Executive Session

Floor Speech

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Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, I rise to urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support Valerie Caproni for U.S. district judge for New York's Southern District. I know Ms. Caproni to be a woman with impeccable credentials, incredible intellect, and the kind of fair-minded judgment we need on the Federal bench.

Ms. Caproni serves as vice president and general counsel for Northrop Grumman Corporation, where she leads all aspects of litigation. Ms. Caproni joined Northrop Grumman from her former position as general counsel to the FBI, a position Director Robert Mueller personally asked Ms. Caproni to serve in, in the wake of the horrific attacks of September 11. Ms. Caproni knows full well the task at hand for the FBI is never easy--from protecting America from terror and other attacks--a balance of defending our civil liberties and civil rights. But as she puts it:

They always strive to do the right thing, and to maintain as a loadstar fealty to the Constitution and the rule of law.

That is what Ms. Caproni believes to her very core.

Ms. Caproni also served in the Securities and Exchange Commission, where she enforced regulatory programs in the nine-State Pacific region. She and her staff strengthened cooperation between the SEC and the U.S. Attorney's Offices to crack down on financial fraud.

Ms. Caproni also served as Chief of the Criminal Division for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York and in private practice at several top firms.

Through her breadth of experience, her talent, her intellect, and her strong character, I know Ms. Caproni will be an outstanding jurist.

I strongly believe this country needs more women such as she serving in the Federal Judiciary, an institution that I believe needs more exceptional women.

I have no doubt that having Ms. Caproni serve in the Federal Judiciary will bring us closer to achieving that goal of a Federal judiciary that reflects our Nation.

I was honored to recommend her for this position, and I urge all my colleagues to vote in support of her confirmation.

I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of another outstanding New Yorker, Vernon Broderick, to also be a U.S. district judge for the Southern District of New York.

Mr. Broderick served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York, where he helped protect New Yorkers by prosecuting cases involving organized crime, international narcotics trafficking, and violent crimes. I urge the Senate to vote in full support of Mr. Broderick's nomination.

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