S324 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 13, 2009 

whether to proceed with criminal investigations. The list goes on and on. 

Eric Holder has demonstrated throughout his entire career the type of independence we need in the next Attorney 

General of the United States. 

Let me give you one example. When 

the Independent Counsel who was investigating the President of the United 

States asked for additional authority, 

Eric Holder was the one who made that 

recommendation to proceed even 

though it was not popular at all with 

the President of the United States. It 

is that type of independence that we 

need in the next Attorney General of 

the United States. He brings broad experience as former judge, former U.S. 

attorney, and from the private sector. 

We need to take politics out of the 

Department of Justice. During the 

Bush administration, we found that 

politics was very much interwoven into 

the personnel decisions made within 

the Department of Justice affecting career attorneys. That was not permitted, but it was done. We need the 

next Attorney General to be one who 

will make sure politics has no place in 

those types of personnel decisions. 

Again, Eric Holder’s career has 

shown his willingness to carry out his 

responsibilities in a nonpolitical way. 

He has handled major public corruption 

cases as a U.S. attorney against both 

Democrats and Republicans. He understands the responsibilities of the Department of Justice. 

We need our next Attorney General 

to reestablish the premier role of the 

Department of Justice in the Civil 

Rights Division. The Civil Rights Division historically has been the key 

agency to protect the civil rights of the 

people of this Nation. We need the next 

Attorney General to reestablish that in 

the Department of Justice. Once again, 

Eric Holder has demonstrated that sensitivity that will restore the role of the 

Department of Justice in protecting 

the voting rights of all Americans. 

The list goes on and on and on. Bottom line, the next Attorney General 

must restore the reputation of the Department of Justice. I believe he is the 

right person, but it is not only me. Let 

me read from some of the record that 

has been presented to the Judiciary 

Committee. 

Both law enforcement and civil 

rights groups support Eric Holder. The 

Fraternal Order of Police writes that: 

Our members reported that they found 

Judge Holder and U.S. Attorney Holder an 

able and aggressive prosecutor. 

The Leadership Conference on Civil 

Rights, which is a group of our major 

civil rights advocates in this country 

said: 

Mr. Holder’s various experience as a trial 

attorney, judge, prosecutor and lawyer in 

private practice make him uniquely qualified to run the Department of Justice. It 

would be difficult to find a candidate more 

experienced in the Department or better 

suited to lead it. His background will render 

him ready to lead the Department from day 

one. His even-mindedness and sound judgment will ensure that justice is dispensed 

fairly and equitably. His professional accomplishments and ability to put partisan politics aside make him above reproach. His 

commitment to the rule of law makes him 

the ideal candidate for the nation’s top prosecutor. 

Now, that is the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, which, again, 

is comprised of the premier groups in 

this country that are out there fighting 

for the rights of the people of this 

country. 

I would also draw my colleagues’ attention to a January 7, 2009, letter received by the Judiciary Committee 

from several former high-level Department of Justice officials in the Republican administration. They write: 

We are pleased to be able to write in support of Eric Holder, a man who stands with 

the most qualified who have been privileged 

to be nominated to be Attorney General of 

the United States. President-elect Obama’s 

nomination of Eric as the historic appointment of the first African-American Attorney 

General should be hailed as a milestone. He 

is an extraordinary lawyer and an even better person. 

We need to move forward immediately in the leadership in the Department of Justice. I would urge my colleagues, let us move forward on the 

confirmation process as quickly as possible. I look forward to Eric Holder 

being the next Attorney General of the 

United States. I hope we will do that 

very shortly. 

I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a quorum. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. 

WHITEHOUSE.) The clerk will call the 

roll. 

The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Florida is recognized. 

Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 

order for the quorum call be rescinded. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

The Senator will suspend for one moment. 

f 

CONCLUSION OF MORNING 

BUSINESS 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning 

business is closed. 

f 

DESIGNATING CERTAIN LAND AS 

COMPONENTS OF THE NATIONAL 

WILDERNESS PRESERVATION 

SYSTEM 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under 

the previous order, the Senate will resume consideration of S. 22, which the 

clerk will report. 

The legislative clerk read as follows: 

A bill (S. 22) to designate certain land as 

components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, to authorize certain programs and activities in the Department of 

the Interior and the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes. 

Pending: 

Reid amendment No. 15, to change the enactment date. 

Reid amendment No. 16 (to Reid amendment No. 15), of a perfecting nature. 

Motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, 

with instructions to report back forthwith, 

with Reid amendment No. 17, to change the 

enactment date. 

Reid amendment No. 18 (to the instructions of the motion to recommit), of a perfecting nature. 

Reid amendment No. 19 (to Reid amendment No. 18), of a perfecting nature. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Florida is recognized. 

Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak 

as in morning business. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

(The remarks of Mr. NELSON pertaining to the introduction of S. 22 are 

located in today’s RECORD under 

‘‘Statements on Introduced bills and 

Joint Resolutions.’’) 

f 

RECESS 

Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 

Senate stand in recess under the previous order. 

There being no objection, the Senate, 

at 12:31 p.m., recessed until 2:15 p.m. 

and reassembled when called to order 

by the Presiding Officer (Mr. C

f 

ARPER). 

DESIGNATING CERTAIN LAND AS 

COMPONENTS OF THE NATIONAL 

WILDERNESS PRESERVATION 

SYSTEM—Continued 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Mexico is recognized. 

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I 

suggest the absence of a quorum. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The 

clerk will call the roll. 

The legislative clerk proceeded to 

call the roll. 

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask 

unanimous consent the order for the 

quorum call be rescinded. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. 

SANDERS). Without objection, it is so 

ordered. 

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask 

unanimous consent to proceed as in 

morning business. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 

ISRAEL AND GAZA

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I am 

here today to speak about the growing 

violence in Gaza. I support the United 

Nations Security Council resolution 

calling for an immediate and durable 

cease-fire. In my view, both the Israeli 

airstrikes and the Palestinian rocket 

attacks must stop immediately, and 

Israeli ground forces should withdraw 

from Gaza. I regret that President 

Bush chose to have the United States 

be the only Security Council member 

not to support this U.N. resolution. 

I ask unanimous consent that the 

full text of the U.N. resolution be 

printed in the RECORD. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 

objection, it is so ordered. 


smartinez on PROD1PC64 with SENATE