the entrance to the supreme court says, equal justice under law law. we should get this nomination and confirm her and guarantee equal justice under law. thank you very much. [applause] >> thank you. [applause] >> any questions? well, i will let you. you go ahead. >> first of all, thank you for that wonderful speech. thank you for honoring us by coming to the law school. the team has a cup which i know she wants to present to you. t he dean has a cup. have agreed to take a couple of questions of students, so if there is anyone who would like to ask a question, let me ask you to ask a quick question. yes

what the enormous impact justices have on our freedoms and values, and whether you are from the south bronx for the south side of chicago or south burlington, vt., the american dream inspires all of us syrian your life story is -- inspires all of us. her life story is the american dream. we should unite all senators because of the 101 people that have a voice in the appointment and seating of the supreme court justice -- first and foremost, the president who makes the nomination and 100 senators who have to sit in place of 300 million americans -- we should come together. remember what the vermont marble over the entrance to the supreme court says. equal justice under logoaw. we should confirm her and guarantee equal justice under the law. thank you very much. [applause] do you want me to do some questions? thank you, thank you. any questions? i will let you -- you are the professor. >> first of all, thank you for that wonderful speech. thank you for honoring us by coming to the school of law. the dean has a couple i know she wants to present to you. i also know your -- haifa cup -- i also

after growing up in public housing project in the south bronx to she excelled at both princeton and yale law school. quote i believe judge sonia sotomayor is an excellent choice to replace david souter as a supreme court justice. and she deserves a fair in a thorough hearing without delay. mr. president, i look forward to that hearing and i yield the floor. >> thank you very much, mr. president. it can ask to be recognized? >> seven tourette's minnesota. >> and want to thank my colleague for her remarks and for reminiscence of meeting with judge and her month -- showing how she perseveres in the face of diversity. i also want to talk a little bit more. i was sending my last commons talking about how, in fact, this money would bring more federal judicial experience to the supreme court that any justice in 100 years and i had earlier noted my exchange with someone in the airport where he wondered if she was worthy of this in she was able to apply the tax, applied ala. clearly when you look at this experience that she brings and you compare her two any of these other nominees on the supreme

after growing up in a public housing project in the south bronx, she being a seld at both princeton and yale law school. i believe judge sonia sotomayor is an excellent choice to replace david souter as a supreme court justice. she deserves a fair and a thorough hearing without delay. mr. president, i look forward to that hearing, and i yield the floor. ms. klobuchar: well, thank you very much, mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from minnesota. ms. klobuchar: i ask for recognized? the presiding officer: the senator from minnesota. ms. klobuchar: i want to thank my colleague, senator shaheen, for her remarks and for her reminiscence of meeting with the judge and her -- once again, the judge showing how she perseveres in the face of adversity. i also wanted to talk a little bit more -- i was ending my last comments talking about how in fact this nominee would bring more federal judicial experience to the supreme court than any skwrufrts in 100 years. i -- justice in 100 years. i noted my exchange in the airport where someone wondered whether she was worthy of this, able to