Obstruction of Judge Merrick Garland's Appointment to the United States Supreme Court

Floor Speech

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Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan.

I rise today to express my concern about the ongoing vacancy in the Supreme Court. The President has done his constitutional job, and that is to screen, to choose, to nominate, and to put forward a name.

The Senate must do its constitutional duty, to take a look at the nominee and give a vote. I don't know how the Senate would vote, depending on the nominee.

It is in their jurisdiction. It is in their individual right to take a look and to decide yea or nay. But it is their responsibility to take up that nominee. That is the constitutional requirement.

It has dire consequences for us when this vacancy is left unfilled.

It has dire consequences for many, in particular, for example, the Latino community. Just yesterday the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in United States v. Texas, a challenge to the President's executive actions on immigration.

Because of the vacancy, we only have three Justices. So there is the clear possibility that it could be a 4-4 vote. That would leave in place the freeze on DACA and DAPA, and millions of immigrants' lives are hanging in the balance.

The Supreme Court must be able to make concrete decisions on the most pressing issues facing our country, but we are stuck in limbo.

Actually, if you think of the division of powers, we are purposely in a way hampering the power of that judiciary. It doesn't have to be that way.

President Obama has nominated Judge Garland, a worthy and a just successor to the late Justice Scalia's seat.

Yes, Senate Republicans refuse to give Judge Garland their consideration even though a majority of Senate Republicans voted to confirm this exact same judge to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in 1997.

They refuse to consider his nomination. Why? Because they are looking to block any Supreme Court nominee at any cost.

There is too much at stake to leave the Supreme Court vacancy open.

It is time for the Senate to fulfill their constitutional duty by filling the Supreme Court vacancy with undue delay.
Wasting time, playing political games with the highest of the Court, is irresponsible and is unacceptable.

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