Hygiene. Thank you for coming. I hope everybody has disinfectant that they can use. We spaced out the room to be as safe as possible to my staff and minority staff, thank you for working together. We are back, we spent 40 something days since the senate has been able to meet. The committee has a lot to do related to the coronavirus but we have other things for the good of the nationlike filling judicial vacancies or getting comments throughout the country about the vacancies and how they are impacting the ability to deliver justice in various states it will be as prompt as we possibly can. My democratic colleagues are requesting hearings on the effect of the virus in Detention Centers for immigration purposes and we will try to Work Together to have those hearings. Im curious myself about safely in the nations prison. Next week we will hear about liability issues related to the virus. What can we do as a congress to safely open up and minimize legal exposure for those to reopen the ame
We will get started now with our last Panel Discussion of the day. This panel is titled a discussion on the department of justice grant opportunities for fiscal year 18 and identifying gaps for possible fiscal year 19 programs. This is the panel where you all get to hear how the department is putting its money where its mouth is when it comes to Human Trafficking. Our panel will be moderated today by the honorable beth a. Williams. Beth was sworn in as assistant attorney general on august 21st, 2017, after unanimous confirmation by the United States senate. As a assistant attorney general for the office of legal policy, she served as the primary policy adviser to the United States attorney general and the Deputy Attorney general. And as the chief regulatory officer here at the department. Prior to becoming the assistant ag, miss williams is a litigation and appellate partner at a National Law Firm where her practice focused on complex commercial, securities and First Amendment litigati
Campaign trail. In our most recent wall street journal nbc poll, 48 , a pl pleuralty of those said the senate should take action to a nominee to the Supreme Court that the president would send this year and 55 of that same sample said that eventually president obamas nominee to the Supreme Court is entitled to an up or down vote. Were minutes away from the president making his announcement and begins of course to make the case for the confirmation battle that lies ahead. Hampton pearson in washington. Well be coming back to you in a moment. For more on todays announcement lets bring in a litigation attorney in nixon peabodys new york city office. Has written extensively on the Supreme Court nominating process. Thank you for joining us. Native of illinois, harvard grad. Was considered a contender when Justice Stevens stepped down. What should we know . So judge garland i would say is a consensus candidate as folks have been saying the last 30 minutes or so. He is known as a moderate. He
Mr. Fitzpatrick i had very Small Community banks that i visited with yesterday and they are from bucks county, pennsylvania and has to do with the subject of Overdraft Fees. There are a lot of us who have concerns that the rulemaking that your bureau is limiting smool Community Banks to provide real choices and customers could be customers and Small Business owners. And they would be owners that uld seek out riskier nonbank regulations. In regard to the Overdraft Fees and you are looking and a rule is being formulated on this issue, is that correct . Mr. Cordray yes. Mr. Fitzpatrick when is that expected to be released . Mr. Cordray the proposed rule, which will be subject to considerable comment will be released this spring. Mr. Fitzpatrick this particular bank that i met with me wanted me to and suggested whether you have any willingness to identify data and something you talked to mr. Westmoreland so banks and Financial Institutions can draw their own conclusions, is that something
The decision that requires me to set aside shortterm expediency and there are politics so as to maintain faith with our founders and perhaps more importantly with future generations. And that is why over the past several weeks, i have done my best to set up a rigorous and comprehensive process. I have sought the advice of republican and democratic members of congress. We have reached out to every member of the Senate Judiciary committee, to constitutional scholars, to advocacy groups and bar associations representing an array of interests from all across the spectrum. And today, after completing this exhaustive process, i have made my decision. I have selected a nominee who is widely recognized not only as one of americas sharpest legal minds, but someone who brings to his work a spirit of decency, modesty, integrity, evenhandedness, and excellence. These qualities and his long commitment to Public Service have earned him the respect and admiration of leaders from both sides of the ais