Weve worked together on the drug caucus for some years now and i look forward to having the kind of relationship where if theres a problem, we can bring it to you and get it settled. And vice versa. Thank you. And i want to pay tribute to my good friend and he is a good friend and in a sense, in a real sense, a mentor. Senator leahy has been on this committee for a long time, more than i have and i have found him to be a mentor, stalwart and standup and i hope some of those characteristics in a modest way fell over on me. As the rules, mr. Chairman, of the committee allow and as we have done for most nominees during the last several congresses, im asking that the vote for senator sessions be held over until next week. And id like to take a few moments to explain why. The attorney general as we all know is charged with enforcing our laws and constitution. He must be vigilant, fair, and even handed. The department of justice must be outfront and strong. It must protect the rights of women and minorities. It must protect Voting Rights and all of our constitutional rights. This nomination is a very big deal. On sunday, we received 188 pages of responses to questions submitted for the record. Our staff needs time to answer these questions and put them in context with what we know and what weve learned about senator sessions record. In addition, weve been told that some members may have followup questions they would like to submit. And i also believe its important to reflect on this nomination in light of the demonstration we saw this weekend. What we saw in my quarter of a century on this committee was very unusual. On saturday, there was a massive outpouring of hope and optimism. At least a half Million People gathered in washington, some say as many as 800,000. In los angeles, estimates were 750,000 people marching together, the largest demonstration in the last decade. It was really unusual to see the diversity. Men and women came together, families came, College Students came, Young Children came. There were marches in blue states and red states. From alaska to mississippi and from south dakota to hawaii. In fact, there were marches all around the world from kenya to milan and auckland to city. I thought it was unusual to see large crowds and sheer joy, no violence. In fact, to the best of my knowledge, there were no arrests and its unusual to see this kind of dedication to the principles and values of this nation. Hundreds of thousands of passionate individuals went to the streets to support womens fundamental rights as well as equality for all. On saturday night, i happen to run in with some of the delegations. They were from los angeles, colorado, arizona, connecticut and elsewhere. They just glowed. They shared an elation and commitment that i have actually never seen before. It was really palpable. There was no other way to say it. They want to have their voices heard. They want to ensure equality for all and want to know what steps they can take to fully participate in what they see as the crowning glories of america. Our countrys principles and values derive from our constitution and laws. They are ensuring equal rights for all, upholding Voting Rights for all, demanding equal pay for equal work. Maintaining workers rights and protecting our environment. It is these principles, these values that the attorney general must defend. He must be a zealous advocate for the american people. All of the american people. The one question that several marchers asked me was, what can i do . I told them they need to get out there, make their voices heard, call your members, state legislators and local officials, organize. Run for office. Play a direct role in governance. Dont wait for someone else to do it. Now, let me talk about the women who were the majority in the marches. We have the fight for everything throughout history. Nothing has been easy. It wasnt until 1920, not even 100 years ago but more than 130 years after the constitution was ratified that women received the right to vote. Women originally in this country could not own or inherit property. Women were often forbidden from getting an education. Women werent allowed to borrow money from a bank without their husbands cosigning the loan. Not to mention, it wasnt until 1965, barely 50 years ago when states could no longer ban married women from using contraception. It wasnt until 1972 that this fundamental right was extended to all women in two Supreme Court cases. Looking at the history of this committee is incredibly telling. Since its inception, there have only been five women to serve on the Judiciary Committee and 350 men. Today, two of those women in addition to myself are here, senator clovechar from the great state of minnesota and senator from hawaii and this is the most women that have ever been on this committee. So our history in this march and in what were going to do on the attorney general is really very important. We still do not have equal pay for equal work. Studies vary, but we know women are paid only roughly 75 cents to 80 cents on the dollar. A simple equal rights amendment passed the congress in 1972, was ratified by 35 states but fell short of becoming part of the constitution by just 3 states. And heres what it said. Equality under the law shall not be a bridged on account of sex. Why . Women were serving different criminal sentences than men in many states. And so it goes on and on and the fight for a woman to have rights over her own reproductive system. And not just limits access but outright bans are being passed across the country. As i mentioned, womens history has played out on this committee. I was elected to the senate in 1992. It was known as the year of the woman. Some of my younger colleagues may not know the full context of that election, but for me, the anita hill hearings in 1991 are etched in my memory. I remember a senate Judiciary Committee, as a matter of fact, i was watching the hearing from the airport in london and i looked at the committee as it was panned and there was not a single woman. I remember how they questioned her claims of workplace harassment. I remember thinking how a woman could would never belittle someone brave enough to step forward and testify like anita hill did. It was a shameful episode in the senate and i think it helped the year of the woman in getting women elected. It certainly played a role in joe biden inviting me to be the first woman on the senate Judiciary Committee. It was nearly 25 years ago. Carol moseley brawn joined me on the committee soon after i did and today, we have the three of us. Its a start, but it isnt a finish. We are charged with overseeing our constitutional rights, our federal laws, our nominees to the federal courts and our nominees to the department of justice. Once again, we are being asked to evaluate the nomination of our next attorney general. Who is charged with enforcing the law and upholding the protections women have fought so hard to secure. This nomination is critically important. This committee must have enough time to fully consider senator sessions record to evaluate his answers to our questions and to determine what kind of attorney general he will be if confirmed. Many, many millions of americans are deeply concerned of what the future will bring. Thats a hallmark of what happened this past saturday in the march. The least we can do is tell them that were being as careful as possible in who we place in charge of making these importantly decisions, for every woman and man who marched over the weekend, we owe it to them. Thank you very much. Ill recognize senator leahy and then well do our business while we still have a forum here. Mr. Chairman, i applaud the senator from california. I spent 20 years as Ranking Member of this committee and proud to turn over that position. Senator feinstein and comments just now demonstrated why and i was also proud to be one of the members of the committee who stood publicly said that i believe the witness. I believed anita hill, and said so publicly at the time. It influenced my vote. But weve had 352 members here counting senator feinstein, only six have been women. I sit on the senate floor. Ive enjoyed working with her on countless issues ranging with national security, to immigration reform. Shes broken down barriers throughout our career and this is just one more example. Im just giving her a copy of what i said about her on the senate floor. Thank you. I did it with total pride and a complete understanding, as i do this, i could not leave it in better hands. So thank you. We have 11 members present. Were ready to turn to the authorizing resolution for the committee. I ask all in favor, say aye. Aye. All opposed say no. The ayes appear to have it and do have it in the resolutions adopted and now consider adopting the subcommittees. Those in favor say aye. Aye. Those opposed say no. The ayes appear to have it and do have it and the resolution on subcommittees is adopted. I now turn to senator leahy for another point of personal privilege. Thank you very much, mr. Chairman and Ranking Member feinstein. Its the First Business of this congress. I want to recognize the Remarkable Service of my chief counsel, christine lucious. Shes been with the Judiciary Committee for more than 14 years. When she became my chief counsel, we were debating two of the most complicated and contentious issues in recent years. Gun violence and immigration policy. She took the reins with steadfast leadership and commitment only a true staffer can show. And all who work with her regardless of party have seen her intelligence, her drive, her effective advocacy. Ive been here 42 years. I think what she did throughout that time was an example to everybody on what the finest, the absolute finest can be in someone who works. Ive also considered constitutional impediments to their staffs. Christine bears truth to that. Her accomplishments are many. The committee cant be overstated. Her friendship is one im going to hold dear. Both for her and her husband and her children. I ask my committee to consider the following Committee Resolution which i will read. Christine lucious served as a Senate Committee on the Judiciary Committee of 20132017 and christine served as general counsel and deputy staff from 2013 and law center, and christine lucious has been a valuable source of guidance, strategy on legislative issues in the committees handling of judicial executive dominations and successful effort to enact meaningful legislation including the Matthew Shepherd hate Crime Prevention and usa freedom act. And the improvement act where christine lucious was instrumental and successful effort to reauthorize the violence against women act, the trafficking victims protection act. The Partnership Grant program. And the justice for all act. And christine lucious efforts to protect citizens right to vote or work with the Voting Rights act. Has provided integral insight thats considered comprehensive immigration reform. Its essential to the consideration of six Supreme Court nominations. Now being resolved to the United StatesSenate Committee on the judiciary. Commends christine lucious for decades of service, leadership and service to the committee on the judiciary and to the United States senate and extends its deep appreciation to christine lucious for years. You heard the resolution and id like to say without a protection, it would be adopted. I hear no objection. Its adopted. I would like to speak for a minute and echo what senator leahy has said about this. We all know how that has worked out to have the committee function very diligently and get a lot of work out because you work well with both democrats and republicans. All of us know that we wouldnt be able to get as much done around here without not only your hard work but the hard work of a lot of your colleagues, so i thank you, christine, for helping the committee be successful and wish you well in your professional life. Senator feinstein, you wanted to speak to on the point . Very briefly. I just have come with senator leahys successor and be here with some of the staff and from my perspective see how well christine has done. She is smart, shes tough, shes a fighter and she has run a very good operation, senator leahy and senator grassley. So i am also pleased and i know my colleagues join with that in saying, where is she . Christine, thank you for everything that you have done for this committee. Thank you. Its very much appreciated. A copy of the resolution if anyone wants to sign it. All business is done, we will adjourn. Thank you for the questions, senator feinstein. Yeah