I am very glad to see the judicial and Executive Branch nominees on the agenda today. I will continue seeking to work with the Chairman and all members of the Committee to ensure that as many of the other judicial and Executive Branch nominees pending in this Committee as can be are included at our next Committee meeting. I look forward to another confirmation hearing for judicial nominees as soon as it can be scheduled.

I trust that today, at long last, the Committee will see fit to report the President’s outstanding nominees to the United States Sentencing Commission. In his Year-End Report for 1997 the Chief Justice of the United States made a special plea for prompt action on nominees to the Sentencing Commission. It has taken some time for Senator Lott and Senator Hatch to be able decide on the panel of people who would be acceptable nominees. The President has been very patient in the course of his extended consultation with Senate Republican leaders on these nominations.

Now that we have been able to move forward with the nomination of a strong and experienced bipartisan panel of judges and others to reinvigorate the Sentencing Commission, now that the President has sent us seven qualified nominees, now that we have had a hearing and extensive follow up questions and answers, it is time for this Committee and the Senate to proceed. We recently heard from Judge Wilkins urging us to act without delay on this fine panel of nominees. I look forward to working with the Chairman to ensure the prompt consideration and confirmation of all of the Sentencing Commissioners.