Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015
Floor Speech
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Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, shortly I will be asking consent to advance certain nominations of the President for confirmation by the Senate. I do that in my capacity as the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. There are seven that I will bring up today, but there are many more waiting for action. Seven represents some of these nominees. There are others waiting for action.
What these seven all have in common--all seven--is that they are well qualified for the position, they have gone through the process in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee--the committee of jurisdiction--they have had hearings, there have been questions asked, the vetting has been done, and they have cleared the committee by unanimous vote. There is no reason to withhold their confirmation when looking at their qualifications for the positions they have been nominated for.
In some cases, these nominees have been waiting as long as 6 months for confirmation on the floor of the Senate. In each of these instances, we are talking about confirming individuals to positions that have importance for our national security and that will be directly involved in protecting our country. Recent events only underscore the importance to have confirmed executive nominees to handle the challenges that are brought before our country.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--EXECUTIVE CALENDAR NO. 375
Let me start by first mentioning Tom Shannon. Tom Shannon has been nominated to be Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs and is the Department's fourth ranking official, responsible for the management of six regional bureaus of the Department as well as the Bureau of International Organization Affairs. This is a tremendously important leadership position on key national security issues.
Among the many issues with which the Under Secretary will contend, we have the implementation of the Iran nuclear deal. This is the person who is responsible within the State Department as its top management, and I think every Member of the Senate wants to see this implementation done in a way that prevents Iran from becoming a nuclear weapons state. This individual also will be monitoring the civil wars raging in Syria, Libya and Yemen, which we know have a major impact on the voids created that allow ISIL to be able to gain footholds. The growing turmoil in Venezuela, the conflict in eastern Ukraine, and the need to ensure the full implementation of the Minsk agreement, as it relates to Ukraine, are all on the plate of the person who holds this position.
Tom Shannon has been nominated and has gone through the process. He has received the full support of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He is a seasoned diplomat. We are fortunate that Ambassador Tom Shannon, a career member of our diplomatic corps who is held in universal respect and esteem by his colleagues, has been nominated to this position. Few diplomats have served our Nation under both Republican and Democratic administrations with as much integrity and ability.
In his current role as Counselor of the Department, he provides the Secretary with his insight and advice on a wide range of issues. He has previously served as Ambassador to Brazil, as Assistant Secretary of State, as Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council, and in challenging posts in Venezuela and South Africa, among others. He has also served as Acting Secretary for Political Affairs. So he already has the experience and the job training in order to accomplish this.
So as I said, there has been no objection raised as far as his qualifications and the need to confirm this appointment.
Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nomination: Calendar No. 375; that the Senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate on the nomination; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
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Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I certainly understand the right of the Senator to object. I would just hope that this could be resolved. It is not about the State Department being put at a disadvantage by not having these confirmed positions; it is the American people. These are security positions for which we have to have representatives, and not only of the State Department. As I go through these nominations, we will be talking about the Legal Adviser at the Department of State, and we will be talking about ambassadors.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--EXECUTIVE CALENDAR NO. 204
Next, Madam President, let me mention Brian Egan to be State Department Legal Adviser. The Legal Adviser is the principal adviser to the Department of State on all legal matters, domestic and international, arising in the context of the work of the Secretary of State and the Department as a whole. The Legal Adviser also advises the President and the National Security Council, as well as other Federal agencies, on all legal matters involving the conduct of foreign relations.
I think we are all familiar with the challenges we have that are raised every day in the Senate--issues raised about whether this is legally acceptable or not. We really should have a confirmed Legal Adviser to the State Department in order to respond to the concerns not only of the Congress but of the American people and our international partners.
Like Ambassador Shannon, Mr. Eagan has also served in both Republican and Democratic administrations. He entered public service in 2005 as a civil servant in the Office of Legal Adviser of the State Department, which was headed at the time by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He has worked in the private sector. He has served as Assistant General Counsel for Enforcement and Intelligence at the Treasury Department. He has served on the National Security Council staff.
His is a nonpartisan, fairminded individual who clearly has the skills and ability to advise our policymakers well and lead the Office of Legal Adviser.
He has been waiting since June for floor action. This is not a matter that just recently came to the floor of the Senate. He has been waiting since June. It has now been 6 months.
Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nomination: Calendar No. 204; that the Senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate on the nomination; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
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Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I next would like to address the nomination of David Robinson to the position of Assistant Secretary of State for Conflict and Stabilization Operations.
The Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations has an important role to play in helping the Department of State to address the multiplying violent conflicts around the world and the rise of violent extremist groups. I don't have to tell this body how many challenges we have globally in conflicts dealing with extremists. This is the key person to deal with this issue. Ambassador Robinson clearly has the background and skills to excel in the position for which he has been nominated. He is a career diplomat. This is a career diplomat. This is a person who at an early age went into service for our country--at great risk, as we know. With over 30 years of experience, he currently serves as the Principal Deputy High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he oversees the implementation of the peace agreement that ended the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He has served both Democratic and Republican administrations far and wide under dangerous and demanding circumstances. He was the Assistant Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. Ambassador Robinson has served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Populations, Refugees, and Migration, and as U.S. Ambassador to Guyana from 2006 to 2008, and as Deputy Chief of Mission in Guyana and Paraguay.
This is a highly qualified individual, a career diplomat who has shown his commitment and dedication to serving our country. The position he has been nominated for is a critically important position at this time in our history.
Therefore, Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations: Calendar Nos. 332 and 333; that the Senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate on the nominations; that if confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
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Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, Azita Raji has been nominated for Ambassador to Sweden and Samuel Heins as Ambassador to Norway. Having representatives on the ground in Scandinavian countries is urgently needed. Both Sweden and Norway are key strategic allies and members of the Arctic Council. Russia's recent military activities in the Arctic and its disputed territorial claims in vast stretches of waters make the presence of a strong American voice in Sweden and Norway essential.
Moreover, nearly 300 Swedish citizens have left to fight in Syria or Iraq, making it the second largest country of origin per capita for foreign fighters in Europe. Put simply, we need representation in Stockholm and Oslo to protect the U.S. strategic interests abroad.
I particularly want to note the close ties and deep friendship the United States and Norway have, symbolized by the 32-foot Christmas tree at Union Station that is annually gifted to the American people by Norway, their gratitude for U.S. assistance during and after World War II.
Norway is a founding member of NATO alliance and has been more than diligent in attending to its obligations. It has contributed personnel to NATO's operations in Afghanistan, Libya, and the Balkans. Its former Prime Minister currently serves as the 13th Secretary General of NATO. Just this year, Norway assumed leadership responsibilities for NATO's air-policing mission over the Baltic States and is participating in a large-scale NATO anti-submarine exercise.
I am also pleased to note that these nominees for these critical positions have incredible backgrounds. Neither were controversial during the consideration by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Azita Raji is an accomplished businesswoman with impressive international credentials. She was the vice president of J.P. Morgan Securities in New York, Tokyo, and Japan. She speaks five languages and has published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Samuel Heins is not only a highly respected lawyer in his home State of Minnesota, but with over 40 years of legal experience he is also a distinguished human rights advocate. He founded Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights. He was a private citizen member of the 2011 U.S. mission to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva and has won human rights awards.
Samuel Heins has been waiting for 200 days. This is not a recent matter. Azita Raji has been waiting almost a year for confirmation. These are people who are ready to serve our country, critical allies.
Mr. President, therefore, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nomination: Calendar No. 148; that the Senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate on the nomination; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
This is the Azita Raji nomination
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Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I wish to address the nomination of Cassandra Butts to the post to be Ambassador to the Bahamas. Cassandra Butts is currently a senior advisor to the CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation in Washington, DC. She is a leading attorney and former Deputy White House Counsel. She is known for her expertise in both domestic and foreign policy, particularly in economic development and migration policy, due to her work on the board of the National Immigration Forum.
I am confident she will apply these essential skills to the task of furthering the bilateral relationships between the Government of the Bahamas, a key U.S. Caribbean partner.
Therefore, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nomination: Calendar No. 127; that the Senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate on the nomination; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
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Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, the nominees I went through unanimous consent requests--all are important to our national security. We are talking about Ambassadors. We are talking about career people whom we depend upon for advice, for handling conflict areas. It is in our national security interests to get these nominees confirmed. They have been held up for as long as a year in some cases.
I understand the right of individual Senators. I urge my colleagues, we have a responsibility to act on these nominations. I urge my colleagues to work with us. I applaud Senator Corker. He has moved these nominations through the committee. For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to work with us so we can get these individuals serving our country. They are public servants and they deserve our consideration.
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Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I would urge my colleagues to vote against this amendment because of how it is paid for. Seniors who have $85,000 of income have to pay a higher Part B premium today. We have indexed that because, as I think Members on both sides of the aisle agree, we believe that brackets should have that type of index so that our seniors are protected from inflationary growth.
The problem with the Coats amendment is that he removes that index through 2025. This is an attack on our seniors. There is no way that we should be paying for this worthwhile extender. I don't disagree with the extender, but I do take exception with paying for it on the backs of our seniors, and I urge my colleagues to reject the amendment.
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