U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued this statement following his vote in opposition to South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley's nomination to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations:
"While I respect Governor Haley's work as Governor of South Carolina, she did not convince me that she understands and embraces the foreign policy principles that the United States has championed over the past seventy years to serve effectively as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. The position of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations requires a high level of expertise on international affairs, not someone who will be learning on the job. Should Governor Haley be confirmed by the full Senate, I look forward to working with her to make the U.N. more effective in advancing American interests and values."