• Floor Statement on Iraq War De-escalation Act of 2007

• The Time Has Come for Universal Health Care

• Floor Statement on President's Decision to Increase Troops in Iraq

• Race Against Time - World AIDS Day Speech

• A Way Forward in Iraq

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Groundbreaking Ceremony

• Military Commission Legislation

• Floor Statement on the Habeas Corpus Amendment

• Energy Independence: A Call for Leadership

• An Honest Government, A Hopeful Future

• Xavier University Commencement Address

• AFSCME National Convention

• Vote against the Gulf of Mexico Energy Bill

• Support of H.R. 9, the Voting Rights Act

• Statement of Support for Stem Cell Research

• Campus Progress Annual Conference

• “Call to Renewal” Keynote Address

• Iraq Debate

• Northwestern University Commencement Address

• Katrina Reconstruction

• Take Back America

• Network Neutrality

• Federal Marriage Amendment

• University of Massachusetts at Boston Commencement Address

• General Michael Hayden Nomination

• Opposition to the Amendment Requiring a Photo ID to Vote

• Employment Verification Amendment for the Immigration Bill

• Southern Illinois University School of Medicine Commencement Address

• Honoring Our Commitment to Veterans

• EMILY's List Annual Luncheon

• A Real Solution for High Gas Prices

• Immigration Rallies

• Amendment to Stop No-Bid Contracts for Gulf Coast Recovery and Reconstruction

• Updates on Darfur, Immigration, Gas Prices

• Immigration Reform

• Energy Independence and the Safety of Our Planet

• Immigration Reform

• Improving Chemical Plant Security

• 21st Century Schools for a 21st Century Economy

• Meals Amendment

• Debate on Lobbying and Ethics Reform

• Energy Security is National Security - Governor's Ethanol Coalition

• Floor Statement S.2271 - PATRIOT Act Reauthorization

• Darfur: Current Policy Not Enough

• Foreign Relations Committee regarding Lugar-Obama legislation S.1949

• Hurricane Katrina Child Assistance Amendment

• Supreme Court Nomination of Samuel Alito - Podcast

• Confirmation of Judge Samuel Alito, Jr. - Speech

• Lobbying Reform Summit National Press Club

• Meeting on Iraq with President Bush

• Remarks: Honest Leadership and Open Government

• From the Road: Israel and the Palestinian territories

• From the Road: Speaking with American Troops in Iraq

• The PATRIOT Act

• Moving Forward in Iraq - Chicago Council on Foreign Relations

• Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award Ceremony

• National Women's Law Center

• "Sex on TV 4" Report

• Non-Proliferation and Russia: The Challenges Ahead

• Chicago White Sox

• Death of Rosa Parks

• Teaching Our Kids in a 21st Century Economy

• Avian Flu

• Confirmation of Judge John Roberts

• Resources for the Future

• Statement on Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts

• AFL-CIO National Convention

• Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill and the Avian Flu

• American Legion Conference

• Literacy and Education in a 21st-Century Economy

• Pritzker School of Medicine Commencement

• Nomination of Justice Janice Rogers Brown

• Knox College Commencement

• Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery

• America’s Nuclear Non-Proliferation Policy Remarks

• Rockford Register Star Young American Awards

• NAACP Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner

• National Press Club

• SIUC College of Agriculture's 50th Anniversary

• Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

• Amendment for Meals/Phone Service to Wounded Veterans

• The Nuclear Option

• Confirmation Hearing of John Bolton

• Herblock Foundation Annual Lecture

• American Legion Legislative Rally

• CURE Keynote Address

• Remarks of TechNet

• S256, the Bankruptcy Abuse & Prevention Act of 2005

• John Lewis's 65th Birthday Gala

• Keynote Address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention

• 2002 Speech Against the Iraq War

First off, let me congratulate Senators Specter and Leahy for moving yet another confirmation process along with a civility that speaks well of the Senate.

As we all know, there's been a lot of discussion in the country about how the Senate should approach this confirmation process. There are some who believe that the President, having won the election, should have the complete authority to appoint his nominee, and the Senate should only examine whether or not the Justice is intellectually capable and an all-around nice guy. That once you get beyond intellect and personal character, there should be no further question whether the judge should be confirmed.

I disagree with this view. I believe firmly that the Constitution calls for the Senate to advise and consent. I believe that it calls for meaningful advice and consent that includes an examination of a judge's philosophy, ideology, and record. And when I examine the philosophy, ideology, and record of Samuel Alito, I'm deeply troubled.

I have no doubt that Judge Alito has the training and qualifications necessary to serve. He's an intelligent man and an accomplished jurist. And there's no indication he's not a man of great character.

But when you look at his record - when it comes to his understanding of the Constitution, I have found that in almost every case, he consistently sides on behalf of the powerful against the powerless; on behalf of a strong government or corporation against upholding American's individual rights.

If there is a case involving an employer and an employee and the Supreme Court has not given clear direction, he'll rule in favor of the employer. If there's a claim between prosecutors and defendants, if the Supreme Court has not provided a clear rule of decision, then he'll rule in favor of the state. He's rejected countless claims of employer discrimination, even refusing to give some plaintiffs a hearing for their case. He's refused to hold corporations accountable numerous times for dumping toxic chemicals into water supplies, even against the decisions of the EPA. He's overturned a jury verdict that found a company liable for being a monopoly when it had over 90% of the market share at the time.

It's not just his decisions in these individual cases that give me pause - it's that decisions like these are the rule for Samuel Alito, not the exception.

When it comes to how checks and balances in our system are supposed to operate - the balance of power between the Executive Branch, Congress, and the Judiciary, Judge Alito consistently sides with the notion that a President should not be constrained by either Congressional acts or the check of the Judiciary. He believes in the overarching power of the President to engage in whatever the President deems to be appropriate policy. As a consequence of this, I'm extraordinarily worried about how Judge Alito might approach issues like wiretapping, monitoring of emails, or other privacy concerns that we've seen surface over the last several months.

In sum, I've seen an extraordinarily consistent attitude on the part of Judge Alito that does not uphold the traditional role of the Supreme Court as a bastion of equality and justice for United States citizens.

Should he be confirmed, I hope that he proves me wrong. I hope that he shows the independence that I think is absolutely necessary in order for us to preserve our liberties and protect our citizens.