The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“UNANIMOUS-CONSENT AGREEMENT--S. 214” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Senate section on pages S3161-S3162 on March 15, 2007.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
UNANIMOUS-CONSENT AGREEMENT--S. 214
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that on Monday, March 19, at 2 p.m., the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 24, S. 214, a bill to preserve the independence of U.S. attorneys; that when the Senate considers the bill, it be considered under the following limitations: that there be 6 hours of general debate on the bill, with the time equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Specter or their designees; that once the bill is reported, the Committee-reported amendment be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; that the only other amendments in order be the following: the Kyl amendment regarding the nomination and confirmation of U.S. attorneys; the Sessions amendment regarding appropriate qualifications for interim U.S. attorneys; that debate on each amendment be limited to 3 hours equally divided and controlled in the usual form; that the amendments have to be offered and debated during Monday's session, except as noted below; that on Tuesday, the Senate resume consideration of the bill immediately after the opening proceedings and there be 90 minutes of additional debate time on the bill and the amendments are to run concurrently with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees; that upon the use or yielding back of time, but not later than 11:30 a.m., without further intervening action or debate, the Senate proceed to vote in relation to the Kyl amendment, to be followed by a vote in relation to the Sessions amendment; that upon disposition of the amendments, the bill be read a third time, and the Senate proceed to vote on passage of the bill, as amended; that the text of these amendments be printed in the Record once this consent is granted.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendments (Nos. 459 and 460) are as follows:
amendment no. 459
(Purpose: To ensure that United States attorneys are promptly nominated by the President, and are appointed by and with the advice and consent of the Senate)
On page 2, strike line 1 and all that follows and insert the following:
SEC. 2. PROMPT NOMINATION AND CONFIRMATION OF UNITED STATES
ATTORNEYS.
Section 541 of title 28, United States Code is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections
(c) and (d), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
``(b)(1) Not later than 120 days after the date on which a vacancy occurs in the office of United States attorney for a judicial district, the President shall submit an appointment for that office to the Senate.
``(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), not later than 120 days after the date of the submission of an appointment under paragraph (1), the Senate shall vote on that appointment.
``(3) If the President fails to comply with paragraph (1) with regard to the submission of any appointment for the office of United States attorney, paragraph (2) of this subsection shall have no force or effect with regard to any appointment to the office of United States attorney during the remainder of the term of office of that President.''.
SEC. 3. REPEAL OF INTERIM APPOINTMENT AUTHORITY.
Section 546 of title 28, United States Code, is repealed.
amendment no. 460
(Purpose: To require appropriate qualifications for interim United
States attorneys)
On page 2, line 23, strike the quotation marks and the second period and insert the following:
``(e)(1) A district court appointing a United States attorney under subsection (d) shall not appoint a candidate--
``(A) unless that candidate is an employee of the Department of Justice or is a Federal law enforcement officer
(as that term is defined in section 115 of title 18); or
``(B) if the court learns that candidate is under investigation or has been sanctioned by the Department of Justice or another Federal agency.
``(2) Not less than 7 days before making an appointment under subsection (d), a district court shall confidentially inform the Attorney General of identity of the candidate for that appointment.''.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, in view of the agreement just entered, I now ask unanimous consent that the cloture motion be withdrawn.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
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