Executive Session

EXECUTIVE SESSION

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NOMINATION OF DONALD DEGABRIELLE, JR.

Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I rise to express my enthusiastic support for Don DeGabrielle, an outstanding attorney and committed public servant who has been nominated by the President to serve as the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas.

The Southern District of Texas is home to Houston, our Nation's fourth largest city. The district extends from Houston to the U.S.-Mexico border, and includes the cities of Brownsville, McAllen, and Laredo--all of which are located on or near the border.

The position for which Don DeGabrielle is nominated has been vacant for some time now. As my colleagues know, the U.S. attorney is each district's chief Federal law enforcement officer. So it is critically important to the Department of Justice and to the people of the Southern District that this vacancy be filled as soon as possible.

Don DeGabrielle is an outstanding selection for this post. He brings extensive and praiseworthy prosecutorial experience. Don DeGabrielle has served the Southern District as an assistant U.S. attorney for the past 20 years--the last 4 as first assistant U.S. attorney. As first assistant, he was responsible for the day-to-day management of the district, supervising an extensive criminal, civil, and appellate docket.

Don DeGabrielle has unimpeachable credentials as a prosecutor. He has tried nearly 200 cases in both State and Federal courts, has been an instructor at the National Advocacy Center, and has provided legal instruction to Federal agents.

Don DeGabrielle's diverse experience includes a stint in 2001 as the Resident Legal Adviser to the Republic of South Africa, where he advised that nation's prosecutors and helped reorganize its Justice Ministry. Prior to his career as a prosecutor, he served as an FBI special agent in New Orleans and New York City.

In short, Don DeGabrielle's unique qualifications make this nomination a superb one. I am confident that he will serve this country with distinction. And I am proud to support his nomination.

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