[Senate Prints 114-33]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
114th Congress } { S. Prt.
COMMITTEE PRINT
2d Session } { 114-33
_______________________________________________________________________
BUSINESS MEETINGS
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
UNITED STATES SENATE
One Hundred Fourteenth Congress
Second Session
January 4, 2016 to January 3, 2017
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
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COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
One Hundred Fourteenth Congress
BOB CORKER, TENNESSEE, Chairman
JAMES E. RISCH, Idaho BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland
MARCO RUBIO, Florida BARBARA BOXER, California
RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey
JEFF FLAKE, Arizona JEANNE SHAHEEN, New Hampshire
CORY GARDNER, Colorado CHRISTOPHER A. COONS, Delaware
DAVID PERDUE, Georgia TOM UDALL, New Mexico
JOHNNY ISAKSON, Georgia CHRISTOPHER MURPHY, Connecticut
RAND PAUL, Kentucky TIM KAINE, Virginia
JOHN BARRASSO, Wyoming EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts
Todd Womack, Staff Director
Chris Lynch, Democratic Staff Director
Rob Strayer, Majority Chief Counsel
Margaret Taylor, Minority Chief Counsel
John Dutton, Chief Clerk
(ii)
C O N T E N T S
Information on the items on the agenda for each meeting can be found
in the Chairman's and the Ranking Member's opening remarks
----------
Thursday, January 28, 2016
https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/business-meeting-012816
legislation
H.R. 757, North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2015, with an
amendment--Approved by voice vote.............................. 11
H.R. 1493, Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property
Act, with an amendment--Approved by voice vote................. 9
S. 1882, Nepal Recovery Act, with an amendment--Approved by voice
vote........................................................... 9
S. 2426, To direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy
to obtain observer status for Taiwan in the International
Criminal Police Organization, and for other purposes--Approved
by voice vote.................................................. 8
S. Res. 347, Honoring the memory and legacy of Anita Ashok Datar
and condemning the terrorist attack in Bamako, Mali, on
November 20, 2015--Approved by voice vote...................... 8
A discussion of legislation granting the President authorization
to use military force in Syria................................. 18
nominations
Ms. Laura S. H. Holgate, of Virginia, to be the Representative of
the United States of America to the International Atomic Energy
Agency, with the rank of Ambassador and to be Representative of
the United States of America to the Vienna Office of the United
Nations, with the rank of Ambassador--Approved, en bloc, by
voice vote (Senators Rubio and Barrasso recorded as no votes).. 7
Hon. Scot Alan Marciel, of California, a Career Member of the
Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister, to be
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
States of America to the Union of Burma--Approved, en bloc, by
voice vote..................................................... 7
foreign service lists
Christopher Alexander, et al., dated September 10, 2015 (PN
830)--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote......................... 6
Christopher Nairn Steel, dated June 10, 2015, as modified (PN
573-02)--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote...................... 6
Virginia Lynn Bennett, et al., dated January 19, 2016 (PN 1085)--
Approved, en bloc, by voice vote............................... 6
----------
(iii)
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/business-meeting-0210216
legislation
S. Res. 99, A resolution calling on the Government of Iran to
fulfill its promises of assistance in the case of Robert
Levinson, the longest held United States civilian in our
Nation's history, with amendments--Approved, en bloc, by voice
vote........................................................... 27
S. Res. 361, A resolution urging robust funding for humanitarian
relief for Syria, with an amendment--Approved, en bloc, by
voice vote..................................................... 27
S. Res. 330, A resolution congratulating the Tunisian National
Dialogue Quartet for winning the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize--
Approved, en bloc, by voice vote............................... 26
----------
Thursday, March 10, 2016
https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/business-meeting-031016
legislation
S. 1252, Global Food Security Act of 2015, with an amendment--
Approved, en bloc, by voice vote............................... 46
S. Res 375, A resolution raising awareness of modern slavery--
Approved, en bloc, by voice vote--Approved, en bloc, by voice
vote........................................................... 46
S Res. 368, A resolution supporting efforts by the Government of
Colombia to pursue peace and the end of the country's enduring
internal armed conflict and recognizing United States support
for Colombia at the 15th anniversary of Plan Colombia--
Approved, en bloc, by voice vote............................... 46
S. Res. 388, A resolution supporting the goals of International
Women's Day, with an amendment--Approved by voice vote......... 43
S. Res.392, A resolution that expresses profound concern over the
prosecution and conviction of former President Mohamed Nasheed
without due process and urges the Government of the Maldives to
take all necessary steps to redress this injustice, release all
political prisoners, and to ensure due process and freedom from
political prosecution for all the people of the Maldives--
Approved, en bloc, by voice vote............................... 46
S. Res. 378, A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate
regarding the courageous work and life of Russian opposition
leader Boris Yefimovich Nemtsov and renewing the call for a
full and transparent investigation into the tragic murder of
Boris Yefimovich Nemtsov in Moscow on February 27, 2015--
Approved, en bloc, by voice vote............................... 46
S. Res. 383, A resolution recognizing the importance of the
United States-Israel economic relationship and encouraging new
areas of cooperation--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote......... 46
nominations
Hon. Catherine Ann Novelli, of Virginia, to be United States
Alternate Governor of the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (Approved, en bloc, by voice vote)................. 34
Hon. Karen Brevard Stewart, of Florida, a Career Member of the
Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
States of America to the Republic of the Marshall Islands
(Approved, en bloc, by voice vote)............................. 34
Mr. Amos J. Hochstein, of the District of Columbia, to be an
Assistant Secretary of State (Energy Resources)--Approved by
roll call vote, 11 ayes and 7 noes............................. 40
Mr. Robert Annan Riley III, of Florida, a Career Member of the
Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
States of America to the Federated States of Micronesia--
Approved, en bloc, by voice vote............................... 34
Mr. Matthew John Matthews, of Oregon, a Career Member of the
Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, for the
rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as United
States Senior Official for the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) Forum--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote..... 34
Ms. Marcela Escobari, of Massachusetts, to be an Assistant
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote.................. 34
foreign service lists
Cheryl L. Anderson, et al., dated 11/19/15 (PN 952)--Approved, en
bloc, by voice vote............................................ 33
Jennifer M. Adams, et al., dated 2/10/16 (PN 953)--Approved, en
bloc, by voice vote............................................ 33
Daryl Arthur Brehm, et al., dated January 19, 2016 (PN 1086)--
Approved, en bloc, by voice vote............................... 33
Holly S. Higgins, et al., dated January 19, 2016 (PN 1089)--
Approved, en bloc, by voice vote............................... 33
Eric Del Valle, et al., dated May 07, 2015 (PN 464)----Approved,
en bloc, by voice vote......................................... 33
John McCaslin, dated February 22, 2016 (PN 1156)--Approved, en
bloc, by voice vote............................................ 33
Laurie Farris, et al., dated February 22, 2016 (PN 1157)----
Approved, en bloc, by voice vote............................... 33
Scott Hocklander, et al., dated January 19, 2016 (PN 1087)----
Approved, en bloc, by voice vote............................... 33
----------
Thursday, April 28, 2016
https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/business-meeting-042816
legislation
S. 371, Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2017,
with amendments................................................ 59
Manager's amendment--Approved by voice vote.................. 60
Paul amendment No. 1--Defeated by roll call vote: Yeas 2, No
votes 17................................................... 65
The bill, S. 371, as amended--Approved by voice vote......... 71
H.R. 2494, Global Anti-Poaching Act, with an amendment--Approved
by voice vote.................................................. 58
S. 2845, A bill to extend the termination of sanctions with
respect to Venezuela under the Venezuela Defense of Human
Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014, with an amendment--
Approved by voice vote......................................... 58
S. Res. 442, A resolution condemning the terrorist attacks in
Brussels and honoring the memory of the Americans murdered in
those attacks, offering thoughts and prayers for all the
victims, condolences to their families, resolve to support the
Belgian people, and the pledge to defend democracy and stand in
solidarity with the country of Belgium and all our allies in
the face of continuing terrorist attacks on freedom and
liberty--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote...................... 57
S. Res. 340, A resolution expressing the sense of Congress that
the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS or
Da'esh) is committing genocide, crimes against humanity, and
war crimes, and calling upon the President to work with foreign
governments and the United Nations to provide physical
protection for ISIS' targets, to support the creation of an
international criminal tribunal with jurisdiction to punish
these crimes, and to use every reasonable means, including
sanctions, to destroy ISIS and disrupt its support networks,
with amendments--Approved by voice vote........................ 56
S. Res. 418, A resolution recognizing Hafsat Abiola, Khanim
Latif, Yoani S nchez, and Akanksha Hazari for their
selflessness and dedication to their respective causes, and for
other purposes--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote............... 57
S. Res. 394, A resolution recognizing the 195th anniversary of
the independence of Greece and celebrating democracy in Greece
and the United States--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote........ 57
S. Res. 436, A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of
World Malaria Day, with an amendment--Approved by voice vote... 57
S. Res. 381, A resolution honoring the memory and legacy of
Michael James Riddering and condemning the terrorist attacks in
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso on January 15, 2016--Approved, en
bloc, by voice vote............................................ 57
nominees
Ms. Swati A. Dandekar, of Iowa, to be United States Director of
the Asian Development Bank, with the rank of Ambassador........
Ms. Christine Ann Elder, of Kentucky, a Career Member of the
Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of
America to the Republic of Liberia.............................
Ms. Kelly Keiderling-Franz, of Virginia, a Career Member of the
Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
States of America to the Oriental Republic of Uruguay..........
Ms. Elizabeth Holzhall Richard, of Virginia, a Career Member of
the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
States of America to the Lebanese Republic.....................
Mr. Stephen Michael Schwartz, of Maryland, a Career Member of the
Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of
America to the Federal Republic of Somalia.....................
Mr. Adam H. Sterling, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior
Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of
America to the Slovak Republic.................................
Mr. R. David Harden, of Maryland, to be an Assistant
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development....................................................
foreign service lists
David Elliott Horton III, et al., dated February 26, 2015 (PN
230-02), as amended--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote.......... 55
Antonio J. Arroyave, dated January 19, 2016 (PN 1088)--Approved,
en bloc, by voice vote......................................... 55
Rian Harker Harris, et al., dated March 15, 2016 (PN 1256)--
Approved, en bloc, by voice vote............................... 55
Melinda L. Crowley, et al., dated March 15, 2016 (PN 1257)--
Approved, en bloc, by voice vote............................... 55
Nathan Seifert, et al., dated April 14, 2016 (PN 1371)--Approved,
en bloc, by voice vote......................................... 55
----------
Thursday, May 19, 2016
https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/business-meeting-051916p
legislation
S.2942, Extension of certain privileges and immunities to the
Gulf Cooperation Council--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote..... 74
S. Res. 469, Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 1916
Easter Rising, a seminal moment in the journey of Ireland to
independence--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote................. 74
foreign service list
Mariano J. Beillard, et al., dated April 14, 2016 (PN 1370)--
Approved, en bloc, by voice vote............................... 74
----------
Thursday, June 23, 2016
https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/business-meeting-062316
legislation
S. 2201, Global Gateways Trade Capacity Act of 2015, with an
amendment--Approved, as amended, by voice vote................. 87
S. 1605, M-CORE Act, with an amendment--Approved, as amended, by
voice vote..................................................... 90
S. Res. 432, A resolution supporting respect for human rights and
encouraging inclusive governance in Ethiopia--Approved, en
bloc, by voice vote............................................ 86
S. Res. 482, A resolution urging the European Union to designate
Hizballah in its entirety as a terrorist organization and to
increase pressure on the organization and its members to the
fullest extent possible--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote...... 86
S. Res. 506, A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate in
support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the NATO
summit to be held in Warsaw, Poland from July 8-9, 2016, and in
support of committing NATO to a security posture capable of
deterring threats to the Alliance, with amendments--Approved by
voice vote..................................................... 84
S. Res. 505, A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate
regarding compliance enforcement of Russian violations of the
Open Skies Treaty--Approved by voice vote...................... 85
S. Res. 503, A resolution recognizing June 20, 2016 as ``World
Refugee Day''--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote................ 86
S. Con. Res. 41, A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of
Congress on the Peshmerga of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, with
an amendment--Held over until the next business meeting........ 79
S. Res. 501, resolution to express the sense of Congress on
Russian military aggression--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote.. 86
S. Con. Res. 38, A concurrent resolution reaffirming the Taiwan
Relations Act and the Six Assurances as cornerstones of United
States-Taiwan relations--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote...... 86
S. Res. 504, A resolution recognizing the 70th anniversary of the
Fulbright Program--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote............ 86
treaties
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and
Agriculture, adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations on November 3, 2001, and signed by the
United States of America on November 1, 2002 (Treaty Doc. 110-
19)--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote.......................... 84
Convention on the Law Applicable to Certain Rights in Respect of
Securities Held with an Intermediary, done at The Hague on July
5, 2006, and signed by the United States on that same day
(Treaty Doc. 112-6)--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote.......... 84
Extradition treaty between the Government of the United States of
America and the Government of the Dominican Republic, signed at
Santo Domingo on January 12, 2015 (Treaty Doc. 114-10)--
Approved, en bloc, by voice vote............................... 84
Extradition Treaty between the United States of America and the
Government of the Republic of Chile, signed at Washington on
June 5, 2013 (Treaty Doc. 113-6)--Approved, en bloc, by voice
vote........................................................... 84
Treaty between the United States of America and the Republic of
Kazakhstan on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters,
signed at Washington on February 20, 2015 (Treaty Doc. 114-
11)--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote.......................... 84
Treaty between the Government of the United States of America and
the Government of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, signed at
Algiers on April 7, 2010 (Treaty Doc. 114-3)--Approved, en
bloc, by voice vote............................................ 84
Treaty between the Government of the United States of America and
the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on Mutual
Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, signed at Washington on
October 1, 2013 (Treaty Doc. 114-4)--Approved, en bloc, by
voice vote..................................................... 84
nominees
Hon. Geeta Pasi, of New York, a Career Member of the Senior
Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of
America to the Republic of Chad--Approved, en bloc, by voice
vote........................................................... 84
Hon. Mary Beth Leonard, of Massachusetts, to be Representative of
the United States of America to the African Union, with the
rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote.............. 84
Ms. Anne S. Casper, of Nevada, a Career Member of the Senior
Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of
America to the Republic of Burundi--Approved, en bloc, by voice
vote........................................................... 84
foreign service lists
Jocelyn N. Adams, et al., dated May 19, 2016 (PN 1495)--Approved,
en bloc, by voice vote......................................... 83
Amanda R. Ahlers, et al., dated May 18, 2016 (PN 1486)--Approved,
en bloc, by voice vote......................................... 83
Emily Scott, dated April 28, 2016 (PN 1419)--Approved, en bloc,
by voice vote.................................................. 83
Richard Gustave Olson, Jr., dated November 19, 2015 (PN951-02)--
Approved, en bloc, by voice vote............................... 83
----------
Thursday, July 14, 2016
https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/business-meeting-071416
legislation
S. Res. 515, A resolution welcoming Prime Minister Lee Hsien-
Loong to the United States and reaffirming Singapore's
strategic partnership with the United States, encompassing
broad and robust economic, military-to-military, law
enforcement, and counterterrorism cooperation--Approved, en
bloc, by voice vote............................................ 100
S. Con. Res. 41, A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of
Congress on the Peshmerga of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, with
an amendment--Approved by voice vote...........................
S. Con. Res. 42, A concurrent resolution to express the sense of
Congress regarding the safe and expeditious resettlement to
Albania of all residents of Camp Liberty--Approved, en bloc, by
voice vote..................................................... 100
S. Con. Res. 46, A concurrent resolution expressing support of
the goal of ensuring that all Holocaust victims live with
dignity, comfort, and security in their remaining years, with
amendments--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote................... 100
S. Res. 524, A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate on
the conflict in Yemen--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote........ 100
S. Res. 485, A resolution to encourage the Government of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo to abide by constitutional
provisions regarding the holding of presidential elections in
2016, with the aim of ensuring a peaceful and orderly
democratic transition of power, with amendments--Approved by
voice vote..................................................... 97
nominees
Hon. Marie L. Yovanovitch, of Connecticut, a Career Member of the
Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
States of America to Ukraine--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote. 95
Hon. Geoffrey R. Pyatt, of California, a Career Member of the
Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
States of America to Greece--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote.. 95
Ms. Anne Hall, of Maine, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign
Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of
America to the Republic of Lithuania--Approved, en bloc, by
voice vote..................................................... 95
Hon. Douglas Alan Silliman, of Texas, a Career Member of the
Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
States of America to the Republic of Iraq--Approved, en bloc,
by voice vote.................................................. 95
Hon. Peter Michael McKinley, of Virginia, a Career Member of the
Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
States of America to the Federative Republic of Brazil--
Approved, en bloc, by voice vote............................... 95
Mr. Lawrence Robert Silverman, of Massachusetts, a Career Member
of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to
be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
States of America to the State of Kuwait--Approved, en bloc, by
voice vote..................................................... 95
Ms. Carol Z. Perez, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior
Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of
America to the Republic of Chile--Approved, en bloc, by voice
vote........................................................... 95
Mr. Mark Sobel, of Virginia, to be United States Executive
Director of the International Monetary Fund for a term of two
years--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote (Senators Rubio,
Perdue, and Barrasso were recorded as no votes)................ 95
----------
Tuesday, September 27, 2017
https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/business-meeting-092216
nominees
Senator Christopher Coons, of Delaware, to be Representative of
the United States of America to the Seventy-first Session of
the General Assembly of the United Nations--Approved, en bloc,
by voice vote.................................................. 104
Senator Ronald H. Johnson, of Wisconsin, to be Representative of
the United States of America to the Seventy-first Session of
the General Assembly of the United Nations--Approved, en bloc,
by voice vote.................................................. 104
The Honorable Sung Y. Kim, of California, a Career Member of the
Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
States of America to the Republic of the Philippines--Approved,
en bloc, by voice vote......................................... 104
Ms. Rena Bitter, of Texas, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign
Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of
America to the Lao People's Democratic Republic--Approved, en
bloc, by voice vote............................................ 104
Ms. Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir, of Connecticut, a Career Member of
the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
States of America to Malaysia--Held over until the committee's
next business meeting.......................................... 103
The Honorable W. Stuart Symington, of Missouri, a Career Member
of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to
be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
States of America to the Federal Republic of Nigeria--Approved,
en bloc, by voice vote......................................... 104
Mr. Andrew Robert Young, of California, a Career Member of the
Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of
America to Burkina Faso--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote...... 104
Mr. Joseph R. Donovan Jr., of Virginia, a Career Member of the
Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
States of America to the Republic of Indonesia--Approved, en
bloc, by voice vote............................................ 104
foreign service lists
Jorge A. Abudei, et al., dated September 6, 2016 (PN 1704), as
amended--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote......................
John Robert Adams, et al., dated September 6, 2016 (PN 1705)--
Approved, en bloc, by voice vote...............................
Jennisa Paredes, et al., dated July 13, 2016 (PN 1643), as
amended--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote......................
Diana Isabel Acosta, et al., dated July 13, 2016 (PN 1642), as
amended--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote......................
----------
Tuesday, December 6, 2017
https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/business-meeting-120616
legislation
H.R. 1150, Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act,
with a substitute amendment--Approved by voice vote............ 119
H.R. 2845, AGOA Enhancement Act of 2015, with an amendment--
Approved by voice vote......................................... 118
H.R. 4481, Education for All Act of 2016, with a substitute
amendment--Approved by voice vote.............................. 117
H.R. 4939, United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of
2016, with a substitute amendment--Approved by voice vote...... 116
S. Res. 537, A resolution expressing profound concern about the
ongoing political, economic, social and humanitarian crisis in
Venezuela, urging the release of political prisoners, and
calling for respect of constitutional and democratic processes,
with substitute amendments--Approved by voice vote............. 111
S. Res. 535, A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate
regarding the trafficking of illicit fentanyl into the United
States from Mexico and China, with substitute amendments--
Approved by voice vote......................................... 112
S. 8, To provide for the approval of the Agreement for
Cooperation Between the Government of the United States of
America and the Government of the Kingdom of Norway Concerning
Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy--Approved by voice vote........ 115
S. Con. Res. 57, A concurrent resolution honoring in praise and
remembrance the extraordinary life, steady leadership, and
remarkable, 70-year reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of
Thailand--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote..................... 114
S. Con. Res. 30, A concurrent resolution expressing concern over
the disappearance of David Sneddon, and for other purposes--
Approved, en bloc, by voice vote............................... 114
H. Con. Res. 40, A concurrent resolution encouraging reunions of
divided Korean American families--Approved, en bloc, by voice
vote........................................................... 114
treaty
Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on the Accession of
Montenegro, which was opened for signature in Brussels on May
19, 2016, and signed on behalf of the United States of America
(Treaty Doc. 114-12)--Approved by voice vote................... 110
nominee
Ms. Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir, of Connecticut, a Career Member of
the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United
States of America to Malaysia--Approved by voice vote.......... 110
foreign service lists
Stephen Mull, et al., dated November 29, 2016, (PN 1907)--
Approved, en bloc, by voice vote............................... 110
Robert L. Adams, et al., dated November 29, 2016 (PN 1908)--
Approved, en bloc, by voice vote............................... 110
Robert Beecroft, et al., dated November 29, 2016 (PN 1909)--
Approved, en bloc, by voice vote............................... 110
Trista Allen, et al., dated November 29, 2016 (PN 1910)--
Approved, en bloc, by voice vote............................... 110
Anthony Abba, et al., dated November 29, 2016 (PN 1911)--
Approved, en bloc, by voice vote............................... 110
Marva Michelle Butler, et al., dated November 15, 2016 (PN
1808)--Approved, en bloc, by voice vote........................ 110
----------
BUSINESS MEETING
----------
THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016
https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/business-meeting-012816
U.S. Senate,
Committee on Foreign Relations,
Washington, DC.
The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:06 a.m. in
Room S-116, The Capitol, Hon. Bob Corker, chairman of the
committee, presiding.
Present: Senators Corker [presiding], Risch, Johnson,
Flake, Gardner, Perdue, Barrasso, Cardin, Menendez, Udall,
Murphy, Kaine, and Markey.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. BOB CORKER,
U.S. SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE
The Chairman. I am going to go ahead and call the meeting
to order.
I was just telling Senator Cardin I think we have had an
incredibly productive period of time, and I am really glad to
see the subcommittees working in the way that they should. We
have a very substantial piece of legislation that we will talk
about later that has come out of that process. So I appreciate
the way all of our staff members and many committee members
have worked together. And I am look forward to a very
successful meeting.
I do want to welcome Charlotte here, Chris' daughter
observing how the Senate functions. Chris Lynch has been chief
of staff to Senator Cardin.
And when Senator Shaheen gets here, we will wish her a
happy birthday. I do not know how happy they are at our age.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. On the agenda today, we have five pieces of
legislation, two nominations, and three promotions on the
Foreign Service list. We will consider the nominations for the
Ambassador to Burma; the Representative of the U.S. to the
IAEA, to the Vienna office of the U.N., with rank of
Ambassador; as well as multiple Foreign Service lists.
I want to thank my colleagues, as I just did, for helping
the committee work through nominees and these lists in an
appropriate fashion.
We will also consider S. Res. 347, a resolution honoring
the memory and legacy of Anita Ashok Datar and condemning the
terrorist attack in Bamako, Mali on November 20th, 2015. I
would like to thank Senator Booker for drafting and introducing
this resolution and the many cosponsors, including Ranking
Member Cardin. Ms. Datar was a committed and professional
development expert and had devoted her career to serving
others. We all mourn her loss and the opportunity and
enthusiasm she brought to bear against the scourge of poverty.
Also on the agenda today is S. 2426, a bill that would
direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to obtain
observer status for Taiwan in the International Criminal Police
Organization, and for other purposes. We thank Senator Gardner
and Senator Cardin for bringing this bipartisan bill to the
committee to help provide Taiwan with the observer status at
INTERPOL as an important step towards ensuring that Taiwan can
be a productive participant in the international system and can
reap the benefits of increased safety and security that
INTERPOL membership helps provide. Taiwan is an important and
active ally of ours in the fight against human trafficking, and
supporting membership in INTERPOL will empower Taipei to
continue playing a valuable role in the effort to end modern
slavery across the globe.
The third piece of legislation we will consider is S. 1882,
the Nepal Recovery Act. I would like to thank Senator Cardin,
along with Senator Kirk, for their efforts through this
legislation to highlight the recovery and reconstruction needs
of Nepal following the devastating earthquake last spring. This
legislation represents the best of our bipartisan tradition in
this committee and truly goes to the heart of our authorizing
and oversight responsibilities. Members of our staff traveled
to Nepal earlier this month to assess the earthquake damage,
and witnessed firsthand the potency of U.S. assistance. I am
pleased that we were able to support this legislation.
Next on the agenda is H.R. 1493, the Protect and Preserve
International Cultural Property Act. This bill is designed to
deny ISIS any funding stream from the sale of looted antiquites
by establishing more effective U.S. import restrictions on
looted property. There is widespread concern that ISIS may be
trafficking in such antiquities. I think everyone is aware of
that. This response to the problem has been a long time coming,
and I appreciate everybody's perseverance.
The legislation is also designed to protect and preserve
the cultural heritage of the Syrian people for a time when they
finally have a responsible and democratically elected
government.
I want to thank Senator Cardin, Senator Perdue, Senator
Casey, Senator Grassley, and our House colleagues, Chairman
Royce and the sponsor of the bill, Representative Engel for
working with us to create a manager's amendment we will
consider today. This again is I think a breakthrough of
bipartisanship. I also know this is something that
Representative Engel has really pushed for. I know his chairman
worked with him, as with us, to make this happen. I know this
legislation is particularly important for Senator Perdue. We
are glad that today we are going to be able approve it, I hope
by voice vote.
Lastly, we will consider H.R. 757, the North Korea
Sanctions and Enforcement Act of 2015. I would like to thank
Senators Gardner and Menendez for their efforts to focus
attention on the threat posed by North Korea and their
unwillingness to work with Senator Cardin and myself to develop
a bipartisan Senate bill. There has been a lot of attention on
North Korea in the weeks following North Korea's fourth nuclear
test, but Senators Gardner and Menendez demonstrated leadership
on North Korea long before those recent events. So thank you
both.
Thanks to their hard work and preparation, this committee
was well prepared to take immediate action in response to North
Korea's most recent provocation. The product of that leadership
is the bipartisan bill before the committee today. I am
heartened that this bill will set a precedent and put in place
strong mandatory sanctions, and that it will establish for the
first time a statutory framework for sanctions in response to
North Korea's cyber threats.
I am also pleased that this bill goes beyond sanctions. In
addition, it establishes a more robust policy framework,
including tools to improve enforcement. It also shines a
brighter spotlight on North Korea's abhorrent human rights
record such as their forced labor practices. We know all too
well that in past decades, the United States' North Korea
policy--under both Republican and Democratic administrations--
has been an abject failure there. And while there is no silver
bullet solution, it is clear that Congress must play a more
proactive role in providing more robust policy tools to the
executive branch to confront the threat.
I want to thank Senator Cardin and his staff for working
with our team on this important bipartisan legislation, for the
constructive contributions and discussions we have had with
Senators Shaheen, Markey, and Flake, and for all their
contributions to producing the manager's amendment we will
consider this morning. This was truly an all-hands-on-deck
bipartisan committee effort to ensure a piece of legislation of
which this committee can be proud of today.
And before I recognize Senator Cardin, I want to recognize
Carolyn Leddy on our staff who has spent an incredible amount
of time in the region, has been raising the alarm bells about
North Korea for some time, and I want to thank you her for her
diligence, and also to Frank Polly. I want to thank them, and
all of the others here who worked on this bill, for their
assistance in putting this together.
So with that, Senator Cardin, I look forward to your
comments. Thank you for the tremendous work that you and your
staff did to putting this legislation before us today. Thank
you very much.
STATEMENT OF HON. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN,
U.S. SENATOR FROM MARYLAND
Senator Cardin. Mr. Chairman, thank you.
This is a very important business meeting. We have five
important legislative actions to take in the business meeting.
We have two very important nominations, plus a Foreign Service
officer list for committee consideration.
You went through a long list thanking members of our
committee and other members of the United States Senate, and I
join you in that. But at the end, you mentioned something that
I think our committee needs to underscore and that is the way
in which, through your leadership and the staffs of both the
majority and minority have worked together so that we can speak
with a united voice. And that is when the United States is its
strongest on foreign policy issues, when we can speak as a
united voice.
And on North Korea, I just might point out we are not only
going to speak as a united voice, we are going to be able to
bring the House and the Senate together, Democrats and
Republicans, the administration and Congress to make it clear
we will not tolerate the type of activities that are taking
place in North Korea. And it is true with all the bills that
have come forward.
And I know that we sometimes go through these business
meetings very quickly and that is good. I am not complaining. I
am not trying to keep people here for a long time. But the
amount of work that went into this meeting was hours and hours
of discussions to make sure we got it right. And I just really
want to thank you for your leadership and the professionalism
with which you have led this committee and all of our staffs
who have been able to harmonize some very difficult issues so
that we could have a relatively brief business meeting today on
a very important agenda.
Let me first start with the North Korea bill. I want to
thank Senator Gardner and Senator Menendez. Their leadership on
this, as you pointed out, was critically important. It sends a
strong message to North Korea of the unity that we have been
able to display. It is the correct response to North Korea's
recent nuclear test that violated international commitments. It
responds to the cyber hack we saw for Sony and North Korea's
activities in the cyber area and their severe human rights
abuses. They could be the worst country in the world on human
rights issues, the way that they are starving their own people
and the way that they torture their own people.
I want to make one thing clear on this legislation. This is
not a bill aimed against the people of North Korea. In fact, it
is a bill aimed to help the people of North Korea. Their
government uses the resources of their country in nefarious
activities rather than taking care of the needs of their own
people, and I think this bill underscores the importance of
respect for the people of North Korea.
The sanctions are directed against specific entities that
violate U.S. law and United Nations Security Council
resolutions. Let me just give you one example of how this bill
will help in dealing with taking action against North Korea.
Tough sanctions have worked with North Korea when they were
applied in the past. In 2005, the U.S. designated Banco Delta
Asia, BDA, as a money laundering concern for facilitating North
Korea's illicit activities and banned all U.S. financial
institutions from dealing with the Macao bank. North Korea was
shunned by the international financial system due to the
cumulative effects of the action. Two dozen financial
institutions, including Chinese ones, voluntary cut back or
terminated their business with North Korea. Both North Korea
and China moderated their positions because of sanctions we
imposed. But over time, we have seen an erosion of that.
The bill that is before us will take corrective actions to
limit North Korea's ability to conduct financial transactions.
The bill we have strengthens the House bill. It strengthens
it by including requirements for the administration to take
investigative actions. It strengthens it in regards to North
Korea's illegal cyber activities and strengthens it in regard
to taking action against North Korea's human rights violations.
It recognizes the appropriate role between Congress and the
administration and creates the policy environment where the
global community can join us, with U.S. leadership, against
North Korea.
The second bill let me just talk about briefly, is Nepal. I
am pleased that Senator Kirk and I have worked together on this
bipartisan bill. We are joined by Senators Markey, Feinstein,
Gillibrand, and others.There were two devastating earthquakes
last year in Nepal. 9,000 people killed, 26,000 injured,
800,000 people's homes were destroyed, $5 billion in damage to
a country where $5 billion is their lifeblood of their economy.
So this is an appropriate response for the United States to
provide assistance, plus accountability, and to work with the
international community with U.S. leadership to respond to an
international humanitarian crisis. So I am pleased this bill is
on our markup, and I thank you for that.
You also mentioned Senator Engel's bill in regards to the
Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property. You are
absolutely correct. This bill is very much targeted at what is
happening in Syria where we are not only seeing their
antiquities being destroyed, which is part of their culture and
their history and future, but they're also being illicitly
trafficked by the ISIL forces for financing of their terrorist
activities. And this bill has the right response to take action
against them.
On the Taiwan INTERPOL bill, I want to thank my chairman,
Senator Gardner, on the subcommittee that I am the ranking
member of for his work on recognizing that Taiwan is a
critically important strategic partner of the United States
both economically and for national security and makes common
sense that they have observer status in INTERPOL, and the U.S.
should be working in that direction. And this bill passed, by
the way, the House of Representatives by a 392 to 0 vote. So it
is a bill I hope we can move quickly.
You mentioned the resolution for Anita Datar. Let me point
out that she was a loving mother, daughter, and sister, and
lived in Takoma Park, Maryland. So people in Maryland have
particular reason to mourn her loss. She was a humanitarian
serving as the senior director of a field program for a USAID
contractor in Mali. She was one of 19 victims that were killed
in the terrorist attack on November 20th, 2015 at the Radisson
Hotel in Mali. So it is appropriate that this resolution be
passed. And I thank Senator Booker for his leadership on that.
And then lastly, Senator Corker, thank you again for
expediting our nominations. You have done an incredibly
effective job in moving nominations through our committee, and
I say that every time I can. I only wish that this was copied
by the actions on the floor of the United States Senate. And I
just need to point out that there are vacancies that have gone
on for years because of the inaction on the floor of the United
States Senate where the majority has allowed one Senator in
many cases to block floor consideration of critically important
nominations. That has got to end. It is not just our committee
that is moving nominations. There are other committees that
have acted in a timely way and those nominations are not being
taken up on the floor either. And I know that you have been
fighting. I have been with you when you have talked to
individual Senators to try to get them moving. I thank you for
that. Your leadership has been very much recognized.
And I thank you for including the two nominations today and
the Foreign Service list. But I can tell you we are going to
continue to raise these issues on the floor of the United
States Senate.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you.
I know many of you want to speak to the various individual
pieces of legislation. If we could maybe do that when we
address those each in turn, that would be great. So what I
would like to do is first consider the three Foreign Service
list confirmations. I support the appointments and promotions,
and we would like to thank these officers for their service.
Senator Cardin, do you have any comments?
Senator Cardin. No, thank you.
The Chairman. Is there any member who wishes to be
recognized to speak regarding the Foreign Service list? [No
response.]
Senator Cardin. I move them.
The Chairman. If there is no further discussion on these,
I would entertain a motion to approve them en bloc, as
modified, by voice vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Kaine. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the three Foreign
Service list en bloc. All those in favor, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
appointments and promotions are agreed to.
I would now like to ask the committee to pursue en bloc by
voice vote in consideration of the two nominations before the
committee, Ms. Laura Holgate to be the Representative for the
U.S. to the IAEA, with the rank of Ambassador, and to be
Representative of the U.S. in the Vienna Office of the U.N.,
with the rank of Ambassador; and the Honorable Scot Alan
Marciel to be Ambassador to Burma. I want to thank these
nominees for their willingness to serve in these positions.
Senator Cardin, do you have any comments on these nominees?
Senator Cardin. No.
The Chairman. Is there any other member who wishes to
speak at this time? Senator Gardner?
Senator Gardner. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to
say a few words about the Marciel nomination and United States
policy for Burma.
Burma held historic elections last November. It is
currently in the midst of a very sensitive political transition
period between the military and democratic rule. With the new
parliament due to be formed in April, U.S. policies need to
help that transition. The United States still maintains a
limited set of sanctions on Burma, sanctions many believe have
helped to incentivize the democratic transition in that
country.
On December 1, Mr. Marciel testified before this committee
that he does not foresee any planned changes in the U.S.
sanctions policy. I received those assurances in private as
well. Yet, on December 7th, the Treasury Department, in
consultation with the State Department, announced they will be
relaxing some of the sanctions on Burma. I consider this
extremely regretful.
But coming from the State Department, from the lack of
transparency--and I have subsequently sought and received
written assurances from the State Department that U.S.
sanctions policy toward Burma has not changed and that Congress
will be fully consulted in the future regarding any change.
With that, I intend to support Mr. Marciel.
The Chairman. Okay. I know that Senator Rubio would like
to be recorded no for the nomination of Laura Holgate.
If there is no further discussion on these nominations, I
would entertain a motion.
Senator Barrasso. I would also like to be recorded as no.
The Chairman. Okay. Senator Barrasso, a no. Anyone else?
Senator Risch would also like to be recorded as no, and we will
do that.
If there is no further discussion on these nominations, I
would entertain a motion to approve them by voice vote en bloc.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
Senator Menendez. Second.
The Chairman. Seconded, Menendez.
The question is on the motion to approve the nominations.
All those in favor, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. All opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The nominations
are recommended to the full Senate.
Senator Cardin. Mr. Chairman, so I understand, the
negatives were in regard to Holgate, not Marciel.
The Chairman. That is correct. Thank you for clarifying
that.
Next we will consider S. Res. 347, honoring the memory and
legacy Anita Datar and condemning the terrorist attack in Mali.
Senator Cardin, you have made comments. Do you have
additional comments?
Senator Cardin. No.
Senator Menendez. Mr. Chairman?
The Chairman. Yes, Senator Menendez.
Senator Menendez. Very briefly, I want to commend my
colleague, Senator Booker, for recognizing the life of Anita
Ashok Datar, who was a native of New Jersey, a former student
at Mount Olive High School in Flanders, New Jersey, a graduate
of Rutgers University, and a brilliant soul who spent much of
her life making others' lives brighter. She was a dedicated
servant. She spent her life working to advance public health in
dangerous places. And it is a reminder, as we share our
condolences with her family, however, that the tragedy that
took place there is faced by all of those whose purpose in
serving others takes them into dangerous places. And so we
applaud her memory and her commitment.
The Chairman. Thank you for those comments.
If there is no further discussion on the resolution, I
would entertain a motion to approve it by voice vote.
Senator Kaine. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Menendez. Second.
The Chairman. It is so moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve S. Res. 347. All
those in favor, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The resolution
is approved.
Next we will consider S. 2426, to direct the Secretary of
State to develop a strategy to obtain observer status for
Taiwan in the International Criminal Police Organization.
Senator Cardin, do you have additional comments?
Senator Cardin. I have already spoken to this. I support
it.
The Chairman. Would anyone else like to speak?
Senator Gardner. Mr. Chairman, I would ask unanimous
consent that Senators Shaheen and Boxer be added as cosponsors.
The Chairman. Without objection.
Senator Gardner. I want to thank Senator Cardin for working
on this, as well as cosponsors of the bill. It is an important
step forward for Taiwan. They had full membership in INTERPOL
starting in 1964 until 1984 when the Peoples Republic of China
applied for membership. Non-membership, of course, has been a
step backward for Taiwan and kept them from participating in
this important forum. And I hope this is a strong message to
Taiwan that we are acting on their behalf.
The Chairman. Thank you. Thanks for your leadership on
this.
Any other comments?
[No response.]
The Chairman. If there is no further discussion, I would
entertain a motion to approve it by voice vote.
Senator Menendez. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Cardin. Second.
The Chairman. It is so moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve S. 2426. All those
in favor, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
legislation is approved.
Next we will consider S. 1882, the Nepal Recovery Act.
Senator Cardin, do you have any additional comments you
would like to make?
Senator Cardin. I do have a first degree amendment that has
been suggested by the appropriators that I, at the appropriate
time, would want to offer.
The Chairman. Would anyone else like to speak to this
legislation? [No response.]
The Chairman. If there is no further discussion, I would
entertain a motion to consider the manager's amendment by voice
vote.
Senator Kaine. So moved.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Is there a second?
Senator Cardin. Second.
The Chairman. It is so moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the manager's
amendment. All in favor, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
manager's amendment is agreed to.
Now, I would entertain a motion that we consider the Cardin
substitute amendment, as amended by the manager's amendment.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Kaine. Second.
The Chairman. It is so moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the substitute
amendment, as amended. All those in favor, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The substitute
amendment is agreed to.
Are there any further amendments?
[No response.]
The Chairman. Hearing none, is there a motion to approve
the legislation, as amended?
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Is there a second?
Senator Kaine. Second.
The Chairman. Thank you. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve S. 1882, as
amended. All in favor, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
legislation, as amended, is agreed to.
Next we will consider H.R. 1493, the Protect and Preserve
International Cultural Property Act.
Senator Cardin, any additional comment?
Senator Cardin. I have already commented. I urge support.
The Chairman. Would anyone else like to speak to this
legislation?
Senator Perdue. Just briefly. I would like to recognize
Senator Casey as an original cosponsor here in the Senate. This
bill an emergency import restriction on archeological and
ethnological material that has been removed since the beginning
of the conflict in 2011 from Syria. A similar emergency import
restriction act was placed on such items from Iraq in 2003 and
is urgently needed here in Syria. We have seen ISIS do this
across the Levant and it has targeted cultural property for
destruction. It is their second leading source of income for
ISIS.
This legislation also includes a sense of Congress that the
President should create an interagency committee to better
coordinate efforts among the agencies of the executive branch
and institutions such as the Smithsonian who work to preserve
and protect international cultural properties. Since World War
II, the U.S. has led the international effort to protect and
preserve cultural property during times of conflict and crisis,
and this should be no different.
The bill also chips away at ISIS' ability to profit from
its looting of history.
I would like to thank you again for this timely bill
included on the agenda today.
And finally, I ask unanimous consent to submit for the
record a statement from Senator Grassley, our other leading
cosponsor.
The Chairman. Without objection.
[The prepared statement of Senator Grassley follows:]
Prepared Statement of Hon Charles E. Grassley, U.S. Senator from Iowa
Chairman Corker, Ranking Member Cardin, members of the committee,
I'd like to thank this Committee for taking up the ``Protect and
Preserve International Cultural Property Act.'' This bill is critically
important to ensure that the Administration has the authority to impose
import restrictions on antiquities from Syria, which is a key source of
funding for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
I joined Senator Casey and Senator Perdue to introduce a Senate
companion to the House bill that would place trade restrictions against
the importation of looted archeological and ethnological materials.
It's a similar measure to one that I won enactment of in 2003 when
Iraq's antiquities were being looted.
The brutal and barbaric acts carried out by ISIS are beyond
comprehension. The senseless and inhumane brutality these individuals
carried out against innocents is truly shocking and disgraceful. ISIS
has executed thousands, including women and children. Many more have
been kidnapped, enslaved, abused and raped.
ISIS is also destroying and selling the archeological heritage that
has survived for thousands of years. It's reprehensible that there are
people engaged in a black market to buy these artifacts, thereby
underwriting this brutal Islamist militant group.
The chaos and disorder in Syria and Iraq has opened the door to
opportunists who wish to enrich themselves in dealing with stolen and
looted antiquities. The least we can do, here in Congress, is shut down
the U.S. market for these artifacts. Americans should not be
underwriting brutality.
We need to put an end to the destruction and looting of
irreplaceable artifacts and historical records like those from the
Mosul Museum, Nineveh, and Nimrud. These objects are a material record
of humanity.
We need to destroy ISIS rather than support its funding. This bill
will help by restricting the import of items to the United States. It's
a small but important step in hampering the ability of ISIS terrorists
to profit from the sale of looted antiquities.
I strongly support this bill and encourage members of this
committee to support it as well. Thank you.
The Chairman. Thanks for the comments.
And I want to thank everybody for working through a couple
of tricky issues to make sure this had the intended--the
consequences were as intended. I know there were a few things
that constituencies had concerns with. We were able to work
through those. So thank you for your leadership.
I would entertain a motion to consider the substitute
amendment by voice vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Is there a second?
Senator Kaine. Second.
The Chairman. Thank you. It is so moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the substitute
amendment. All those in favor, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The substitute
amendment is agreed to.
Are there any further amendments?
[No response.]
The Chairman. Hearing none, is there a motion to approve
the legislation, as amended?
Senator Perdue. So moved.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Is there a second?
Senator Cardin. Second.
The Chairman. Thank you. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve H.R. 1493, as
amended. All in favor, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
legislation, as amended, is agreed to.
Lastly, we will consider H.R. 757, the North Korea
Sanctions Enforcement Act of 2015. This is a very significant
piece of legislation that very soon, I believe, is going to
become law and is going to have an impact on what is happening
in North Korea and in the region.
I want to thank everyone who has been involved in this. So
many on the committee have. It is a major piece of legislation.
Senator Cardin, would you like to make additional comments?
Senator Cardin. I have already commented about it, but I
just really want to underscore what the chairman said and
particularly thank Senator Menendez and Gardner and other
members of our committee.
But we all share the same objective. But it was tricky
because there are always going to be different views between an
administration and the Congress on how sanctions are imposed
and to listen to their concerns and to respond, where there was
legitimate reason to respond, but to remain firm where we think
it is congressional prerogative.
I just want to compliment the chairman. I want to
compliment Senator Menendez and Gardner for bringing us to this
moment where we have a bill that I am very confident will not
only pass the United States Senate but will be signed into law
by the President.
The Chairman. Senator Gardner I am sure would like to make
comments. Again, thanks for your tremendous leadership on this,
with the tremendous leadership of Senator Menendez, the best in
reaching bipartisan consensus that will affect something in a
major way. We thank you. And I am sure you have some comments.
Senator Gardner. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Would you like me
to comment now or wait till we do the substitute amendment? I
am happy to do it now or wait.
The Chairman. Why do you not go ahead and comment?
Senator Gardner. Thank you. I can recall when I assumed the
position as chairman of the committee, we talked both about
North Korea and the serious concern that we have about its
growing threat to its neighbors, to the United States homeland,
and to global security we agreed that we could not ignore it.
This past August, I had the opportunity to visit South
Korea and to speak directly with South Korean President Park.
We agreed that the status quo with regard to North Korea was no
longer sustainable or responsible.
In October, I presented Senate bill 2144, the North Korean
Sanctions and Policy Enhancement. I want to thank Senators
Rubio and Risch, Perdue, and Isakson for cosponsoring the
legislation and thank you, Senator Cardin, and Senator Menendez
for the encouragement and invaluable support to make this today
a reality because we have taken the final step today in
changing our policy toward North Korea.
On January 6th, 2016, our worst fears were realized when
North Korea followed through with its fourth nuclear test.
North Korea has claimed it was a hydrogen test, a bomb vastly
more powerful than previous tests. Regardless of whether that
is true, it represents still a significant advancement in North
Korea's nuclear weapons capability.
And we also know North Korea continues to advance its
ballistic missile program. In fact, yesterday it was on the
news that they were perhaps preparing for yet additional tests.
Admiral Bill Gortney, the head of U.S. NORTHCOM, the
Northern Command, based at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado
publicly stated on several occasions that North Korea may have
already developed the ability to miniaturize a nuclear warhead
mounted on their own intercontinental ballistic missile called
the KNO8 and shoot it at the homeland. Admiral Gortney has
reiterated those fears to me privately on numerous occasions as
well, including his belief that the current conditions on the
peninsula perhaps are as unstable as they have been since they
have been since the armistice.
North Korea continues to grossly abuse the rights of its
own people. There are 200,000 men, women, and children in North
Korea's vast prison systems. In fact, the United Nations
Commission of Inquiry in 2014 found that North Korea's actions
constituted a crime against humanity.
Moreover, we have seen North Korean cyber capabilities grow
into an asymmetric threat that North Korea has utilized against
its neighbors, South Korea and Japan, as well as the United
States, as evidenced by the Sony Pictures hack in November of
2014. According to a November 2015 report by the center for
Strategic and International Studies, North Korea is emerging as
a significant actor in cyberspace with both its military and
clandestine organization gaining the ability to conduct cyber
operations.
All of these developments represent a failure of U.S.
policy of strategic patience toward North Korea. It is time to
change course, and this legislation before us will do just
that. Following the overwhelming vote 418 to 2 vote in the
House of Representatives on their version of this bill 2 weeks
ago, I wanted to again thank the chairman for moving forward
with such a substitute out of our committee.
The Gardner-Menendez substitute before us today represents
a slightly modified version of our legislation, Senate bill
2144. In particular, the legislation mandates not simply
authorizes, the President to impose sanctions against persons
that materially contribute to North Korea's nuclear ballistic
missile development, import luxury goods into North Korea,
enable a censorship on human rights abuses, engage in money
laundering and manufacture of counterfeit goods and narcotics
trafficking, engage in activities undermining cybersecurity,
have supplied, sold, or transferred to or from North Korea
precious metals or raw metals, including aluminum, steel, and
coal for the benefit of North Korea's regime and its illicit
activities. I would note the mandatory sanctions on North
Korea's cyber activities and mandatory sanctions on the
minerals are unique to the Senate legislation.
This bill codifies Executive Orders 13687 and 13694
regarding cybersecurity as they apply to North Korea, which
were enacted last year in the wake of the Sony Pictures hack
and other cyber instances. It is also a unique feature of the
Senate bill.
Lastly, the mandatory sanctions on cyber violators will
break new ground for Congress if enacted and signed into law.
We need to look for every way to deprive Pyongyang of income to
build its weapons program, strengthen its cyber capabilities,
and abuse its own people.
We must also send a strong message to China, North Korea's
diplomatic protector and largest trading partner, that the
United States will use every economic tool at its disposal to
stop Pyongyang.
I urge my colleagues to support the Gardner-Menendez
substitute.
The Chairman. I would imagine Senator Menendez would like
to make a comment, and I hope that he will.
Senator Menendez. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I am pleased to see that the committee remains vigilant
with respect to the threat that North Korea presents to our
national security interests and the security interests of our
friends and allies, whether that threat is conventional,
nuclear, or cyber. And that is exactly what I had in mind when
I introduced bipartisan legislation last July with Senator
Graham and again in this session. And I want to thank you, Mr.
Chairman, and Senator Cardin for recognizing the need and the
expediency, as well as the work you put into it. And I want to
thank Senator Gardner as the subcommittee chair for working
with me to come along to a piece of legislation that is
meaningful at the end of the day and not just a message piece.
I have believed in the course of following North Korea in
two guiding principles.
One is that, first, effective deterrence needs leadership,
and nuclear missile tests, cyber attacks highlight the
continuing threat that North Korea poses to the U.S. and our
friends and allies in the region. And I believe we need to see
more action to energize a strategy to continue to promote
decisive U.S. leadership and a broad international coalition to
bring pressure on the regime.
And second, strategic patience has a place, but not without
strategic focus. A strategic approach to security and stability
on the Korean peninsula should include the effective sanctions
that we are calling for in this legislation, diplomatic
pressure, and military countermeasures, the full range of
American instruments of power to keep it focused on the threat
that North Korea presents.
And I think the legislation we are about to take up is the
most meaningful response to North Korea's most recent nuclear
test. I believe we are taking a strong step towards addressing
the threat that North Korea poses. We are certainly sending a
strong message to the regime that has displayed little faith in
the resolve to respond to provocations, whether nuclear,
conventional, or cyber.
And I am pleased to note, as has been noted here, that this
is a true bipartisan effort at the end of the day, particularly
as it relates to foreign policy. When we can speak with one
voice, when we are undivided in purpose and commitment, we send
the strongest message in the world both multilaterally and as
it relates in this case to a country for which we are concerned
about their violation of international will and international
order and security. That is the most powerful statement we can
make.
I will close by saying, as has been noted, the provisions
of our legislation build upon the good work that the House did
to target not only banned and illicit activities but also
Pyongyang's trade in minerals and precious metals which is a
key source of hard currency for the regime and a signal to
North Korea's trade partners that support, whether economic or
otherwise, a regime that oppresses its people, threatens its
neighbors, violates international will will come at significant
cost.
And at the same time, I believe that it is incredibly
important to offer America's hand to those who suffer under
this regime's abuse. American and other humanitarian
organizations who seek to improve the situation for North
Koreans should not and under the provisions included in this
bill will come afoul of this improved sanctions regime.
I think this is an incredibly strong measure, and I thank
the committee's leadership, as well as Senator Gardner, for
coming together in what is a truly strong bipartisan response.
The Chairman. Any other comments? Anyone else want to
speak to this?
[No response.]
The Chairman. Again, this is a very, very strong piece of
legislation. It does build off of the House.
And just for committee members to know, it is my sense that
if it passes out of committee today, which I think it will, it
is going to be on the floor the week after next. It will
probably the last piece of legislation we take up during this
work period.
We have been in communication, obviously, with the
administration, both with our U.N. Ambassador but also with our
Security Council leader. And I know they are continuing to work
through the Security Council itself to impose sanctions. I do
not know where that goes.
But I am really proud that our committee is going to pass
this piece of legislation today, I think overwhelmingly. I also
think it will pass the floor overwhelmingly. We will then be
able to work with the House to cause this to become law. And
again, I cannot thank the members of this committee enough for
their leadership, especially Senator Gardner, Senator Menendez,
Senator Cardin, and others.
So with that, if there is no further discussion, I would
entertain a motion to consider the manager's amendment by voice
vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Is there a second?
Senator Kaine. Second.
The Chairman. It is so moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the manager's
amendment. All in favor, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The manager's
amendment is agreed to.
Now I would entertain a motion that we consider the
Gardner-Menendez substitute amendment in light of the
discussion about it, as amended by the manager's amendment.
Senator Gardner. So moved.
Senator Menendez. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the substitute
amendment, as amended. All those in favor, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. And with that, the ayes have it. The
substitute amendment is agreed to.
Are there any further amendments?
Senator Markey. Mr. Chairman?
The Chairman. Yes, sir.
Senator Markey. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank
you and Senator Cardin and Senator Menendez and Senator Gardner
for their tremendous work on this bill. And I want to thank you
for inclusion of my provision to ensure that anyone who
participates in or facilitates North Korea's trade in
conventional weapons is subject to sanctions under this act.
I also commend the committee for acting decisively and in a
bipartisan way to strengthen sanctions against North Korea.
Although the U.N. Security Council strengthened its arms
embargo on North Korea following the 2009 nuclear test, gaps
remain, including a lack of enforcement by some member states,
particularly China. This amendment helps close those gaps by
imposing sanctions on anyone who trades in weapons with North
Korea. Doing so will help disrupt Pyongyang's arms trade which,
according to U.N. reports, remains one of the country's most
profitable revenue sources.
I also appreciate my colleagues' willingness to explore the
second amendment of mine which would require the Treasury
Department to determine whether North Korea was of primary
money laundering concern on an annual basis rather than only
once. It would also provide Congress with additional
information regarding the special measures that Treasury
applies as a result of that designation and the reasons for
selecting those measures.
While my staff was unable to fully resolve the concerns
raised with this amendment, I look forward to continuing to
work with you, Mr. Chairman, and the other Senators about a way
to include it before we reach the floor. It is important to
remember that sanctions are not in and of themselves the goal,
but rather it is the goal to bring North Korea to the
disarmament negotiations. And I think that the language which I
suggested, which I hope that we can work together to try to
include before the floor, can be included.
Mr. Chairman, I also have an amendment at the desk, Markey
number 3, which I would like to offer and to subsequently
withdraw. That amendment directs the Securities and Exchange
Commission to issue regulations requiring the securities
issuers to annually disclose their investments in North Korea
and to disclose any other activities that could subject them to
sanctions under this act.
In 2004, the Congress created the SEC's Office of Global
Security Risk to seek disclosure from companies doing business
with sanctioned countries, including those on the list of state
sponsors of terrorism.
In 2008, however, President Bush removed North Korea from
that list. As a result, the Securities and Exchange Commission
stopped requiring securities issuers to disclose investments in
North Korea. This lack of disclosure may lead Americans to
unknowingly invest in companies that do business with North
Korea. As noted by a 2003 report from the House Appropriations
Committee, American investors may be unwittingly investing in
companies with ties to countries that sponsor terrorism and
countries linked to human rights violations. These associations
can negatively affect the value of an investment, exposing
unwitting investors to financial risk.
The prospect of American companies investing in North Korea
is quite real. As a ``New York Times'' story reported on
January 13th, just last week, one American company, Firebird
Management, has publicly declared its intention to invest in
North Korea's oil industry. A hedge fund manager told the
``Times'' that North Korea could be a lucrative market for
investors, owing to its young, highly disciplined, and literate
population and its strong military industrial complex.
This amendment will not impose any burden on companies that
do not invest in North Korea. For those companies that do,
Americans deserve at least to know who they are. Without this
requirement, Americans may unwittingly be supporting a country
that abuses its citizens, threatens U.S. national security, and
violates U.S. law.
Unfortunately, due to the limited time available for
discussion prior to this meeting, we were unable to fully
resolve concerns about this amendment. Nevertheless, I look
forward to continued conversations. And I am preparing an
amendment for the floor to protect our American citizens from
financial risk arising out of opaque investments in North
Korea. And I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment,
but I look forward to working with you, Mr. Chairman, and the
others so that we can include appropriate language so that the
American public knows who amongst American companies are, in
fact, investing in North Korea.
The Chairman. Well, I want to thank you for the way you
have constructively worked with us. I know you have an
amendment that is already a part of this bill. I know you want
to discuss other ideas with us, and as always, we look forward
to those discussions. But I do want to thank you again for
being so constructive as we moved to this bill today.
I know you have had a lot of interest in this issue. You
have expressed that interest in committee hearings, not just on
North Korea, but on China and other matters. And I want to
thank you for bringing your point of view to our committee.
Senator Cardin. If I might, I also want to thank Senator
Markey. I do not know of a Member of the Senate who has more
experience and has been a greater leader on nuclear
nonproliferation than Senator Markey. And he, as you pointed
out, has raised it with many countries, and here with North
Korea, your leadership is going to be critically important as
this bill moves forward. And then in the other areas you
referred to, including human rights and conventional weapons,
it is very important that we have a very clear policy, and your
expertise will help us. And I thank you for the cooperative way
in which we are trying to work to make sure we get this done.
The Chairman. Did you want to say something else?
Senator Markey. I was just going to say I think that the
best way to punish them is to give the American people the
ability to participate in it as well, and the more that they
can have transparent access to the information about which
American companies are investing, the more we can actually
invest the American people in this issue as well. So we create
kind of a conversation online across the country about this
issue and which companies are cooperating. This has to be I
think an effort which we reach down further into the American
public so that they are better educated about the long-term
list of Korea's activities.
But I thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you, and thanks for withdrawing those
amendments. And without objection, they are.
Are there any other amendments that someone would want to
consider?
[No response.]
The Chairman. Hearing none, is there a motion to approve
the legislation, as amended?
Senator Cardin. So moved.
Senator Barrasso. Second.
The Chairman. It is so moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve H.R. 757, as
amended. All in favor, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. All opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
legislation, as amended, is agreed to.
And that completes the committee's business.
I ask unanimous consent that the record be held open for 5
business days and that staff be authorized to make technical
and conforming changes and members statements. Without
objection, so ordered.
Senator Kaine. Mr. Chairman, I have a question that is kind
of tangential to one of the pieces of legislation that we dealt
with, the H.R. 1493 about the international cultural property
protection that deals with ISIL. And I just wanted a kind of
status check on this last week.
Last week, the Leader rule 14'ed to the floor a military
operation against ISIL filed by Senator Graham. And I was just
curious what the committee's--either what the majority's
posture is with respect to that on the floor and whether the
committee intends to take it up. As you know, there is a
bipartisan authorization that has been pending before the
committee since June.
The Chairman. Well, consistency is something I like a lot.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. Thank you so much for bringing that up.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. And as you know, I am of the belief that the
President already has the authority to do what he is doing as
he believes. Every witness that the administration has sent to
this committee says that they believe the 2001 authorization
for the use of miltary force gives them the ability to do what
they are doing both in Syria and in Iraq. So I think they have
the freedom to conduct this war in every possible way they
believe.
I appreciate the tremendous leadership that you and Senator
Flake have shown on this issue.
As I think it has been clearly stated, I do not think the
Majority Leader had any intention of elevating the discussion
beyond this committee. When members ask the Leader to Rule 14 a
bill, he just does it as a courtesy. In many cases, he is even
unaware personally that that is happening. It is just a
perfunctory thing. So I do not think that step changed the
debate in any way.
What he said in his public comments--and these are not my
comments, but I am just reciting them--is that should the
President come forth with a strategy that he believes is one
that is going to defeat ISIS and should the President come
forth with a proposed authorization that he does not believe
will tie the hands of the next administration, the Majority
Leader would consider it.
That does not mean that his view has to be our committee's
posture. And if the committee would like to talk further about
this, both openly or privately, I am more than glad to do it. I
think you know I drafted a possible authorization for the use
of military force and talked to you about it some time ago.
Again, I believe that the President has that authority now,
but I know there are concerns by some that while they believe
that President Obama, from their perspective, might not be
doing everything he needs to do against ISIS, the next
President might wish to do more. So there are people within our
committee who want to limit the next President's ability to
conduct operations. There are other people who feel like he
already has the authority he needs, like I do. Right now, by
the way, the authority he has is that he can do anything he
wishes as commander in chief to try to defeat this enemy.
I know Senator Menendez had a productive hearing on these
issues before the majority shifted, if you will.
But I do not think that Senator McConnell's recent efforts
were in any way intended to change the status of these
discussions. I think he was really clear the next day that he
would continue look to this committee on these issues. If those
conditions were met by the President, he said, would look to
this committee to deal with the question.
I do not know if there are any additional comments.
Senator Kaine. Might I respond? If there are other
comments, I would love to respond briefly.
It is the case that there are wide views about the
President's current legal authority. There are many in this
body who believe that the war is illegal. There are some who
believe that the 9/11 authorization covers it. But there is a
wide variety of opinions on that.
But the President has asked Congress to take this up since
September of 2011 and submit an authorization in February,
since September of 2014 and submit an authorization in February
2015, nearly a year ago. This committee did act on an
authorization--sadly it did not see get floor action for a
variety of reasons--about 14 months ago.
But the mere fact that the President says he has the
authority has never been enough here. The President says he has
the authority on immigration matters, but Members of Congress
are suing him about it. And when the President has asked that
we have a debate and put Congress' will behind this war and
when the head of the Joint Chiefs has asked, I find that those
are very compelling.
So I was concerned that there would be an effort to end run
the committee on this. It would certainly be my hope that we
would take it up. And that may not be the will of the
committee, but I am going to keep asking for it because an
legal war is a very troubling thing to those of us who believe
it is illegal, just but illegal.
But also I am so convinced that if this committee devoted
the attention to this that we have devoted to matters like the
bill today on North Korean sanctions or the Iran Nuclear Review
Act, where we came in with a lot of different positions, but we
hammered it out, we were able to reach an accord. And maybe I
am still too new to be trusted and my naivete or optimism but I
think if we just devoted the time and attention to this matter,
we could reach an accord since Congress is overwhelmingly of
the belief that the war against ISIL is a just one.
But we will obviously watch it to see if that rule 14
moves. I would certainly hate to see something move like that,
even to be taken up on the floor without this committee putting
its thumbprints on it because I have got confidence in this
committee.
The Chairman. I just put your concerns at rest. I do not
think there was any attempt to bypass the committee, and I
think the Leader went out of his way that afternoon to assure
people that that is not what his intentions are.
I will have to say I was just in Afghanistan and was in
Qatar at the base where we are basically controlling all of the
operations that are taking place, from an aerial standpoint, in
both Syria and Iraq. I do not get the sense there is anyone
among our military service people who believes anything but
that the United States is 1,000 percent behind them in their
efforts. I happen to be one of those people that does agree
that they have the legal authority to do what they are doing,
and I have not seen any indication that us debating this here
would in any way change the trajectory of what we are doing on
the ground anyway.
I do not believe, however, that they have the authority to
go against Assad. If you remember, in a committee meeting that
we had with General Martin Dempsey, when we asked the question
about whether, if Assad were to barrel bomb, for instance, the
Syrian opposition, he had the authority to go against Assad's
forces. He said not at that moment. Certainly if they needed
such additional authority in Syria, I would be more than glad
to take that up, because that would be an initial authorization
the Executive Branch currently does not have. I am more than
willing to continue discussing such things.
Except for that question about Assad's forces, I see
nothing we would do here on ISIS changing the trajectory of
what is happening in Syria already, and--I do not see an
authorization doing that.--I believe already they have the
legal authority;--I agree with their assertions that they do.
What I do not want to do is enter into a debate that is really
more about the presidential race and people having concerns
that maybe a President gets elected who will conduct a war in a
more aggressive manner than the current President--and some
people are really interested in limiting that. regarding ISIS
when, in fact, I think the committee is united regarding the
fact that we think this campaign is just. There may be
differences relative to our belief regarding the legalities.
But, look, I have to say you are one of our most
constructive and consistent members. I thank you for your
consistency. I know you feel really strongly about this, and I
am glad that we have a committee on which members feel not only
the freedom but are empowered to continue to express their
views--and where as today, as we have seen, we can successfully
pass major pieces of legislation when they are hammered out.
Senator Cardin. Mr. Chairman, I just want to clarify one
point that you said that I think it is important. When the
committee took up the authorization for use of military force
under Chairman Menendez, what came out of that markup was an
authorization that we thought was appropriate for the war
against ISIL and was very much aimed at the recommendations of
the Obama administration. It also recognized that the next
administration may have a different game plan. And that is why
we had a requirement that the next Congress would have to take
up the authorization for the use of military force with the
recommendations of the next administration. So I do not think
there has been any effort made here to try to get involved in
presidential politics. I mean that sincerely.
The Chairman. I think it is moving in that direction.
Senator Cardin. I just want to make that clear. As we
looked at it, it was not at all aimed at the politics of the
presidential elections, but instead required the next
administration to come to Congress as to what Congress should
authorize in regards to their game plan on the war against
ISIL.
The Chairman. Thank you. I appreciate that.
And by the way, I did not agree with the authorization
because of the limiting factors, but I thought it was a good
discussion.
Senator Flake?
Senator Flake. I have to leave. I just want to associate
myself with the comments that Senator Kaine made, and whether
it was the intent of the Leader to bypass the committee, I
think that was the effect. It is unfortunate that we are not
going to bring something to the floor that has the stamp of the
committee or at least attempt to do so.
The Chairman. Actually, I do not think it was his intent
at all. I have had multiple conversations with him, and I can
assure you that was not his intent. As a matter of fact, I
would guess there are members here that have asked the Leader
to Rule 14 things to the floor just to make those items
pending, something that they do as a matter of routine, --
without even thinking about it. It happens nonstop. So I do not
think that what you fear is the case. I do not think that is
the end result of the Leader's move, and certainly I have been
assured in every way, including in public comments, that that
is not the case.
Senator Flake. Well, if that is the case, hopefully we will
have an amendment process that allows the committee to put its
stamp on it when it comes to the floor. That would be nice.
The Chairman. Again, I do not think there is an intent to
move the Graham bill to the floor. Is there any
misunderstanding there?
Senator Cardin. I think you are pretty clear.
The Chairman. There is no attempt to move it.
Yes, sir.
Senator Menendez. Mr. Chairman, on a different matter, I
just wanted to very briefly--members have spent a lot of time
in the effort, as we did successfully today on the North Korea
bill. But I have been on this committee long enough to know
that staff plays an incredibly important role. So I want to
thank all the staff for its involvement. Particularly I want to
recognize Michael Schiffer from our Democratic staff as one of
the significant Asian experts that we have. And I want to thank
my office for helping make this possible.
The Chairman. I agree.
With no further comments, the meeting is adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 11:03 a.m., the meeting was adjourned.]
----------
BUSINESS MEETING
----------
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2016
https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/business-meeting-0210216
U.S. Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations
Washington, D.C.
The committee met, pursuant to notice, 10:00 a.m., in Room
SD-419, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Bob Corker,
chairman of the committee, presiding.
Present: Senators Corker [presiding], Flake, Gardner,
Perdue, Isakson, Barrasso, Cardin, Menendez, Coons, Murphy, and
Markey.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. BOB CORKER,
U.S. SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE
The Chairman. The business meeting of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee will come to order, and as people come in,
we will hold votes. But I think that it will probably be best
for Ben and I to go ahead and make our opening comments, as I
know we both have to be down to the floor at 10:30 to begin
handling the North Korea legislation.
So on the agenda today we have three resolutions. First, we
will consider S. Res. 330. I want to personally congratulate
the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet for winning the 2015
Nobel Peace Prize. It is an honor that is well earned and
rightfully deserved. Their courage, perseverance, and success
over the last five years have culminated in this great honor.
More importantly, however, their work has done immeasurable
good in Tunisia, a country that has chosen democracy and has
become a beacon of light in a region wrought with conflict,
bloodshed, and oppression. I hope that Tunisia continues to
focus on the follow-through that is so crucial for continued,
lasting success for the country, for its people, and for the
region. With S. Res 330, it is our hope that Congress will add
its voice to those congratulating the Quartet and reaffirming
the United States' support for Tunisia as it fulfills its
people's desire to become a more stable, free, and prosperous
country.
Thank you, Senators Coons, Cardin, Kaine, and Perdue, for
their work on this resolution.
We will also consider S. Res. 361, a resolution urging
robust funding for humanitarian relief in Syria with an
amendment. I want to thank Senator Cardin as usual for working
with me on this resolution. This resolution calls on countries
to make and fulfill their pledges for humanitarian relief in
and around Syria.
The Syrian conflict has killed hundreds of thousands of
people and engulfed the region in a humanitarian catastrophe on
a massive scale. The victims of this horrendous civil war
desperately need help. I am proud to say the United States
remains the largest single donor to such efforts, and we are up
to date in fulfilling our pledges.
But more is needed. It is a hopeful sign that the donor
conference in the United Kingdom last Thursday generated $10
billion in pledges. Those pledges, however, need to be
converted into actual contributions. Only 43 percent of the
$2.9 billion pledged to the UN's 2015 appeal was funded. With
this resolution, we hope to add our voice to those calling on
strong donor support for the pledges made at the most recent
conference in London.
And lastly, we will consider S. Res. 99 calling upon Iran
to fulfill its promises of assistance in the case of the
disappearance of U.S. citizen, Robert Levinson. To the Levinson
family--Bob's wife, Christine, son, Dan, and his sister-in-law,
Suzanne--our thoughts and prayers have and continue to be with
you. Thank you so much for being here today. We appreciated the
opportunity to talk to you earlier.
This is a topic, for what it is worth, a good deal of time
was spent last night in a classified setting. We are sorry you
have been through this harrowing experience, and I know it
continues without a lot of information, and we are determined
to do what we can to make sure that that changes. So thank you
so much for being here. We sincerely appreciate you being here
as I just mentioned. And I do not think we can fully appreciate
what you have gone through personally over the last eight
years.
I want to thank Senators Rubio and Nelson for their work on
this resolution. It is a symbolic message that should continue
to raise the awareness of this incredibly sad situation, and to
remind each of us to push the U.S. Administration, the
government of Iran--and the government of Iran to do everything
they can to return Bob, his family, and his friends to his
country.
The family stressed what a patriot he was as we met prior
to coming out here. And I think all of us know that, and we
need to do everything we can to get him back.
With that, I would like to recognize the distinguished
ranking member for his comments, Senator Cardin.
STATEMENT OF HON. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN,
U.S. SENATOR FROM MARYLAND
Senator Cardin. Well, Chairman Corker, first of all, thank
you for arranging this business meeting to pass three very
important resolutions from the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee. I also acknowledge this is an important day on
foreign policy. We are going to consider the North Korean
Sanction Act on the floor of the Senate, and I expect it will
pass overwhelmingly later this afternoon, which is a real
credit to your leadership in engineering its consideration on
the floor, but also this committee's bipartisan work to produce
a product that is worthy of strong support in the United States
Senate.
And then we will have a very important hearing following
this on Central Africa, a region of the world that has been in
conflict for way too long with tragic consequences for its
population. So we have a very busy day.
In regards to the three resolutions that are under
consideration, thank you for acknowledging the Levinson family
that is here. Congressman Deutch, it is nice to have you also
with us today and the work that you did in the House to
position our action in regards to Robert Levinson.
Let me make it clear. We will use every avenue available to
us to get a full accounting and release of Robert Levinson. I
can assure you of that. And this resolution, as the Chairman
said before we came in here, is an important step, but just a
step. We intend to do a lot more than just the action on this
resolution, so we thank you very much. He is the longest-held
United States civilian in our Nation's history, so we will very
much be working to deal with this issue.
Let me also acknowledge, as you did, Senator Nelson's and
Rubio's work in regards to the Levinson resolution.In regards
to S. Res 361, the resolution on Syria, I want to thank you for
your help in putting together this resolution. The humanitarian
crisis in Syria is incredible. Obviously our inital efforts
have been to resolve the conflict in Syria and have a
government that represents all the people without President
Assad. And then we can concentrate on the threat of ISIL, and
not only contain, but destroy ISIL. That is our objective.
In the meantime, there is this refugee dislocation, the
largest flow in the world. It is a huge humanitarian crisis,
including to the countries directly bordering Syria, like
Jordan, our strategic ally.. There are many other countries
impacted like Lebanon andTurkey, and we know there's also a
refugee flow into Greece and other parts of Europe . These
large refugee flows are having an impact on the stability of
all these regions.
So it is important that this humanitarian crisis be dealt
with globally. As you pointed out, the United States has been
the leader. It is has been the leader in the dollars that we
put up--$5.1 billion to date--as well as convening the
international community, and this resolution furthers that
objective.
And then lastly, S. Res. 330, congratulating the Tunisian
National Dialogue Quartet for winning the 2015 Nobel Peace
Prize. The resolution, I think, is self-explanatory, but
Tunisia is a country that is beset by turmoil. We know that. It
is a rough area, and yet they have demonstrated that when
elected officials work with civil societies, you can get things
done. And I think that is a model for that region, and I think
this resolution is very appropriate.
So on all three of these resolutions, they are very
important business, and I hope we can get a quorum and pass
them.
The Chairman. Thank you. We need about a two-minute
filibuster here. Would anyone like to make comments? Go ahead.
I think Senator Murphy might have----
Senator Murphy. I thank you very much--I only have two
minutes. I just want to thank those who are bringing the Syria
resolution, in particular, before us today. The gist of it is a
call to the international community to step up to the plate and
fulfill obligations that they have, and for those that have--
who have not made a big enough commitment, to make it bigger.
But I also hope that the pressure is still on us here in this
Congress to support increased humanitarian aid for the region.
I think most all of us have been to some of those camps. We
have heard the stories of the World Food Program perpetually
running out of money, such that last fall they had to cut off
food aid for those individuals not living in the camps, those
individuals and families who are living in cities and
communities on the streets, places like Lebanon and Jordan.
And, of course, we know what happens when they do not get
basic nourishment and sustenance. They get it from somewhere
else. They often sign up with the very groups that we are
fighting because that is the only offer they get in order to
feed their family or put a paycheck into their pocket in order
to put a roof over their children's heads.
And so, I agree that the international community certainly
has to do more. There are many of our very good friends in that
neighborhood who have not stepped up and made commitments
anywhere close to what the United States had made. But there is
going to be more required of us as well, and I know this
committee has committed to doing our part as we move forward as
this crisis continues to unfold.
Thanks for putting this resolution before us today, Mr.
Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you. Thank you for the comments.
Senator Coons.
Senator Coons. Chairman Corker, Ranking Member Cardin, I
just want to thank both of you for the bipartisan way in which
you continue to move us forward. I am glad to be a co-sponsor
and supporter of all three resolutions.
I would like to thank my friend, Congressman Deutch, for
his advocacy to Dan Levinson, and Christine Levinson, and to
Suzanne Halpin. I have raised the issue of Robert Levinson both
in classified settings and in public settings with members of
the Administration. I think this resolution is an appropriate
and bipartisan way for us to continue to press the Iranians to
keep their commitment. And his long and painful absence from us
I think is something that we just wanted--all of us wanted you
to know that we share your concerns about his safe return, and
about Iran continuing to be a regime that we cannot trust, and
that we need to press to keep their commitments.
I will simply join Senator Murphy in saying that our
support for those who are suffering through the horrific
ongoing civil war in Syria is something, I think, has motivated
all the members of this committee. And last, the Tunisian
Quartet and their heroic efforts to bring some semblance of
stability and democracy to Tunisia were worthy of the Nobel
Peace Prize. And it is my hope that all of us will support
those in Tunisia willing to make the tough political and
economic reforms necessary to secure progress in Tunisia.
Thank you for moving all three of these resolutions today.
The Chairman. Any additional comments?
[No response.]
The Chairman. If not, we will move to the business at
hand.
The first order of business today on the agenda will be S.
Res. 330, congratulations--congratulating the Tunisian National
Dialogue Quartet for winning the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize. I know
Senator Cardin has made comments. Anyone else wish to speak?
[No response.]
The Chairman. Seeing none, is there a motion to approve
the resolutions?
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Flake. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve S. Res. 330.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The resolution
is approved.
Next we have--next we will move to S. Res. 361, urging
robust funding for humanitarian relief for Syria. I know
Senator Cardin has spoken to this. Anyone else?
[No response.]
The Chairman. Seeing none, I would entertain a motion to
consider the Corker amendment by voice vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Flake. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and then seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the Corker
amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The amendment
is agreed to.
Are there further amendments?
[No response.]
The Chairman. Seeing none, is there a motion to approve
the resolution, as amended?
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Seconded.
Senator Flake. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve S. Res. 361, as
amended.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The resolution
is amended and agreed to.
Next, we will consider S. Res. 99, calling on the
government of Iran to fulfill its promises of assistance in the
case of Robert Levinson, the longest-held United States
civilian in our Nation's history. Anyone like to speak to this
resolution?
[No response.]
The Chairman. If there is no further discussion on this
resolution, I would entertain a motion to approve all three
Rubio amendments by voice vote en bloc.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Flake. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve all three
amendments en bloc.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
amendments are agreed to.
Are there further amendments?
[No response.]
The Chairman. Hearing none, is there a motion to approve
the resolution, as amended?
Senator Cardin. So moved.
Senator Flake. Second.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Flake. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve S. Res. 99, as
amended.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
resolution, as amended, is agreed to. And that completes the
committee's business.
Congressman Deutch, thank you for being here. I know you
all criticize the Senate a great deal, as you should. I want
you to know this is probably the quickest business meeting we
have had. We did it in your honor.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. Thank you for being here to support this.
With that, I ask unanimous consent that staff be authorized
to make technical and conforming changes. Without objection, so
ordered.
And with that, the business meeting is adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 10:15 a.m., the meeting was adjourned.]
----------
BUSINESS MEETING
----------
THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016
https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/business-meeting-031016
U.S. Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations
Washington, D.C.
The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:05 a.m. in,
Room SD-419, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Bob Corker,
chairman of the committee, presiding.
Present: Senators Corker [presiding], Rubio, Johnson,
Flake, Gardner, Perdue, Isakson, Barrasso, Cardin, Boxer,
Menendez, Shaheen, Coons, Udall, Murphy, Kaine, and Markey.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. BOB CORKER,
U.S. SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE
The Chairman. The Foreign Relations Committee will come to
order.
I know we do not have enough members here to vote, but I
think it would be good to get the frontend out-of-the-way.
I want to thank everyone for being here today. On the
agenda for today, we have seven pieces of legislation, six
nominations, and a number of Foreign Service Officer lists.
First, we will consider the eight Foreign Service Officer
lists of nearly 100 personnel referred to the committee. I
support all of these appointments and promotions, and would
like to thank all of these officers for their service.
We will also consider six nominations, including several
important new ambassadors. I want to thank my colleagues for
helping the committee work through the nominees in an
appropriate fashion and to allow us to take these steps forward
today.
Next, we will consider six resolutions on the agenda. The
first resolution, S. Res. 375, marks the annual effort to draw
attention to tens of millions of people around the world
trapped in modern slavery today. The effort known End It Day
took place on February 25 of this year.
I want to thank everybody here for their efforts toward a
modern slavery bill itself. I want to thank Senator Cardin for
his support and all of you for your support for this effort.
The second resolution, S. Res. 368, supports efforts by the
Government of Colombia to pursue peace and the end of the
country's enduring internal armed conflict, and recognizing
United States' support for Colombia at the 15th anniversary of
Plan Colombia.
Colombia is our friend and ally. We need to remain engaged
to make sure Colombia can hopefully consolidate peace under the
rule of law.
We commend Senator Cardin for his leadership in introducing
this resolution. I want to thank him and Brandon Yoder of his
staff for working with us to incorporate our perspectives as
well. This resolution should be the beginning of the work we
need to do regarding Colombia in this committee going forward.
As we consider S. Res. 388, a resolution supporting the
goals of International Women's Day, I want to commend Senator
Shaheen and her cosponsors from both parties for bringing this
resolution to the committee. I also want to thank her and
Senator Cardin and their staff for working with us to develop
the text of the amendments we are considering today.
This resolution underscores the indispensable role that
women play in economic, political, and cultural progress of
humanity. It is important that we take stock of what has been
accomplished and what remains to be done to ensure that girls
and women can achieve their full potential under equal
conditions.
We will also consider S. Res. 392, a resolution that
expresses profound concern over the political prosecution of
the former President of Maldives and urges the Maldives
Government to take all necessary steps to redress this
injustice and to ensure due process and freedom from political
persecution of people of the Maldives.
I want to thank Senator Leahy and all the cosponsors of
this resolution, including several members of this committee,
for bringing this before the committee and for working with us
on this resolution.
The rights to due process and freedom from political
persecution are fundamental to any democracy and to peace and
stability around the world.
We will also consider S. Res. 378, a resolution expressing
the sense of Senate regarding the courageous work and life of
Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov and reviewing the call
for full and transparent investigation into his tragic murder
in Moscow on February 27, 2015.
I want to thank Senator Johnson for maintaining attention
on Russian efforts that may exist to silence the voices of
dissent. The killing of Boris Nemtsov serves as another example
of the risks that Russian reformers face in the efforts to
promote growth and democratic ideals within the Russian state.
S. Res. 383, a resolution recognizing the importance of the
United States-Israel economic relationship, and encouraging new
ideas of cooperation, is also on the agenda today. I would like
to thank Senator Perdue for sponsoring this resolution, as well
as Senators Isakson, Rubio, and Coons for cosponsoring.
I would also like to take the time to express my deepest
condolences for the loss of Taylor Force, a Vanderbilt student
who tragically lost his life this week in a senseless stabbing
attack in Israel. Taylor was in Israel to learn about
entrepreneurship opportunities, something this resolution
promotes.
Israel is an important political and economic partner of
the U.S. and has a large and diverse economy. The U.S.'s
economic partnership with Israel has contributed to innovations
that benefit the people of both nations. Given the serious
challenges that face Israel, the United States, and the world,
it is important to show our friends like Israel that we
recognize the importance of our economic relationship.
One resolution on the agenda, S. Res. 370, will be held
over for this business meeting to respect Senators' wishes. I
am glad to do that. We expect to work through any issues and
include it in a markup in the near future.
Finally on the agenda, we will consider S. 1252, the Global
Food Security Act of 2015, with an amendment. The Global Food
Security Act represents the collaboration of Senators Isakson,
Casey, Cardin, Coons, and myself, and would authorize food
security development programs currently underway at USAID.
The bill also reauthorizes USAID's international disaster
assistance account and for the first time authorizes an
emergency food security program that has been providing
emergency food assistance to places around the world where Food
for Peace traditionally cannot reach due to U.S. commodity and
cargo preferences.
I have cosponsored this bill and urge all of you to join me
in its passage.
I am sorry for such a long opening. We have a lot of
business today. We will try to do it very promptly.
But with that, I want to recognize our very distinguished
ranking member and my friend, Senator Cardin.
STATEMENT OF HON. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN,
U.S. SENATOR FROM MARYLAND
Senator Cardin. Thank you very much, Chairman Corker, and
thank you very much for scheduling this markup business
session.
We have an important hearing that will take place
immediately thereafter with regards to nominations, a number of
very important positions. So we appreciate the patience of our
distinguished guests.
Chairman Corker has been incredible in moving legislation
through our committee and moving resolutions through and moving
nominations. I very much appreciate that.
The last item you mentioned, S. 1252, the Global Food
Security Act of 2015, is a very important piece of legislation.
I want to congratulate our colleagues, Senators Casey, Isakson,
and Coons, for their strong leadership on bringing us to this
moment.
Mr. Chairman, your help made this possible. In recognizing
that this is an area where we have traditional disputes between
the Agriculture Committee and our committee, between NGOs and
USAID, you showed your diplomacy at the highest level to be
able to get us to this moment, where we can finally get this
bill done.
Just to underscore the importance, today in Ethiopia,
because of the drought, the hunger issues are dramatic. There
is no one single answer. Feed the Future is important. Local
capacity is important. Emergency assistance is important. And
this legislation deals with the full gamut of tools that we
have available to deal with hunger.
So I thank you very much for your leadership and for
allowing us to reach this moment where we can pass out the
Global Food Security Act.
I also appreciate your extraordinary leadership on modern-
day slavery and the resolution that you authored. I am proud to
join you on that. Anytime we can put a spotlight on the
millions of victims of modern-day slavery, we need to do that,
because we need to make continued progress.
I am proud of U.S. leadership on this issue. We have
legislation that we hope will be enacted shortly, under our
chairman's leadership, that will provide incentives for
international resources being used to free those who have been
victimized by slavery.
Just to give you one example, I was in Namibia with Senator
Coons and Senator Flake just recently. The country is doing
fairly well. They have survived Senator Flake's young
missionary work in that country.
[Laughter.]
Senator Cardin. But Namibia is really doing well. But they
do have a problem, as do all countries, on trafficking. We
raised that issue, and we got national attention in that
country raising that issue, and I expect there will be some
progress made.
So we need to continue to put the spotlight on it, and
thank you for the resolution that you have authored that we
will support today.
In regard to Plan Colombia, I was proud to offer that
resolution. I thank you for your cosponsorship.
And, Senator Kaine, thank you for your help on Plan
Colombia.
Look, 15 years ago, we thought that was going to be a
failed state. Today, it is a thriving economy. It still has
issues, but it is one of the leading countries in our
hemisphere as far as turnaround and progress that is being
made.
It was wonderful to have President Santos here, and this
resolution demonstrates our continued interest in making sure
that they can continue the progress we have seen over the last
15 years.
Senator Shaheen, thank you for your resolution on
International Women's Day. It is very clear to me that how a
country treats its women will be a barometer as to how well
that country will do. We see it over and over again.
I hope people will take the time to really delve into the
resolution that Senator Shaheen has authored, because it points
out, yes, we can take pride in progress that we have made. The
Millennium Development goals put gender equity as one of the
major objectives of the international community, and the
development assistance programs, and NGOs working together.
But there are still hundreds of millions of young girls who
are married before the age of 15. There are still hundreds of
millions of women who live in countries that have not
criminalized domestic violence.
So we still have a lot of work to do, and I thank Senator
Shaheen for giving us an opportunity to express ourselves
collectively on this very important subject.
Mr. Chairman, we have several resolutions that deal
directly with human rights. Thanks to Senator Leahy for S. 392,
that deals with the conviction of former President Mohamed
Nasheed in regards to the Maldives. This legislation speaks to
the injustices that have been done in that country, and I am
glad we are going on record.
We are also going on the record once again on a pattern of
conduct in Russia, where they have violated the rights of its
citizens, in this case, the tragic death of Boris Nemtsov. It
has been 1 year, the anniversary of his death. And I thank
Senator Johnson for bringing this resolution before us to point
out that this country, this Senate, we are going to continue to
put spotlights on what is happening in Russia because it is
unconscionable; it is a continuing pattern; and it is affecting
global security.
And, Senator Johnson, thank you for taking the leadership
on that resolution.
I want to thank Senator Perdue, Senator Coons, and others,
in regard to the resolution on the U.S.-Israel economic
relationship and encouraging new areas of cooperation.
I join Senator Corker in expressing our deep condolences to
the family of the American who was killed in Israel.
But to the violence that takes place in that part of the
world and Israel, it is another reason why we need to stay
committed to our partnership with Israel, so that we can bring
peace to that region.
I respect the right of holding over the ASEAN resolution.
It is an important moment when we had the Sunnylands Summit,
where the U.S. showed our direct interest in East Asia. I know
we will get a chance to act on that in the next business
session.
All the nominees who are here for action I strongly
support, as well as the FSO lists, and I thank the chairman for
bringing forward these nominations.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Again, I want to thank all the members for being here.
I want to apologize to the many people here that we had
this business meeting first, although I think much of the
presence here today is relative to you, so we thank you.
The first order of business for today's agenda will be the
eight Foreign Service lists.
Senator Cardin, do you have any comments, any additional
comments?
Senator Cardin. No. Thank you for bringing them forward.
The Chairman. Would anyone else like to make comments
relative to these lists?
[No ressponse.]
If there is no further discussion on these lists, I would
entertain a motion to approve these lists en bloc.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Second?
Senator Johnson. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the eight Foreign
Service lists en bloc.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The
appointments and promotions are agreed to.
Next, in the interest of time, I would ask the committee to
proceed en bloc to vote in consideration of the following
nominees before the committee: Catherine Novelli, Karen
Stewart, Amos Hochstein, Robert Riley, Matthew Matthews, and
Marcela Escobari.
I want to thank all these nominees for their willingness to
settle into these position.
Senator Cardin, do you have any additional comments?
Senator Cardin. Again, I appreciate the way that these
nominations have been moved in a timely manner.
The Chairman. Is there any member who would like to--yes,
sir?
Senator Barrasso. Mr. Chairman, I would like to pull out
agenda item number 11, Mr. Amos Hochstein.
Senator Cardin. Is that a separate vote?
Senator Barrasso. Yes, I would like to make a discussion of
that. But I am happy to move ahead with all the others, if you
would like to move first with the approval of all the other
nominees, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Okay, is there a motion that we vote on all
of them en bloc?
Senator Cardin. I would make that motion, with the
exception of the Hochstein nomination.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Johnson. Second.
The Chairman. All in favor?
All opposed?
With that, the ayes have it.
Would you like to now speak to this nomination?
Senator Barrasso. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I have long had concerns with the position of the Assistant
Secretary of State for the Bureau of Energy Resources. As the
chairman of the subcommittee that oversees international energy
policy, I understand the important role that energy plays in
our national security. My opposition to the nomination centers
around concerns with the Bureau of Energy Resources at the U.S.
Department of State, not the specific individual who has been
nominated.
The new bureau is adding to the duplication, the
redundancies, and the conflicting lines of authorities on
international energy policy. By confirming an Assistant
Secretary position, the Senate would be signaling its approval
of the glaring problems that exist there.
At a time when our Nation is facing significant financial
pressures, the U.S. Department of State should not be
increasing its budget and size, especially through the creation
of new bureaus.
The Bureau of Energy Resources was unilaterally created--
unilaterally created--by Secretary Clinton without input or
authorization of Congress in 2011. When originally created, the
Department of State explained that it would only consolidate
staff positions and use existing resources for the bureau.
But within a year of making those assurances, the bureau
requested a 40 percent increase in staffing. The bureau went
from 53 positions to its current total of 91 on personnel
staff. Despite its initial claim to use existing resources, it
is clear the bureau is going to continue to expand and grow,
and with it, the size of the Department of State.
So what exactly did we get from the unilateral creation of
a bureau that grew and expanded the size of the State
Department? Did we get a bureau that is consistent,
streamlined, and efficient? No. This is a bureau filled with
inefficiencies, redundancies, confusion.
The Office of Inspector General released a report just last
month, and I am going to ask, Mr. Chairman, that this report be
made part of the record.
The Chairman. Without objection.
The information referred to above may be accessed at:
https://oig.state.gov/system/files/isp-i-16-06.pdf
Senator Barrasso. This inspector general report raised the
organizational and structural problems of the Bureau of Energy
Resources. The report explains, number one, and I have it up
here on a poster board: Organizational stove-piping and lacking
of communications and coordination create inefficiencies
through duplication; overlapping, conflicting, or unclear
responsibilities; and interoffice rivalries.
So a quarter of bureau employees interviewed told the
inspector general that their portfolios were unclear or overlap
with other staff members.
Next, did we get a bureau that is entirely responsible for
international energy policy within the State Department? No.
Other bureaus and offices within the Department of State still
make decisions about international energy policy. According to
the State Department, the Bureau of Economic and Business
Affairs was responsible for the U.S. advocating for
restrictions on financing to build coal power plants overseas
at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
I think it is important to point out that the State
Department has a coordinator for international energy affairs
to work on energy issues in foreign policy, which was created
by Congress, separate from this agency.
So did we get a bureau that is ultimately responsible,
accountable, and in charge of our Nation's international energy
policy for the U.S. Government? No. Numerous U.S. Government
agencies are responsible for working on energy issues: the
Department of Energy, the Department of Commerce, the
Department of the Interior, the Department of the Treasury, the
Energy Information Administration, and the National Security
Council.
The authorities are not clearly defined, which allows
agencies the ability to shift responsibility for decision-
making and then deflect accountability that they should have to
Congress.
An example of this shifting responsibility and decision-
making by agencies is demonstrated at the World Bank. The
Treasury Department, not the State Department or the Department
of Energy, is in charge of energy policy at the World Bank.
So when we asked the nominee if the bureau was responsible
for the disastrous energy policy to block financing of coal-
fired power energy projects at the World Bank, he said no, the
Bureau of Energy Resources was not even involved in the policy
decisions regarding the public financing of coal-fired power
plants, energy projects through the World Bank, and other
development institutions.
The Treasury Department has the jurisdiction for the
formulation and implementation of energy policies at
multilateral financial and developmental institutions. Treasury
should not be tasked with formulating energy policy
internationally. Treasury does not have the technical expertise
and the knowledge to make a decision on the use of energy
resources.
So did we get a bureau that ensures that U.S. Government
agencies working on the exact same issues in international
energy would avoid duplicating efforts on other parts of
government? No. Perfect example of other agencies with
overlapping responsibilities and conflicting roles is the
Department of Energy.
It is unclear how the State Department Bureau of Energy
Resources differs from the Department of Energy's Office of
Policy and International Affairs. The Office of Policy and
International Affairs at the Department of Energy works with
countries across the world in the development and
implementation of national and international energy policies,
strategies, and objectives. It was headed by an Assistant
Secretary of Energy and had 103 staff in 2013.
So the inspector general's report from last month
identified and reported the problems between the various
agencies. This is the inspector general. It said, half of ENR
staff with substantive portfolios reported problems in the
bureau's relationship with the Department of Energy, including
competing or overlapping missions, inadequate communication and
coordination, tense interpersonal relationships.
But that is what we are asked to be doing in terms of the
confirmation today.
The Office of Inspector General's report also discussed the
actual reported impacts of the failed coordination, the
overlapping responsibilities, and the conflicting efforts. The
report said personnel in some U.S. embassies told OIG
inspectors that inconsistent coordination between ENR and the
Department of Energy has on occasion generated problems
overseas for missions trying to promulgate a single U.S. energy
message to foreign governments.
The inspector general goes on to say this is a serious
problem. The United States is unable to effectively communicate
a unified energy message to countries across the globe because
of the problems I have outlined today.
So I think the Senate should not confirm the first
Assistant Secretary for this bureau, which was not approved,
without first dealing with the duplication, the redundancies,
the confusing lines of authorities on international energy
policy. That is what the inspector general's report, to me, is
all about.
There is no clear delineation of responsibilities and
authorities, only a maze of Washington, D.C., bureaucracy that
creates international confusion for congressional committees
who are responsible for reviewing and conducting oversight of
the executive branch of government.
To me, Mr. Chairman, until these problems are addressed, I
am going to continue to oppose any person being nominated to be
the first Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Energy
Resources.
I urge my colleagues to also oppose the current nominee.
And therefore, I will call for a roll call vote.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Well, first of all, I want to thank you for
the way you have dealt with all of us on this. I think you have
made it known from the very beginning your concerns.
My route in dealing with this will be for us to pass a
State Department authorization that fixed all of those things.
I think you agree that would be a productive route to take. And
I hope that over the process of the next period of time, we
will figure out a way to more fully define how this department
should work.
Personally, I think it is important for the State
Department to have an energy strategy. I think it is one of the
most important tools of diplomacy, but also ensuring that we
can create environments, especially in Eastern Europe and other
places, that are conducive to them being able to be
independent.
So I have met with Amos. I am very impressed with him. I
feel like the plans that he is working on relative to Europe
are very important to us and our relationship there.
Therefore, I am going to vote to support him. I know there
will be members of the committee that will not do that. But I
do want to say that I am in 100 percent agreement with the
great Senator from Wyoming that, certainly, this committee
should use its role in authorizing to make sure that this
department functions in a much more satisfactory way. I
appreciate him bringing up the fallacies and the problems that
are taking place there now.
Senator Cardin. Mr. Chairman, first, I concur on your
comments, and I do think a State Department authorization bill
could be extremely helpful here.
I was listening to my colleague, Senator Barrasso, and a
lot of what he said, I agree with. Then I thought he would then
support having a confirmed Assistant Secretary in the State
Department, so that we could have more accountability for
international policies dealing with these issues. Because when
you are dealing with the Department of Energy, when you are
dealing with Treasury, you need the voice in the State
Department to help coordinate these policies.
Then you said, and I want to agree with it also, that the
nominee is well-qualified, or are you had no complaints with
the nominee. I just want people to know this is one of the key
players in getting the international community to honor the
Iranian sanctions regime. He is well-respected among the fossil
fuel industry. He is well-qualified to take on the challenges
that Senator Barrasso talked about. So we have the right
person.
Lastly, let me point out, it was this committee, under
Senator Lugar, in 2007, that recommended the special envoy in
the energy bill. So this was authorized by Congress, and now it
is important to have a person who is going to be accountable to
deal with the issues that Senator Barrasso has talked about.
I would urge my colleagues to vote for confirmation.
The Chairman. Senator Shaheen?
Senator Shaheen. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I do not want to
speak to the Bureau of Energy Resources, but I do want to speak
to the efforts of Mr. Hochstein, because I think he has done a
lot of things, but particularly in Europe, where I am the
ranking member, I think his efforts have been very important to
counter Russia's influence through energy.
He has worked very hard to cut off the Nord Stream 2
pipeline, which is Russia's effort to cut off Ukraine as a
transit point for Russian gas.
He has worked with Greece and Bulgaria on their gas
interconnector, so that they have access to non-Russian
supplies of energy.
He has worked with Ukraine to try and reform their energy
sector and to develop policies that would give them an
alternative to Russian oil and gas. And he has also been
instrumental in the creation of energy-specific sanctions on
Russia after it invaded Ukraine.
So those are just some of the things in Europe. As we think
about the challenges from Russia, I think it is, as you pointed
out, Mr. Chairman, very important to have an energy strategy in
Europe and to have someone who can help coordinate that.
The Chairman. Thank you. I do think it is central to our
efforts in that part of the world.
Senator Perdue?
Senator Perdue. Mr. Chairman, briefly, I just want to speak
to the question that I raised the other day, and that is, this
is another example of something that, obviously, when you look
at it in an ideal world, we would need that coordinated effort,
as the ranking member suggests.
Here is my observation. From 1992 to 2000, the State
Department spent, on average, about $20 billion running
everything that we had--USAID and everything, including
international operations. Under President Bush, it went up to
about an average of $30 billion. It grew from $20 billion to
$40 billion. Under the last 7 years, with increased demand in
Iraq and Afghanistan, granted, but the question is, we have
grown to $54 billion in the State Department, including $35
billion in foreign operations.
So my question is not about the individual. It is not about
whether this ideally should be done. The question is, can we
afford it? My answer is no. We cannot afford it, when every
dollar we are spending at the State Department is technically
borrowed today. Thank you.
The Chairman. I thank you. And again, to me, it warrants
us doing an excellent job on the State Department authorization
to make sure that appropriate priorities are dealt with.
I will say, again, with respect, I cannot imagine how
having an energy strategy relative to especially what Russia is
doing at present, and some of the issues that will occur in the
Middle East, is not something that is centrally important to
the State Department.
Senator Murphy?
Senator Murphy. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to
speak briefly in favor of Mr. Hochstein's nomination.
Senator Perdue raises a question that often gets talked
about in this committee and on the floor of the Senate as to
whether we can afford it. Let us just remember that though we
have seen an expansion of that budget, we still rank in the
lower quartile of OECD nations in terms of the percentage of
our GDP that we dedicate to an international affairs budget.
And Russia is dramatically ramping up the subsidies and
outright graft and intimidation that they use in order to
broaden their energy reach throughout Europe.
Senator Shaheen is right that Mr. Hochstein and that bureau
have been absolutely integral, not just to the work currently
to try to push back on Nord Stream, but on the successful
effort to convince our allies in Europe to reject the South
Stream pipeline, which would have been an end-run around
Ukraine to bring Russian gas and Russian energy into Central
and Western Europe.
I would just encourage anyone on this committee who has not
received a brief from Mr. Hochstein and from his department to
do so. I think, in a very short amount of time, you will
realize the tremendous value that this office brings to some
very important energy independence projects, particularly in
Eastern and Southern Europe. He has done a fantastic job during
the time that he has been in the position.
And I think as to Senator Barrasso's critique of the
overlapping sets of responsibilities, you are spot on. But I
worry that we try to have it both ways. We have not done a
State Department authorization in a decade, and then we
complain about the anachronistic ways in which the department
is organized.
Hopefully, we can solve that problem this year, get a great
person in that position, get a reformed set of
responsibilities, and gain some consensus on this committee at
the end of that process.
The Chairman. Senator Barrasso?
Senator Barrasso. Well, let me concur with the fine job
that he has done, which was mentioned by my Democratic
colleagues here. When Carlos Pascual was nominated for this
position and Senator Lugar, a former member of this committee,
had come to me about that, I had the same objection.
So this has been a longstanding issue. The issue of the
current job being done, Mr. Hochstein is serving in the role as
the coordinator currently for international energy affairs. In
2007, as you say, Congress passed bipartisan legislation
congressionally authorizing this position of coordinator at the
Department of State to handle these energy issues in foreign
policy. The coordinator reports directly to the Secretary of
State, unlike the Assistant Secretary who reports to the Under
Secretary of State. So Mr. Hochstein is able to carry out the
work on these issues dealing with energy policy at the
Department of State under the current coordinator position that
he has and is doing a fine job. And people point to that.
So there is really no delay or impact on his ability to do
this excellent job. The real obstacle is being able to advocate
a single U.S. energy message to foreign governments. That is
the problem and the reason I raised this today with regard to
the Office of Inspector General report.
So thank you, Mr. Chair, and I call for a roll call.
The Chairman. I thank you for the manner in which you have
raised it, and the consistency with which you have shown on
this issue.
Senator Markey?
Senator Markey. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
There is no question that energy is central to a huge
portion of our international policy. It is at the heart of a
lot of it, from Libya, to Iraq, to Iran, energy, energy,
energy. You can just keep going right down the line. That is
just the reality of the world in which we live.
Senator Barrasso talks about this part of the agency that
has been dissected for inadequate coordination. One of the
reasons is that there has never been a confirmed Assistant
Secretary for Energy. Never.
So what we are talking about here is confirming someone who
would have the responsibility for doing that coordination. And
that is all we are talking about. The individual, separate sub-
issues clearly are going to have to be debated as part of an
authorization, as part of any other activity that we might
engage in. But I do not think the problems that have been
identified can be solved at all unless we have a confirmed
Assistant Secretary for Energy. We have never had one.
So I think that is kind of how we should divide it. Is
there a management structure? And then how well, then, are the
individual issues being dealt with within that subpart of the
agency. I think that would probably be a better way of looking
at it and, as a result, Mr. Hochstein's nomination really just
fits into the context of making sure that there is a solid
management structure there.
And I would urge his approval.
The Chairman. With all the business we have, if it is
okay, I would like to move to his nomination.
I know there is going to be a divided vote here. I have a
sense of how it is going to be. But I am sort of uplifted by
the fact that I think the energy area of the State Department
is going to be part of our authorization. My sense is there
will be a lot of like-mindedness around making sure that we
have an authorization that addresses that.
So is there a motion to approve?
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. And a second?
Senator Boxer. Second.
The Chairman. I think this is going to be a roll call
vote, so if we will, Clerk, let us begin that.
The Clerk. Mr. Risch?
Senator Risch. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Rubio?
The Chairman. No by proxy.
The Clerk. Mr. Johnson? [No response.]
The Clerk. Mr. Flake?
Senator Flake. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Gardner?
Senator Gardner. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Perdue?
Senator Perdue. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Isakson?
Senator Isakson. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Paul?
The Chairman. No by proxy.
The Clerk. Mr. Barrasso?
Senator Barrasso. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Cardin?
Senator Cardin. Aye.
The Clerk. Mrs. Boxer?
Senator Boxer. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Menendez?
Senator Menendez. Aye.
The Clerk. Ms. Shaheen?
Senator Shaheen. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Coons?
Senator Coons. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Udall?
Senator Udall. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Murphy?
Senator Murphy. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Kaine?
Senator Kaine. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Markey?
Senator Markey. Aye.
The Chairman. The clerk will report.
The Clerk. Mr. Chairman?
The Chairman. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Chairman, the yays are 11, and the noes are
seven.
The Chairman. So he will move to the floor.
I want to thank everybody for the healthy discussion we
have had about this. Again, I want to thank Senator Barrasso
for the manner in which he has discussed this issue with us.
And I look forward to a good State Department authorization.
Next, we will consider S. Res. 388, the International
Women's Day Resolution, with two amendments.
Senator Cardin, do you have any comments to make on that?
Senator Cardin. I have already made my comments.
The Chairman. Would anyone else like to speak to this
resolution?
Senator Shaheen. Mr. Chairman?
The Chairman. Yes, ma'am?
Senator Shaheen. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank your staff
and all of the efforts that have gone into trying to reach an
accommodation around this resolution. It really speaks to the
challenges that half the world's population faces with respect
to domestic and sexual violence, with respect to child
marriage, with respect to trying to make sure that women have
access to schools around the world. And it talks about women
reaching their full potential.
But I have to say, Mr. Chairman, that I am disappointed
that, again, in these discussions, we were not able to talk
about the importance of women around the world having access to
reproductive health because an estimated 225 million women in
developing countries have unmet need for modern contraception.
That is highest in sub-Saharan Africa.
Providing greater access to family planning and
reproductive health services improves the health of mothers and
children. It also is one of the best ways to reduce poverty
around the world. And it is critical that women are able to
access family planning services.
Each year, about 47,000 women die from complications due to
unsafe abortions. Access to and use of effective contraception
reduces unintended pregnancies associated with unsafe
abortions.
So I just want to point out that if we are really talking
about women being able to reach their full potential, and the
challenges that women in the developing world face, making sure
that they can have access to reproductive health services is
one of the most critical needs that women and families have.
So, again, I am pleased with what we were able to agree to
in this resolution, but that is one thing that we have not been
able to agree to that I think continues to be an urgent need
for women around the world.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you for your comments.
Senator Boxer?
Senator Boxer. Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman.
I want to thank Senator Shaheen for her leadership.
And I just want to say, without rancor in any way, that
when you have women on a committee, a couple of women, you
ought to think about, just think about, putting yourself in our
shoes and our perspective.
Now, if you believe that abortion should be outlawed--some
do, even under the circumstances of rape and incest--then you
surely should embrace contraceptives. Surely.
And if you went out into the street and just asked a man on
the street, a woman on the street, that is what they would say.
More than 90 percent of the women in this country have used
birth control at some point in their life.
As Senator Shaheen says, to deny women the kind of health
care we need--the men do not need it in the same way--I think
is selfish, because what we are doing is we are forcing the
women of the world--let us just say, we are not helping them in
what they need most, decent, safe health care.
So I will stand with my colleague on this point. I am proud
of her for raising this issue. It is not pleasant. But I think
it needs to be said. It needs to be said.
Do not tell me you are against abortion at the same time
you are against birth control, you know? It just is--it is
phony. It is phony.
That is my thought. I did not hold back. I was going to,
but I am sorry.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. That is a general characteristic I have
noticed through the years.
[Laughter.]
Senator Boxer. You will soon be free of these words, so
bear with me.
But I just hope you will think a little bit more, open up
your minds a little bit more, and listen to what Jeanne has
said.
The Chairman. I appreciate both of your comments.
Any other discussion?
[No response.]
The Chairman. I think we live in a world where we get done
what we can get done, and today we are, certainly, moving ahead
with this issue. I thank both of you for your comments and
contributions.
Is there any further discussion on this resolution?
[No response.]
The Chairman. Apparently not.
Is there a motion to approve both manager's amendments by
voice vote, en bloc?
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Boxer. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve both amendments,
en bloc.
All in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. All opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The amendments
are agreed to.
Are there any further amendments?
[No response.]
The Chairman. Seeing none, I would like to hear a motion
on approving the resolution as it was just amended.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Boxer. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded. The question is on
the motion to approve S. Res. 388, as amended.
All in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The resolution,
as amended, is agreed to.
Thank you. Thank you for your contributions.
Our next order of business that I also ask we consider en
bloc by a voice vote are the remaining resolutions before the
committee, S. Res. 375, S. Res. 368, S. Res. 392, S. Res. 378,
S. Res. 383.
Senator Cardin, any comments?
Senator Cardin. I have already commented, and I would
encourage members to support these resolutions.
The Chairman. Are there any other members who would like
to speak to these resolutions?
Senator Menendez?
Senator Menendez. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I am strongly supportive of these resolutions, particularly
with reference to the resolution that expresses concern over
the prosecution and conviction of former President Nasheed, as
well as the call for due process and freedom from political
persecution for all the people of the Maldives, and the one on
Boris Nemtsov.
I know the chairman has heard me say many times that I
believe that an emphasis on human rights and democracy and
freedom are incredibly important when they emanate from this
committee, the Senate, and the United States of America
globally, and that sometimes I worry that we subject those
guiding principles to other interests.
I am glad to see Senator Leahy offering the resolution on
President Nasheed. I am glad to see the one on Boris Nemtsov.
And I just want to take a moment to say there are other places
in the world in which the very same things that we cry out
for--for ensuring that, in fact, people in the Maldives are
going to be free from political persecution for all the people
of the Maldives--I would like to see the people of Cuba be free
from all the political persecution that they have suffered for
so long.
I would like to see an international investigation, as we
called for Boris Nemtsov, as well for Oswaldo Paya. Oswaldo
Paya was a peaceful activist in Cuba who, under the Cuba
Constitution as it exists, was collecting signatures on a
petition to petition the Government of Cuba to create changes.
He was assassinated inside of Cuba.
So I bring up this moment because, as someone who is
universally passionate about these issues, I would like to
invoke the passion of my colleagues who may disagree with our
policy or maybe agree now with the present policy on Cuba to
speak out about human rights and democracy in Cuba, to speak
out as strongly as they do in other parts of the world about
the people in Cuba who are languishing every day, trying to
create peaceful change in their country.
The greatest repression we have seen, that one can imagine
in this, in the last several months, over 1,400 Cubans have
been arrested. The Women in White, who every Sunday march to
church dressed in white with a gladiola to talk about--in
essence, in a peaceful protest--their sons and daughters and
husbands, are arrested by the Castro regime, and we say
nothing. And we say nothing.
So I want to take this moment to hopefully prick the
conscience of my colleagues, who I would hope would be as
vigorous in their advocacy for human rights and democracy in
Cuba as I admire them in other parts of the world.
And I strongly support the resolution.
The Chairman. I appreciate your strong and consistent
voice on human rights around the world. And I think we have an
opportunity with some of the changes that have been put forth
by the administration to see if the Castro administration will
begin to respect human rights in a different way. We will see
what occurs in that regard.
Senator Menendez. Mr. Chairman, I hope 1,400 arrests in 2
months is not the beginning of what is change.
The Chairman. I understand.
Any others?
Senator Coons?
Senator Coons. I will be very brief, Mr. Chairman.
If I might, first, I would like to be added as a cosponsor
of all these resolutions. I just want to thank Senator Perdue
for his leadership on S. Res. 383. I think it is important that
we continue to emphasize the enduring economic ties and
entrepreneurial ties between the United States and Israel. The
BIRD Foundation is a great example of that, and I would like to
thank you and Ranking Member Cardin for your leadership in
bringing forward in S. 1252, the Global Food Security Act, for
authorizing Feed the Future, and, as Senator Cardin referenced,
at a time of great drought and challenges in Ethiopia, to
continue to invest in finding both efficient and effective ways
to deliver food aid through a variety of pathways.
It has been great to work with you on this, and I am
pleased we are moving forward today. Thank you.
Senator Perdue. Mr. Chairman?
The Chairman. Senator Perdue?
Senator Perdue. I had the privilege, on a recent trip, of
meeting Vladimir Kara-Murza that was also involved. He is a
Russian opposition leader as well. I was very moved by that.
So I would like to very definitely be added as a cosponsor
on S. Res. 378.
I also would like to speak to S. Res. 383, and thank
Senator Coons for his leadership as a cosponsor of this bill to
encourage the U.S. to facilitate and grow our economic
relationship with Israel. Some 250,000 high-paying jobs are
supported by that relationship. Israel today provides more
direct foreign investment than Russia, China, and even India.
So I encourage the committee to vote aye on this bill.
Thank you.
The Chairman. Any other comments?
Before we vote, I want to personally thank Trey Hicks in
our office who has been a saint, if you will, in trying to work
through these issues of global food security. We still have a
lot of work to do, but I just have to tell you, the patience
that he has shown in working through the issues that we have
had to deal with here are remarkable. Yet he has been
persistent, and I just want to thank him.
Senator Coons. Mr. Chairman, can I add an ``amen'' to that?
The Chairman. Thank you.
Senator Isakson?
Senator Isakson. May I make remarks on global food
security?
The Chairman. Sure.
Senator Isakson. I just want to thank you for adding
yourself as a cosponsor today. I want to thank Senator Coons,
Senator Casey, Senator Rubio, and others who have helped us.
Food security is critical. One in eight people around the
world go to sleep in hunger. Stunting is a major problem around
the world.
It is in the interest of the United States national
security for people to not be hungry and be self-sufficient.
This bill coordinates all the programs of U.S. assistance
to ensure we meet the goals of the United States. But we work
people from dependence to self-sufficiency around the world, so
food security is no longer an issue.
I would appreciate everybody's support.
The Chairman. Thank you. Thank you so much. I appreciate
your tremendous contributions in that area, and all the work
you have done in Africa in general.
So I think we got a little ahead of ourselves, thanks to
me.
Do we have a motion to approve these resolutions?
Senator Cardin. En bloc, so moved.
The Chairman. En bloc. Is there a second?
Senator Boxer. Second.
The Chairman. All in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. All opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. The ayes have it. The resolutions are agreed
to.
Next we will consider S. 1252, the Global Food Security Act
of 2015.
Senator Cardin, any additional comments?
Senator Cardin. Again, I strongly support this and thank
all those who were involved.
The Chairman. Anyone else?
[No response.]
The Chairman. Thank you.
With no further discussion, I will entertain a motion to
consider the substitute amendment by voice vote?
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Boxer. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the substitute
amendment.
All in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. All opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The substitute
amendment is agreed to.
Are there any further amendments?
[No response.]
Hearing none, is there a motion to approve the legislation,
as amended?
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Boxer. Second.
The Chairman. Thank you. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve S. 1252, as
amended.
All in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
Opposed?
[No response.]
With that, the ayes have it. The legislation is amended and
agreed to.
That completes the committee's business. I ask unanimous
consent that staff be authorized to make technical and
conforming changes.
Without objection, so ordered.
With that, without objection, the committee will stand
adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 10:54 a.m., the meeting was adjourned.]
----------
BUSINESS MEETING
----------
THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016
https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/business-meeting-042816
U.S. Senate,
Committee on Foreign Relations,
Washington, DC.
The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:04 a.m. in,
Room 116, The Capitol Building, Hon. Bob Corker, chairman of
the committee, presiding.
Present: Senators Corker [presiding], Risch, Rubio,
Johnson, Flake, Gardner, Perdue, Isakson, Paul, Barrasso,
Cardin, Boxer, Menendez, Shaheen, Coons, Udall, Murphy, Kaine,
and Markey.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. BOB CORKER,
U.S. SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE
The Chairman. This business meeting of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee will come to order.
I want to thank everybody for being here. We have a great
agenda today, where we have nine pieces of legislation, seven
nominations, and a number of Foreign Service Officer lists.
First, we will consider the five Foreign Service Officer
lists of over 300 personnel referred to the committee. I
support these appointments and promotions, and thank all of
these officers for their service.
We will also consider seven nominations, including several
important new Ambassadors.
I want to thank my colleagues for helping the committee to
take these steps forward today.
Next, we will consider the six resolutions on the agenda.
The first resolution, S. Res. 442, condemns the terrorist
attacks in Brussels and honors the memory of the U.S. citizens
murdered in those attacks.
This terrorist attack, coming approximately 5 months after
the Paris attacks, serves as yet another example of the
capability that Islamic State possesses to kill Europeans and
Americans in areas that we have long considered safe.
We send our thoughts and prayers to the victims of these
attacks and to their families, especially the loved ones of the
murdered Americans--including my fellow Tennessean Justin
Shults; his wife, Stephanie; and Gail Martinez, the wife of
U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Martinez.
Next, we will consider S. Res. 340, a resolution expressing
the sense of Congress that ISIS is committing genocide, crimes
against humanity, and war crimes. I want to thank Senator
Cassidy and the co-sponsors for bringing S. Res. 340 before
this committee.
We have worked with Senator Rubio on a substitute text that
is based on the resolution that passed the House unanimously
and adds important statements of policy by the Secretary of
State. I want to thank him and Senator Cardin for their
leadership and support, and urge adoption of the amended
resolution text.
Next, we will consider S. Res. 418. I want to thank Senator
Collins and Senator Feinstein for bringing this resolution
before the committee to recognize the courage and vision of the
four women leaders highlighted in this resolution.
The resolution also appropriately honors the integral part
of women's leadership throughout the world.
We will also consider S. Res. 394, a resolution recognizing
the 195th anniversary of the independence of Greece and
celebrating democracy in Greece and the U.S. Ancient Greece
developed the concept of democracy, and our Founding Fathers
drew on this system and the ideals that produced it in order to
found our own country, forming a common bond that, on this
anniversary, we reaffirm.
The United States and Greece have repeatedly been allies in
the fight for freedom across the world. I want to thank Senator
Menendez for bringing this resolution to the committee.
Next, we will consider S. Res. 436, a resolution supporting
the goals and ideals of World Malaria Day with an amendment.
While we have made significant progress against malaria in the
past decade, nearly half a million people still died from this
disease in 2015, despite the fact that it is both preventable
and treatable.
I am pleased to support this resolution. I want to thank
Senator Wicker for bringing this to the committee and Senators
Boxer, Coons, Isakson, and Rubio for cosponsoring.
Our last resolution we will consider is S. Res. 381,
honoring the memory and legacy of Michael James Riddering and
condemning the terrorist attacks in Burkina Faso on January 15,
2016, that took his life. I thank Senator Coons for bringing
this resolution to the committee.
Mr. Riddering had moved his family to Burkina Faso
responding to a call to serve others less fortunate. The terror
attack perpetrated in Burkina Faso's capital took his life and
more than two dozen other lives.
Michael's service to others and willingness to do so
despite the risks and rising insecurity for civilians in many
parts of the world is commendable and is what will be
remembered and celebrated as an example for others to follow.
We will also consider H.R. 2494, legislation to strengthen
protections for the remaining populations of wild elephants,
rhinos, and other imperiled species.
I want to commend Senators Coons and Flake for bringing
this bipartisan legislation to the committee. This is an
important issue that both houses of Congress are committed to
addressing.
Wildlife trafficking affects not only imperiled species
such as elephants and rhinos but also the safety and security
of local communities preyed upon by transnational criminal
groups.
This legislation will ensure that the administration takes
a coordinated approach in implementing the President's National
Wildlife Trafficking Strategy as well as provide Congress with
needed oversight of its implementation.
Next, we will consider S. 2845, a bill to extend the
termination of sanctions with respect to Venezuela under the
Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of
2014, with an amendment.
I want to thank Senator Rubio and Senator Menendez for
working with us to modify the termination date for extending
these sanctions authorities to an additional 3 years.
The situation in Venezuela obviously is not good, and we
need to be paying attention to what is happening there. And I
thank them for their efforts in this regard.
Finally, we will consider what I view as one of this
committee's top priorities--moving forward with a Department of
State authorization bill.
As members know, in my view as chairman, this is more than
just a priority. It is a responsibility, our responsibility as
a coequal branch of government, our responsibility as overseers
of the executive branch, our responsibility to the Foreign
Service Officers and civil servants who serve honorably in the
department, and our responsibility to the American people.
It has been more than a dozen years since Congress
fulfilled that responsibility and enacted a State Department
authorization.
Last year's 2016 authorization, which we expect to pass
later today--I hope that is going to happen--and the bill we
are considering now for 2017, will mark 2 consecutive years our
committee has approved this important legislation.
It is my hope that we are establishing a strong and
conscientious precedent for similar action in the years ahead.
I want to thank every member who worked with us to arrive at a
manager's package, Senators Cardin, Barrasso, Flake, Gardner,
Johnson, Markey, Menendez, Perdue, Rubio, and Shaheen.
This has been a tremendous effort by almost the entire
committee, and it is much appreciated.
Members will recall that our 2016 bill significantly
advanced security at our embassies, better protecting the
people who make sacrifices to serve abroad on our behalf;
enhanced the public diplomacy activities we undertake around
the world; and made a very wide variety of other substantial
improvements, from integrating our economic foreign policy
efforts, to improving accountability for the money we
contribute to international organizations, to fostering greater
efficiency in the department's systems for dealing with
personnel and facilities.
We find ourselves here today following months of in-depth
examination, lengthy briefings and conversations, hearings, and
painstaking negotiations.
I will second that.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. And what is before us is a solid, bipartisan
bill that members can be proud of.
It increases oversight and accountability for terrible
cases of abuse committed by U.N. peacekeepers, crimes we have
investigated in both our hearings and oversight activities.
It helps protect whistleblowers who have the courage to
stand up and fight to put a stop to these abuses.
It takes on the issue of reforming the assessment formula
for U.N. peacekeeping, helping to ensure fairness for American
taxpayers.
It restructures a number of the fee systems at the State
Department to ensure that the funds flowing into the department
are sensibly managed and appropriately tracked and overseen.
And it reforms the way the State Department manages and
compensates its personnel at home and abroad, making certain
they are paid fairly, providing additional flexibility, and
modernizing systems to ensure the State Department can keep an
increasingly competitive work force environment.
It is our intention to see to it that both this bill and
the 2016 authorization, which also contained so many worthy
provisions this committee's members worked hard to write, are
signed into law this year by the President. Today's meeting is
another milestone along that road.
I want to thank my colleagues for their outstanding support
and constructive work to create this legislation and to improve
it with their amendments. I am truly grateful.
We are determined to maintain this committee's role as a
significant leader in protecting the American national security
and defending our interests around the globe. Our action here
today is a truly consequential part of that effort.
With that, I would like to recognize our ranking member.
But in doing so, I want to thank Jodi Herman, who has been
a part of the Senate and this committee for many, many years. I
know he will want to speak to that.
She has been a tremendous asset to the committee, and I
will say a worthy opponent.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. They do not come any tougher than Jodi.
But she is also tremendously knowledgeable. Her knowledge,
her institutional memory, her passion for what we do in this
committee is something that has enhanced all of us, and I want
to thank her.
I want to wish her daughter a happy 11th birthday.
[Applause.]
The Chairman. I am glad she is able to witness Jodi's last
business meeting with us here today.
Thank you so much.
With that, I will turn it over to the distinguished ranking
member.
STATEMENT OF HON. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN,
U.S. SENATOR FROM MARYLAND
Senator Cardin. Thank you very much, Senator Corker.
I am going to talk about Jodi in a few moments, but first,
let me respond to the business agenda that we have, and then,
with your consent, I will talk a little bit about Jodi.
I agree completely with your analysis of the importance of
today's business meeting as it relates to the 2017 State
Department authorization.
We started down this path a couple years ago. I want to
thank Senator Menendez for his leadership as chairman, as we
started to move down the path toward the authorization of the
State Department. It has been too many years since we last
authorized it.
It is our responsibility. It is our responsibility for many
reasons.
First, we are the committee with expertise. And in many
cases, decisions are being made by other committees in the
United States Senate because of our failure to act on a State
Department authorization.
Secondly, it is our responsibility to give guidance to the
State Department and the agencies that are impacted by an
authorization bill. In our failure to act, we are not doing
what we should be doing.
Lastly, as you pointed out, our responsibility on oversight
is compromised if we cannot pass an authorization bill.
So I strongly support the process, and I am encouraged by
the chairman's work in the last couple days to clear the 2016
authorization. Chairman Corker has spent a tremendous amount of
not only time but political energy in order to get this done.
So job well-done. This is the proper role for our committee,
and I strongly support the legislation that is before us.
The authorization 2016 contains many, many important
provisions that many members of this committee authored.
The 2017, as the chairman pointed out, deals with several
very important issues in the State Department, including the
U.N. peacekeeping, where the sexual abuse perpetrated by the
peacekeepers on the people that they are supposed to defend and
help is outrageous. But just as outrageous was the inadequate
U.N. response.
That is why we have very strong provisions in this
legislation to make it clear that our representative at the
U.N. will act to make sure that there is not only a clear
policy, but that policy is enforced.
Yes, we are encouraged by the United Nations Security
Council resolution, but we want to make sure that is, in fact,
enforced and that we also provide the authority that we can
take, as we have so many times needed to take, unilateral
action if there is not adequate international response to the
accountability of U.N. peacekeepers.
I also am pleased that we are able to advance important
legislation in this authorization dealing with State Department
personnel, those State Department officers that are on the
frontline. We have been able to make additional improvements in
the authorization laws to help them in accomplishing their
mission.
As the chairman pointed out, we updated the consular fee
system that desperately needed some update. And many other
provisions are included in the 2017 State Department
authorization.
The manager's amendment incorporates many amendments
offered by members of this committee, and we thank all of you
for participating, Senator Markey, Senator Menendez, Senator
Shaheen, Senator Barrasso, Senator Flake, Senator Gardner,
Senator Johnson, Senator Perdue, Senator Rubio, and many
others.
Let me move on to the wildlife trafficking bill. I really
do want to thank two of our colleagues not only for authoring
this bill, but I think educating us all on the need here,
Senator Coons and Senator Flake.
I joined them on a codel to the southern part of Africa,
Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe. In Namibia,
particularly, I got a chance to see Senator Flake in the
country where he did his missionary work. It was a real
experience to see how that country has changed and the impact
that Senator Flake has had on that country. I applaud him for
that.
The Chairman. So it has changed for the better?
[Laughter.]
Senator Cardin. Absolutely. No question about it. They
still remember him.
This legislation deals with anti-poaching programs and
wildlife trafficking programs, as the chairman mentioned. It is
more than just elephant tusks and rhino horns, which have
incredible value. It is a $7 billion to $10 billion annual
illegal enterprise that is fueling criminal activities around
the globe.
It is important that the U.S. show leadership here. This
country defines focus countries and countries of concern that
are the source, transit countries or destination markets for
trafficked animal wildlife, and requires us to have
accountability through transparency and reporting.
So I am very pleased about the ability to work this
legislation out and encourage my colleagues to support it.
In regards to the Venezuela sanction, I want to thank
Senator Menendez for his continued leadership on this issue. We
all understand there are over 100 political prisoners behind
bars in Venezuela. It is important that we send a clear
message, and this 3-year reauthorization is a very important
bill to be done.
The chairman mentioned the resolutions that we are going to
be taking up. I will not go through all of them again. They are
all very important. I am glad to join many of my colleagues who
initiated these resolutions in very important areas, including
the chairman's resolution dealing with the Brussels attack and
the tragic loss of 32 innocent lives.
And thank you, Mr. Chairman, for again expediting the
procedures for our consideration of nominees and Foreign
Service Officer lists that are here that we will be able to act
on today. I just wish the chairman had more influence on the
floor and could move them a little bit faster on the floor, but
you have done a good job in convincing your leadership to move
these nominations on the floor. But in committee, you have been
superb, and I thank you very much for your courtesy in that
regard.
Mr. Chairman, with your indulgence, let me just join in
commenting that this will be Jodi Herman's last business
meeting as a staff member of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee and our leader on the Democratic side.
I agree with you. She has been a great advocate for the
Democratic members. But she has also been able to reach
accommodation so that this committee can carry out its great
tradition of, I hope, nonpartisan activities on behalf of
foreign policy.
And Elise, her daughter, is here, celebrating her birthday,
seeing her mother in action.
Elise, we wish you a very happy birthday, and we are glad
that you could join us.
As the chairman pointed out, Jodi has the talent, the
intelligence, the integrity, and the ability to get things
done. She is really committed to the best of American foreign
policy, and that best of American foreign policy is using our
tools to accomplish good governance and human rights, and
protecting the rights of people who have been persecuted around
the world.
I said this last night when we had a little get-together
for her. There are many people around the world today who have
much better lives as a result of Jodi Herman who will never
know her name, but she knows that she was able to accomplish
those things that have made a difference in people's lives.
Mr. Chairman, you have accommodated us to present to her a
resolution on behalf of our committee that says: Whereas Jodi
Herman has served the United States Government for 16 years and
served as the first female Democratic staff director of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee since 2015. Whereas Jodi
before coming to the Senate held important positions in the
House International Relations Committee and the United States
Mission on the Organization of American States and the National
Endowment for Democracy.
I should point out that she is returning to the National
Endowment for Democracy, so she will be continuing to do her
important work on behalf of human rights and good governance.
But you are going to learn a little bit more about her.
Whereas Jodi is a proud native of St. Paul, Minnesota, a
dedicated wife and mother, and a fixture in the civic life of
her community, including as an active member of Temple Emanuel
in Kensington, Maryland; as a member of the PTA at Ashburton
Elementary School; and a Girl Scout troop leader, as a member
of the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital.
Whereas prior to leaving the committee staff, Jodi's
diligent and dedicated work in the United States Congress as
legislative assistant and foreign policy adviser, chief counsel
and deputy staff director to Senator Menendez, established her
skill as an effective staffer on Capitol Hill.
I am going to jump to some of the great accomplishments
that we were able to do as a result of Jodi's work, and that
is, the enactment of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of
2015, that Electrify Africa Act of 2015, whereas we will
leverage private sector resources through loan guarantees to
help 50 million Africans access electricity for the first time,
and add 20,000 megawatts of electricity to the grid by 2020;
passed the war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria; the
Global Magnitsky Human Rights Act, which authorized the
President to impose U.S. entry and property sanctions against
any foreign person or entity who has committed gross violations
of international recognized human rights; and passed in the
committee two successful bills authorizing the State
Department. We are anticipating today that will happen again.
Resolve that the Committee on Foreign Relations expresses
its deep appreciation and sincere gratitude to the
contributions of Jodi Herman to the committee of the United
States Senate, the people of Maryland and New Jersey, and the
United States of America.
Jodi, congratulations.
[Applause.]
Senator Cardin. Mr. Chairman, if you would indulge, if I
could yield to Senator Menendez, I would certainly appreciate
that. I think Senator Menendez knows Jodi the best.
STATEMENT OF HON. BOB MENENDEZ,
U.S. SENATOR FROM NEW JERSEY
Senator Menendez. Thank you, Senator Cardin. Thank you, Mr.
Chairman.
I will be brief, because I think Senator Cardin has gone
into a great deal of depth on Jodi's accomplishments here.
Jodi started with me when I was in the House of
Representatives as a staff assistant, and she is now the staff
director of the Democratic side of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee. I was privileged to appoint her to that position.
In this institution, knowledge and intellect is an
important asset, but also the ability to understand the
politics of an issue, the policy of an issue, and the process
to get it done, and she possesses all three of those skills,
which the amalgam of all three is not always present in the
abilities of individuals.
So that has been one of the reasons, from the Democratic
side, we have been so successful. I know the chairman called
her a worthy opponent, and she can be that at times. But I
think she is also a worthy partner, and in many respects has
proven that, as she has worked across the aisle.
So when members of the staff on both sides wonder whether
their work ever actually makes a difference, Senator Cardin
read several of those elements where working with members, it
made a difference.
But one of the ones that I think Jodi will take with her is
when she helped me pass an amendment to give the families of
the Marine Corps barracks bombing the opportunity to get actual
justice, to the extent that compensation can ever be justice,
for the loss of lives of loved ones. And the Supreme Court just
this week upheld what the Senate and the Congress did.
That one measure gives enormous opportunity for justice to
families. It is just one example of the accomplishments that
someone like Jodi Herman has brought to the committee, and that
collectively we enjoy.
So we salute her, and we are thrilled to see that she is
going help promote democracy throughout the world.
Congratulations, Jodi.
[Applause.]
The Chairman. I think the comments around Jodi's
retirement highlight what a privilege it is for all of us not
only to serve in the Senate, but to serve on this committee.
And all of the staff who work with us collectively, we do, in
fact, make a difference in people's lives all around the world.
And what a privilege that is.
In many cases, it is just approaching something in a more
sensible way and leveraging the United States' power to
influence without even adding additional dollars.
So we serve on a committee that makes a difference, there
is no question about it.
Jodi, your retirement highlights the important role that
our highly professional staff members throughout this committee
and our personal staffs make in people's lives in working with
us, so we thank you and thank them.
Our first order of business today will be five Foreign
Service lists.
Senator Cardin, do you have any additional comments you
would like to make?
Senator Cardin. No.
The Chairman. Would anyone else like to speak to these
lists?
[No response.]
The Chairman. If there is no further discussion on these
lists, I would entertain a motion to approve these lists en
bloc, as amended, by voice vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Risch. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve five Foreign
Service lists en bloc, as amended.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
appointments and promotions are agreed to.
Next, in the interest of time, I would ask that the
committee proceed en bloc to vote in consideration of the
following nominees before the committee: Ms. Swati Dandekar--I
am going to put a provision in later that people's names cannot
be that long; I am just kidding--to be U.S. director of the
Asian Development Bank, with the rank of Ambassador; Ms.
Christine Elder to be Ambassador to Liberia; Ms. Kelly
Keiderling Franz to be Ambassador to Uruguay; Ms. Elizabeth
Richard to be Ambassador to Lebanon; Mr. Stephen Schwartz to be
Ambassador to Somalia; Mr. Adam Sterling to be Ambassador to
Slovakia; Mr. David Harden to be an assistant administrator at
USAID.
I thank all these nominees for being willing to settle into
these positions and the process they go through with us.
Senator Cardin, do you have any comments?
Senator Cardin. I do not.
The Chairman. Anyone else wishing to speak to these
nominees?
[No response.]
The Chairman. If there is no further discussion on the
nominations, I would entertain a motion to approve them by
voice vote en bloc.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Boxer. Second.
The Chairman. Thank you. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the nominations.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
nominations are agreed to.
Next, we will consider S. Res. 340, the ISIS genocide
resolution with three Rubio amendments.
Senator Cardin, do you have any comments?
Senator Cardin. No.
The Chairman. Anyone else?
[No response.]
The Chairman. If there is no further discussion on this
resolution, I would entertain a motion to approve the Rubio
title, preamble, and substitute amendments by voice vote en
bloc.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Boxer. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve all amendments en
bloc.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
amendments are agreed to.
Are there any further amendments?
Senator Boxer. Mr. Chairman, amendments to?
The Chairman. Rubio.
Senator Boxer. Okay.
The Chairman. Hearing none, is there a motion to approve
the resolution, as amended?
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Risch. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve S. Res. 340, as
amended.
All in favor will say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
Opposed?
[No response.]
With that, the ayes have it, and the resolution, as
amended, is agreed to.
Next, we will consider S. Res. 381, the World Malaria Day
resolution with an amendment.
Senator Cardin, do you have any comments?
Senator Cardin. No.
The Chairman. Anyone else?
[No response.]
The Chairman. If there is no further discussion on this
resolution, I would entertain a motion to approve the preamble
amendment by voice vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Risch. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the preamble
amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. All opposed?
[No response.]
With that, the ayes have it, and the amendment is agreed
to.
Are there further amendments?
[No response.]
Hearing none, is there a motion to approve the resolution
as amended?
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Risch. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded. Thank you both.
The question is on the motion to approve S. Res. 436, as
amended.
All in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
Opposed?
[No response.]
With that, the ayes have it, and the resolution, as
amended, is agreed to.
Our next order of business that I will ask we consider en
bloc by voice vote are the remaining resolutions before this
committee. That is S. Res. 442, S. Res. 418, S. Res. 394, S.
Res. 381.
Senator Cardin, any comments?
Senator Cardin. No.
Any comments by other members?
Senator Coons. I just want to say thank you for pressing
for the resolution recognizing Michael Riddering, who was
killed as a volunteer overseas. It is important we continue to
recognize those who risk and lose their lives in humanitarian
service.
The Chairman. Thank you for bringing that to our attention
and for recognizing him in that way.
Senator Shaheen?
Senator Shaheen. I would like to be added as a cosponsor to
your and Senator Cardin's resolution condemning the terrorist
attacks in Brussels.
The Chairman. Without objection.
Any other comments?
[No response.]
The Chairman. If there is no further discussion on these
resolutions, I would entertain a motion to approve them en bloc
by voice vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Second?
Senator Risch. Second.
The Chairman. Thank you. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the four
resolutions en bloc.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
resolutions are agreed to.
Next, we will consider S. 2845, a bill to extend the
termination of sanctions with respect to Venezuela under the
Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014
with an amendment.
Senator Cardin, do you have any additional comments?
Senator Cardin. Just to thank Senator Menendez and Senator
Rubio for working this out.
The Chairman. I second that.
Would anyone else like to speak to this?
[No response.]
The Chairman. If there is no further discussion, I would
entertain a motion to consider the Rubio amendment by voice
vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Risch. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the Rubio
amendment.
All in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The Rubio
amendment is agreed to.
Are there further amendments?
[No response.]
The Chairman. Hearing none, is there a motion to approve
the legislation as amended?
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Second?
Senator Risch. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve S. 2845, as
amended.
All in favor will say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
legislation, as amended, is agreed to.
Next we will consider H.R. 2494, the Global Anti-Poaching
Act, with an amendment.
Senator Cardin, do you have any comments?
Senator Cardin. No, except to say that Senators Coons and
Flake have been as persistent as any of our two members on this
legislation, and I thank them for doing that, because this is a
very important bill.
The Chairman. I would agree to their persistence.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. I thank them for burning up my cell phone
with texts pursuing this, and I am glad we are where we are
today.
Would anyone else like to speak to this?
Senator Flake?
Senator Flake. I thank the chairman and the ranking member
and, of course, Senator Coons for spearheading this. This is a
good bill and needed effort, and I am glad to see it passed.
The Chairman. I am glad you all put forth the effort and
it will be successful today, and we thank you.
Anyone else?
Senator Coons?
Senator Coons. I just want to thank Senator Flake for
leading a truly memorable trip, which resulted in both of us
being charged by elephants, and thank the chair and ranking
member for your accommodation and recognition that this is a
security threat as well as a genuine threat to the wildlife of
the world. I am very hopeful that we can now get this enacted
and get it signed into law by the President. I am really
grateful to Senator Flake for his leadership on that.
The Chairman. Thank you. Thank you so much.
If there is no further discussion, I would entertain a
motion to consider the Coons-Flake substitute amendment by
voice vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Boxer. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the Coons-Flake
substitute amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No reponse.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
amendment is agreed to.
Are there any further amendments?
[No response.]
The Chairman. Hearing none, is there a motion to approve
the legislation as amended?
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Risch. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve H.R. 2494, as
amended.
All in favor will say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
legislation, as amended, is agreed to.
Lastly, we will consider the Department of State
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017.
Senator Cardin, do you have additional comments you want to
make on this?
Senator Cardin. No, except, as you did, to acknowledge our
staff that did extraordinary work. This is extremely difficult
text to get through. On the Democratic side, Margaret Taylor
did an incredible job. I want to thank all the staff.
The Chairman. In that vein, I would like to thank Brooke,
Chris, Christine, and Morgan on our staff for the outstanding
work they put forth to get us to where we are today, and on
your staff, Margaret, Michael, Charlotte and Algene for their
tremendous effort.
Senator Cardin. Thanks for including the other three.
Otherwise, I would have been in trouble.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. I am always trying to cover for you.
Senator Cardin. Thank you.
The Chairman. Thank you. I thank the staff really for
their cooperation.
I want to say in this case, in particular, I want to thank
the State Department for working with us as you did. I know
that there are numbers of provisions in here that give you the
flexibilities that you need to carry out your responsibilities
in a much better way, and we thank you for highlighting those
and working with us the way you did. We look forward to that
again next year.
Any other discussion?
[No response.]
I would like to entertain a motion to consider the
manager's amendment by voice vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Second?
Senator Risch. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the manager's
amendment by voice vote.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. All opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
amendment is agreed to.
Are there further amendments?
Senator Paul?
Senator Paul. There has been significant discussion over
time about sort of the balance of power with regard to foreign
relations. Sometimes, one party or the other will admit that
the President has too much power and that we should assert
ourselves more in this role. It seems to be more assertive when
you are in the party opposing the party that is in the White
House, but really, it ought to be both parties. We ought to, as
a body, say we want more power; we want more oversight; and we
want to be more of a participant in what happens.
Several years ago, Senator Leahy put forward an amendment
that I am a big fan of. I just think we should use it even
more. This amendment was to the appropriations to the State
Department, saying that any country that committed human rights
abuse or was taken over by a military coup shouldn't get our
military assistance.
I think there needs to be a more robust debate over who
gets our money, frankly. We have a shortage of money, a finite
amount of money.
I have been hoping to get a bridge built across the Ohio
for years and years, and yet we spend $113 billion building and
rebuilding the infrastructure in Afghanistan. So I think we
need have more of a debate over whether we spend money overseas
or whether we spend it here, whether we give it to people who
are basically imprisoning and publically whipping rape victims
in some countries that receive military assistance, whether we
are giving military assistance to some countries that stone
women to death for adultery, whether we are giving military
assistance to countries that imprison people for their
religious beliefs or criticism of the state religion in many
countries. Many of these countries still continue to receive
military assistance.
My resolution or my amendment would not change the Leahy
amendment as the way the Leahy amendment originates. The
administration has the power or is supposed to withhold
military assistance when there are human rights abuses or when
there is an undemocratic takeover of government.
However, we often quickly revert back. It seems like the
only thing that never stops is military assistance, and so it
very quickly resumes.
What I would like to say is that when we withhold military
assistance, when we have a human rights abuse so egregious that
we are going to withhold military assistance, that it come back
and we actually debate in the Senate whether or not the country
is adhering and whether or not the country has changed its
ways, whether the country is a democratically elected country,
whether or not it is justice to have 500 people condemned to
death in 5 minutes.
In Egypt, they condemned, recently, to death a 6-month-old
boy for terrorism. Then they acknowledged, well, maybe it was
his cousin who is 15. Then maybe it was his uncle who is 52.
They all had the same name.
But they do not even have time to read the names out. They
are condemned to death, 500 people at a time. They do not even
have time to read the names.
Can you imagine a trial? Is that justice, a trial where you
do not even recite the names and you put people to death? Whole
political parties--I am not a fan of the Muslim Brotherhood,
but putting the whole party to death indiscriminately?
That is not democracy. We should question and have a robust
debate over whether or not we are going to continue military
assistance. We completely leave it up to the administration.
This is not a partisan attempt. This is nothing against
President Obama. I would say exactly the same thing if this
were George W. Bush.
My resolution says that if we suspend military assistance,
for it to resume, it has to come back and be debated on and
approved by Congress.
The Chairman. Anyone else?
Senator Risch. Mr. Chairman?
The Chairman. Go ahead.
Senator Risch. Senator Paul, is this Paul No. 1 we are
talking about?
The Chairman. Yes.
Senator Risch. How does that differ from Markey No. 1 that
we just adopted as part of the manager's package? The
description is the same here. Are we duplicating?
Senator Paul. Does your amendment require that we come back
and have a vote?
Senator Markey. No.
Senator Paul. Okay, so that is how it would be different.
Senator Risch. I am sorry?
The Chairman. His does not require us to come back and
vote.
First of all, I truly appreciate Senator Paul's concerns
about the way we deal with foreign aid. There is no question,
we have not authorized foreign aid for decades. To me, that
should be our next effort. We moved through State Department
authorization. Now it is time to get on with the business of
dealing with that.
There is no question in my mind that much of what we do in
foreign aid is a holdover from the Cold War, and there need to
be some revisions. I mean, we are living in a different era now
where we can be much more effective with our foreign aid.
I really pride myself on what we do around the world to
improve people's lives, but we all know we can do things more
effectively.
Power Africa was great example of our ability just with
some changes to really empower huge changes. Fifty million more
people having electricity in sub-Saharan Africa over the next 4
years.
So I applaud what Senator Paul wishes to do. I think the
threshold here is too high. To have to come back and debate it
before Congress and vote on it is a threshold, in my opinion,
that is too high.
I want to also say we reached a balance here where I
reached an agreement with Senator Cardin. I have substance
issues, but I am going to vote against the amendment.
But I do appreciate Senator Paul continually trying to
focus our efforts on making sure that we are holding people
accountable that we are dealing with on foreign aid.
Senator Cardin. Mr. Chairman?
The Chairman. Yes?
Senator Cardin. If I can, let me just underscore this
point.
Senator Paul, I very much agree with the thrust of
everything you are saying, and it is in the bill.
It is so important that we try to get an authorization bill
accomplished. And the chairman is absolutely right. We may have
some future debates as to what is the appropriation balance
between the authorization we give to the executive branch and
oversight and the mandatory nature of legislation. No
administration wants to see their foreign policy hands tied by
the acts of Congress, so there is a real concern that if we
start down the path of no discretion given to the executive
branch in carrying out foreign policy that they will not be
able to accomplish the mission.
The language in the Markey amendment, the language in the
manager's package, is very strong on saying we are cutting off
funds and giving direction that no funds should be made
available and authorizing the President to be able to carry
this out, which has been the traditional way that Congress and
the White House has worked on legislation, and it has worked
fairly well in almost all circumstances.
In some circumstances, it has not worked, and we have had
to take more direct action. That is true. But there is no
indication on peacekeeping and on this issue that there is any
difference at all between the executive branch and the
legislative branch.
So for all those reason, I would urge a ``no'' vote on this
amendment. I think it would set up a very dangerous precedent
for us to be able to defend on this one issue as we try to get
an authorization bill done on the floor of the United States
Senate.
I would urge colleagues to oppose the amendment.
The Chairman. Yes?
Senator Rubio. So my understanding of the amendment, just
to understand, if the administration suspends aid, because they
think that so and so is violating, in order to restart the aid
is when they have to come back to Congress.
Senator Paul. Right. It is still a division of power. The
executive branch has the ability to begin it. We can't do
anything, according to my amendment, unless they begin it. They
still have an extraordinary amount of power.
I would like to go one step further and force them to do
it, but this does not do that. They would still be able to
initiate or not initiate the suspension of military aid. But if
they do, we would vote on whether to resume it or not.
Senator Rubio. My only concern with that--you read the text
of this, and you start to think, yes, I do not want people like
this to be getting money.
My concern is twofold. One, the administration may decide
to be even more cautious about suspending aid, because of how
hard it is to restart it.
And the second is you take away a lot of leverage to get
immediate changes from people, like, ``We can lift this
suspension tomorrow if you do X.'' That will not be true
anymore. The administration loses some leverage to impact
behavior, because they still have to go back to Congress now,
and they could get tied up. We know how fast this place moves,
right?
That is my concern.
The Chairman. I appreciate the intent, and we are doing
everything we can to bring that balance of power back in. I
think we have taken numbers of steps over the last couple of
years, beginning with Senator Menendez, to do so. I think this
is a hurdle that makes it incredibly difficult to have those
flexibilities.
Senator Johnson?
Senator Johnson. I also have a question, because as I read
the text, it says, this is part C, ``The Secretary shall
withhold any and all military assistance.'' It goes on to say
that it will continue until something happens.
So this is more than just voting to reinstate it. Isn't
this directing the Secretary to withhold in these cases?
Senator Paul. It already is directed. That is Leahy
language. I mean, that already is the language. We are not
doing anything new to the Secretary. The discussion comes in on
what is the definition of human rights abuse and what is the
definition of when a coup happens.
So somehow this administration decided that the military
coup in Egypt was really not a military coup, or they simply
ignore it.
I think it is a discussion that deserves more debate and
should come back.
Also, whether or not we vote on this, or whether or not we
chastise the administration and give them some instruction,
there is about a 40- or 50-year history of that now working,
actually. There is a 40- or 50-year history of administrations
ignoring this.
We were originally designated with the power of the purse.
I do not think we utilize the power of the purse. This is
trying to bring back power to the Senate and give us some say
in what happens.
I think particularly when something so egregious as these
different human rights abuses and military coups happen that we
should be part of the debate and this should be a full-throated
debate. It is, frankly, one of the most important debates that
occur, and we should force it occur through legislation.
The Chairman. Senator Risch?
Senator Risch. Mr. Chairman, first of all, I agree with
Senator Paul on the goal aspect of this, and that is to try to
stem the flow of constant change of power from Congress to the
administration, which has gone on for centuries.
But in this particular instance, where you are dealing with
military engagements, the Commander in Chief has to be able to
move quickly, I mean, really quickly in a lot of circumstances.
As has already been pointed out, where the administration has
the ability to say, ``Okay, we have some money here, but we
want you to do this,'' they just can't come to Congress. This
place, as you know, moves at glacial speed, if that.
I am just really reluctant to hamstring the Commander in
Chief on the battlefield.
Senator Paul. One interesting thing is that when we do have
war or issues of war, we move incredibly fast. After 9/11, we
were nearly unanimous and moved incredible fast. After Pearl
Harbor, incredibly fast, December 8.
So I think we can move when we want to move and when it is
important. But I think if we continue to give this up to the
administration, we continue to give them some instructions in a
bill that has no teeth, having a vote is the teeth of the power
of the purse. It is forcing them to come back to us.
Senator Risch. Let me say, all fair points. Absolutely fair
points. I have no doubt if we have a Pearl Harbor or a 9/11, we
would move quickly. But most of the things that the
administration is involved in these days are much smaller
magnitude than that that don't get our attention.
The Chairman. Senator Johnson?
Senator Johnson. Again, reading the text here, the crux
here is the Secretary makes the determination whether
something----
Senator Paul. That is the way the current system is.
Senator Johnson. So by forcing a vote to reinstate it, are
you almost running counter to what you are trying to accomplish
and not provide aid in these egregious circumstances?
You will actually have the administration probably less
likely to withhold aid when you have these types of regimes,
because they know that it is going to be much more difficult in
cases of acts of terrorism, in terms of military intervention.
Senator Paul. I think that depends on what type of
administration you have.
The Chairman. I will say, especially, I know you were
concerned about the issue of Egypt, if I remember correctly. We
can always ourselves bring forth legislation to try to end aid,
if we feel like the administration has made a bad judgment in
that regard. In that particular case, I did not.
But again, I want to say to Senator Paul, I appreciate his
continual efforts to focus on our foreign aid. I think there is
a lot of work that we as a committee can do to make sure that
the foreign aid we provide goes much deeper and has a much
longer lasting impact. And I look forward to engaging everybody
on this, hopefully in this next year.
Senator Paul. I just wanted to make a final point that I
think Egypt really provides an example of how what we are doing
does not work. I mean, we have mass trials where people were
condemned to death without representation, without even their
name being listed. We have a government that is a military
junta that was not democratically elected.
So the Leahy language, which we have given them as an
instruction, I think is being ignored with regard to Egypt,
because we continue to send military weapons there.
So we say we do not want human rights abuses, but we allow
them to happen. There is torture in Egypt. There is lack of due
process in Egypt. And there is undemocratic government. And yet
the military aid flows, because we really say we care about
these things and we do not.
So I think the only way to say that we truly do care and
want to change things would be to actually transfer power or at
least some little bit of power back to Congress.
The Chairman. Any additional debate?
[No response.]
We have an amendment. Is there a motion to approve the
amendment?
Senator Paul. Yes.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Risch. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
On Paul No. 1, all in favor, say aye.
[A few ayes.]
The Chairman. All opposed?
[A chorus of nays.]
Senator Paul. Can we have a recorded vote?
The Chairman. Sure.
The clerk will call the roll.
The Clerk. Mr. Risch?
Senator Risch. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Rubio?
Senator Rubio. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Johnson?
Senator Johnson. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Flake?
Senator Flake. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Gardner?
Senator Gardner. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Perdue?
Senator Perdue. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Isakson?
The Chairman. No by proxy.
The Clerk. Mr. Paul?
Senator Paul. Yes.
The Clerk. Mr. Barrasso?
Senator Barrasso. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Cardin?
Senator Cardin. No.
The Clerk. Mrs. Boxer?
Senator Boxer. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Menendez?
Senator Menendez. No.
The Clerk. Ms. Shaheen?
Senator Shaheen. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Coons?
Senator Coons. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Udall?
Senator Udall. Aye.
The Clerk. Mr. Murphy?
Senator Murphy. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Kaine?
Senator Kaine. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Markey?
Senator Markey. No.
The Clerk. Mr. Chairman?
The Chairman. No.
The Chairman. The clerk will report.
The Clerk. Mr. Chairman, the yeas are 2; the nays are 17.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Thanks for bringing this forward.
Are there any other amendments?
Senator Boxer. Mr. Chairman?
The Chairman. Yes, ma'am?
Senator Boxer. Mr. Chairman, I would like to call up the
Boxer amendment, Boxer-Shaheen, and just to say in advance to
my colleagues, I am not going to ask for a vote today, but I am
going to make sure that when this bill gets to the floor, I
will offer it. And I want to take about 60 seconds to explain
why it is important.
Our amendment would codify in law the existing Office of
Global Women's Issues at the State Department. The reason I am
not going to call for a vote is my understanding is the issue
of abortion somehow in somebody's mind is related to this. It
is just outrageous. And I do not want to bring anything down
here or give my chairman or ranking member a loss, but it is
just sad.
As I am on my way winding down, I would hope that we could
come together on this, because we have an office on Global
Women's Issues. We have an Ambassador at Large, Cathy Russell.
It is working every day, but it has not been authorized.
I think Senator Paul makes a good point about the power of
the Congress here. This is working, and we ought to have our
imprimatur on it. It has nothing to do with a woman's right to
choose or what kind of health care she determines.
Let me tell you what it has done, okay?
In Afghanistan, the office helps ensure that girls can
attend school. This helps prevent early and forced marriages.
It provides girls with the skills they need to become active
citizens, entrepreneurs, and community leaders.
In countries like the DRC, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, the office helps survivors of the worst kind of sexual
violence get access to justice that they deserve. The office is
leading the State Department efforts around the world to end
the brutal practice of female genital cutting.
More broadly, the Office of Global Women's Issues works
with our foreign partners to identify, mentor, and train
emerging women political leaders around the world. If ever you
have met with these women, it is so encouraging, because even
the most conservative foreign policy advisers tell us that when
women get a chance, the countries really move forward toward
democracy and toward a much more decent life for people.
So by permanently establishing an Office of Global Women's
Issues in the State Department, we will advance equal rights,
protect women from violence, and help women and girls fulfill
their potential.
These efforts are very important. So because of my deep
respect for our leaders, and being a chairman and now a ranking
myself, I understand how hard it is, and I don't want to put
anybody through their paces here. And I know I have a couple of
Republicans willing to support, but I don't want to push it
today. But I am going to push it on the floor, and I am going
to work with my friends. I hope that maybe we can come to
something that we can all rally around.
This is a victory for us. It is our committee that set up
the first subcommittee on human rights and global women's
issues. Senator Rubio and I worked very well on that.
So we should be proud to know that as a result of our work
in this committee, the administration finally set up this
office. We should authorize it.
So I hope I can work with each of you individually. Tell me
what your problems are. I will try to address it, bring this to
the floor.
But for now, I am not going to push it.
Senator Cardin. Before you withdraw, could I make a comment
very briefly?
Senator Boxer. Yes.
Senator Cardin. First of all, I want to thank Senator Boxer
not just for her leadership on this issue but her sensitivity
to what we are trying to accomplish. This is an ongoing
process. We have been able now in 2 years to be able to pass
out of our committee two State Department authorizations. We
want to make it as broad as we possibly can.
And I appreciate your willingness to work with the members
of this committee to see whether there isn't a path forward
where we could work out any area that may present some
challenges.
So I thank you very much.
Senator Shaheen. Mr. Chairman?
The Chairman. Yes, ma'am?
Senator Shaheen. Before Senator Boxer withdraws the
amendment, as she pointed out, I am a cosponsor.
I think this is something that we really ought to support.
I appreciate concerns that people have about access to
reproductive health, but the reality is that women make up half
of the world's population, and if we do not support this
because it is the right thing to do, we should support it
because it is the economic thing to do, because we know when we
empower women in developing countries, that not only does it
support stability and peace in those countries, as Senator
Boxer said with the move toward democracy, but it also supports
the economic development in those countries, because women are
most likely to put any dollars they get back into their
families and into their communities.
So I would hope that we can figure out how we can
accommodate the concerns that people have. And when this bill
gets to the floor, hopefully it will get to the floor, that we
can support this permanent authorization, because it is making
a difference in so many places around the world.
The Chairman. Any other comments or amendments?
I understand you are withdrawing?
Senator Boxer. I would withdraw and look forward to
debating this on the floor.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Senator Menendez?
Senator Menendez. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment, and
before I speak to the amendment, I want to really salute you
and Senator Cardin for incredibly important work. I think the
State Department authorization bill is in part achieving what
Senator Paul in broader respects is talking about, which is
having the jurisdiction of the committee, not just for
jurisdictional sake but for an imprint of the Congress as the
elected representatives of the American people upon our foreign
policy, in particular on the department that runs that foreign
policy.
I know how difficult it is to try to achieve that
consensus, so I appreciate very much what you both have
accomplished, and I intend to support it.
I want to speak to my amendment on diversity. I will, out
of deference to the chair and ranking member, not pursue it at
this point. And I also appreciate some language that was
included in the manager's amendment to try to reach out to this
issue.
It is a question of diversity, something that for 2 decades
I have been pursuing at the State Department, which,
unfortunately, has one of the worst records of diversity in the
entire of Federal Government.
Now it is not a question of diversity for diversity's sake.
It is because it makes a real difference in the promotion of
our foreign policy abroad.
It would be to say, for example, if there was a process at
the State Department that denied or largely did not make it a
possibility for people from the southern part of the United
States or from the Western part of the United States to be in
the Foreign Service, we would have a whole dimension of our
country that would not be projected abroad.
When I was in China, meeting with human rights activists,
many who ended up not coming to the meeting because the
government came upon them not to, it was an African-American
member of our State Department who had gone through and was an
active participant in the civil rights movement that was in
charge of promoting human rights and democracy in China. His
experience was invaluable in helping those who were in their
own country trying to promote the very essence of the same
rights that he was once trying to promote in his own country.
Those types of experiences and knowledge cannot be learned
in a book, do not get achieved by going to SAIS or any of the
great universities. They come from the diversity of our
country.
So I hope the 2016 authorization goes through, which had
more specific language to try to get to that goal. But if in
fact the 2016 authorization for some reason does not go
through, I would like to try to, at that time, prevail upon the
chairman and ranking member to reconsider this section, because
I do think we have a role in trying to get the department to
move in a direction that brings them into the 21st century as
it relates to what America looks like and how that adds an
invaluable experience abroad.
So I will not pursue the amendment at this time. I look
forward to working with both of you.
Senator Cardin. Mr. Chairman, before Senator Menendez
withdraws the amendment, Senator Boxer's is to authorize a very
important program. Yours is to deal with a very important issue
of oversight and mission within the State Department. How can
they carry out their mission if they do not actively pursue
diversity? And how can we make sure we have the right
oversight?
I strongly support that effort that you are undertaking. We
do have some of this in the 2016 authorization, but it is a
matter of continuous interest, and I thank you very much for
the way you are proceeding.
The Chairman. Thank you. And I appreciate you also
bringing this up. You have been consistent in the committee in
pressing the State Department on this issue. I think there is a
really good chance 2016 is going to become law. That will take
care of the issue you are talking about, but I appreciate the
opportunity to work with you on it in the future, should that
not happen.
Are there any other amendments or statements?
Senator Shaheen?
Senator Shaheen. I had two amendments that dealt with
reporting requirements. I am not going to offer those. I am
going to withdraw them.
But I do think it is an important issue that we ought to
take a look at, because I think very often in legislative
bodies, when we cannot get done what we want, we punt by asking
for a report. I think accountability is really important. I
think reporting requirements are very important. But I think
sometimes we ask for reports, and because often those are not
accompanied by the resources to really get definitive analysis
in the reports, what we get back is not usable, and it takes up
a lot of time.
So I appreciate the chair's willingness to repeal four of
those reports in the manager's package. But the fact is, last
year's authorization bill imposed 57 new reports on the State
Department.
I think we really need to look at this issue. When we ask
for reports, we ought to be asking for something that we really
want and get analysis that we can actually use when we are
making policy.
So thank you, Mr. Chairman. I hope you and the ranking
member will continue to work with me on this.
The Chairman. I certainly like the line of thinking, and I
thank you for the constructive role you have played in this
process.
Senator Coons?
Senator Coons. Thank you for your hard work to move forward
in authorizing the bill. We should do this every year. The NDAA
moves every year. This committee ought to be moving an
authorizing bill every year.
Thank you.
The Chairman. Senator Murphy?
Senator Murphy. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Great work. Thank
you for bringing this before us.
I associate myself with the remarks of Senator Coons.
I had two amendments, neither of which I will ask for votes
on.
The first would have amended a section of the bill that
puts some congressional restrictions on the way promotions are
done within the State Department. I have some concerns of
Congress getting in the business of micromanaging the way in
which the State Department does promotions. You made some, I
think, changes in amendments to that to give it a little bit
more secretarial discretion, which I appreciate.
My second amendment is on the issue of the applicability of
Buy America laws to the State Department.
I think there are a lot of good reasons why we should
promote the State Department buying American-made goods for use
in embassies. It creates a lot of jobs here in the United
States, but it also shows off American goods to foreign
audiences.
There is a curious waiver to the Buy America law that is
being used increasingly by embassies all across the country. It
is a waiver that says that if the good is going to be used
primarily outside of the United States, then you do not have to
buy it from an American company. That was written into the law
for sort of temporary military deployments. But, of course, it
applies to every single purchase that is made in the Department
of State, such that on an annual basis of the $1.6 billion in
waivers to the Buy America law that the State Department uses,
$1.4 billion of it is this particular waiver.
So my amendment would have just eliminated that particular
waiver for use by the State Department, leaving in place all of
the other ways around the Buy America law. For instance, it
costs far more to buy it from the United States and ship it
than to buy it in-country, or that it is not available, or you
need it for urgent use.
I hope that we can work on this, because I think that there
is just endless ability for the State Department to get around
the law, and there are all sorts of practical reasons why we
want to encourage the State Department, when practical, to buy
from American companies.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Any other comments?
Senator Gardner?
Senator Gardner. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment that I
will also not be offering today, but it was concerning North
Korea policy and implementation of the executive order, the
legislation that we passed just a couple months ago regarding
North Korea.
Yesterday, those of you who saw the news this morning
already know this, South Korea claims that North Korea launched
yet another ballistic missile, and we believe that they will
execute yet another nuclear weapons test prior to the People's
Congress coming up on May 6.
Yesterday, though, in our testimony from Secretary Blinken,
we heard responses to questions regarding investigations of
North Korean activities, investigations for sanctions
violations, and when those sanctions would be implemented. We
did not hear when they are going to have the investigation
performed. We did not hear who they are investigating. We did
not hear anything about whether or not any of these
investigations include China.
So as North Korea continues to test ballistic missiles, as
North Korea continues to test nuclear weapons, I think it is
very important that this committee maintain rigorous oversight
of the administration's investigations and implementation of
both the U.N. resolution and the legislation that we passed.
The Chairman. Thank you. I want to thank you and Senator
Cardin for your leadership as the subcommittee heads, and you
and Senator Menendez for passing legislation that, no doubt, is
having impact. I appreciate your continued efforts to make sure
the oversight is there in a proper way. So thank you.
Any other comments?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, I will entertain a motion to
approve the Department of State Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2017, as amended.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Risch. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the Department of
State Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, as amended.
All in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. All opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
legislation, as amended, is agreed to.
I again want to thank the outstanding staff of all of our
Senators, but certainly the committee staff that made this
happen.
That completes the committee's business.
I ask unanimous consent that staff be authorized to make
technical and conforming changes.
Without objection, so ordered.
And with that, without objection, the committee will stand
adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 11:09 a.m., the meeting was adjourned.]
----------
BUSINESS MEETING
----------
THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016
https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/business-meeting-051916p
U.S. Senate,
Committee on Foreign Relations,
Washington, DC.
The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 11:40 a.m. in,
Room 166, The Capitol Building, Hon. Bob Corker, chairman of
the committee, presiding.
Present: Senators Corker [presiding], Risch, Gardner,
Perdue, Isakson, Cardin, Boxer, Menendez, Kaine, and Markey.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. BOB CORKER,
U.S. SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE
The Chairman. This business meeting of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee will come to order.
On the agenda for today we have one Foreign Service officer
list and two pieces of legislation. Today, we will consider all
agenda items en bloc, by voice vote.
Senator Cardin, do you have any comments you would like to
make?
STATEMENT OF HON. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN,
U.S. SENATOR FROM MARYLAND
Senator Cardin. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I support this legislation to grant International
Organization Immunity Act (IOIA) privileges and immunities to
the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The GCC remains a critical
partner in ensuring Gulf Security and is a critical lynchpin of
the counter-ISIL coalition.
This legislation would pave the way for the GCC to open a
Washington office, which will enhance U.S.-GCC relations and
create a new venue for dialogue.
The GCC's opening of a diplomatic mission in Washington
will allow the United States to not only further our security
dialogue with the Gulf, but also open new channels for
discussion on human rights and other issues. I look forward to
an enhanced dialogue on important priorities like the promotion
of human rights protections, increased respect for women and
minorities, and enhanced standards for migrant labor in the
Gulf.
I want to commend Chairman Corker for his work on this
bill, and I urge my fellow Committee Members to support its
passage.
I also support the resolution before us commemorating the
100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising, and I thank
Senators Leahy and McConnell for its introduction.
The ties between America and Ireland are indeed
extraordinary in their breadth and depth. Millions of Irish
immigrants and tens of millions of Americans of Irish descent
have had great influence in shaping the destiny of our country.
The reverse is also true. five of the seven signatories of the
Easter Rising spent significant time in the United States, and
the 1916 Proclamation of Independence not only mentioned
America, but called for guarantees of religious and civil
liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its
citizens,'' principles that I am proud to say represent the
best of U.S. values.
This 100th anniversary offers an opportunity for
remembrance and reconciliation, and I am proud to support this
resolution commemorating it.
We also have before us a Foreign Service List, with six
qualified nominees for promotion. I look forward to working
together to ensure that their promotions are swiftly confirmed
by the full Senate.
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Would any other Senator like to speak on any
of the agenda items?
[No response.]
The Chairman. If there is no further discussion on these
items, I would entertain a motion to approve all agenda items,
en bloc, by voice vote.
[Senator makes a motion]
The Chairman. Is there a second?
[Senator seconds.]
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve all agenda items,
including S. 2942, the GCC privileges and immunities bill, S.
Res. 469, the Easter Rising Resolution, and the Foreign Service
officer list, en bloc, by voice vote.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. And with that the ayes have it and the agenda
items are agreed to.
And that completes the committee's business.
I ask unanimous consent that staff be authorized to make
technical and conforming changes; without objection, so
ordered.
And that with that, without objection, the committee will
stand adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 11:50 a.m., the meeting was adjourned.]
----------
BUSINESS MEETING
----------
THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016
https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/business-meeting-062316
U.S. Senate,
Committee on Foreign Relations,
Washington, DC.
The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:02 a.m. in
Room SD-419, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Bob Corker,
chairman of the committee, presiding.
Present: Senators Corker [presiding], Rubio, Johnson,
Gardner, Isakson, Barrasso, Cardin, Boxer, Menendez, Shaheen,
Coons, Udall, Murphy, and Kaine.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. BOB CORKER,
U.S. SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE
The Chairman. The business meeting of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee will come to order.
On the agenda for today, we have 10 pieces of legislation,
seven treaties, three nominations, and a number of Foreign
Service officer lists.
First, we will consider four Foreign Service officer lists,
over 200 personnel referred to the committee. I support these
appointments and promotions and thank all of the officers for
their service.
We will also consider three nominations. And I want to
thank my colleagues for helping the committee to take steps
forward on all of these nominations today.
We also have before us seven treaties. The first is the
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and
Agriculture. Strongly supported by U.S. agriculture and
research universities, the Plant Genetics Treaty is critical to
sustaining the plant breeding revolution that has saved more
than a billion people from starvation in the last half century.
Our food security and future U.S. agriculture depend upon open
access to plant material that will be made available under this
treaty.
The treaty's mechanisms are modeled on our own national
system that has been in operation for decades.
Without U.S. participation, our farmers and researchers are
placed at a competitive disadvantage with 140 countries that
enjoy the treaty's benefit.
This committee approved the treaty on voice vote in
December 2010 but did not ratify it before the end of the 111th
Congress. I recommend the committee approve this treaty today.
I want to thank all of you on this committee that are
pushing that. I know Johnny has been working on this for some
time.
We are also considering the Convention on the Law
Applicable to Certain Rights in Respect of Securities Held with
an Intermediary, or Hague Convention. Today's securities
trading is global. The treaty establishes a simple method for
resolving conflicts of law, risk faced by our financial sector.
This treaty adopts existing U.S. legal standards under the U.S.
Uniform Commercial Code. The treaty is broadly supported by the
U.S. financial community and is in our national interests. I
recommend this committee approve its ratification.
We also have before us five law enforcement treaties, three
mutual legal assistance treaties with Algeria, Jordan,
Kazakhstan, and two extradition treaties with Chile and the
Dominican Republic. The MLATs provide a road map for law
enforcement collaboration with other countries that reflects
our values and aids in criminal investigations. The extradition
treaties ensure that fugitives from justice are apprehended and
tried appropriately while preserving our due process checks and
balances.
These treaties are all consistent with longstanding U.S.
practice regarding law enforcement cooperation with foreign
governments. I urge the committee to approve these treaties, as
they are, as they are an important step to strengthening our
global law enforcement capabilities.
Next, we will consider the resolutions on the agenda. I
will note that Senator Boxer--thank you for being here--has
formally requested to hold over S. Con. Res. 41, expressing the
sense of Congress on the Peshmerga of the Kurdistan Region of
Iraq to the next business meeting.
The first resolution we will consider is S. Res. 432,
supports respect for human rights, encourages inclusive
governance in Ethiopia. I want to thank Senator Cardin for
introducing this resolution, Senators Markey, Coons, Menendez,
and Rubio for cosponsoring. This resolution serves to emphasize
the opportunities and the expectations that we continue to hold
important in our bilateral relationship with Ethiopia. Much
remains to be done in Ethiopia to achieve inclusive governance
and improved human rights performance.
We will also consider S. Res. 482, a resolution urging the
EU to designate Hizbollah in its entirety as a terrorist
organization and to increase pressure on the organization and
its members to the fullest extent possible. I thank Senator
Shaheen and other cosponsors on the committee for bringing this
important resolution before us today. Europe has been the
victim of a Hizbollah terror attack. Yet, only the military
wing of Hizbollah has been designated as a terrorist
organization by the EU. This resolution calls on the European
Union to designate the entire group as a terrorist
organization.
Next, we will consider S. Res. 506 in support of NATO and
the NATO summit and committing NATO to a security posture
capable of deterring threats to the Alliance. This resolution
highlights the need for NATO to transition from simple
reassurance to deterrence in the face of a resurgent Russia.
And I want to thank Senator Cardin for working with me on this
resolution.
We will also consider S. Res. 505 regarding compliance
enforcement of the Russian violations of the Open Skies Treaty.
I want to thank Senator Cardin again for your help in
developing this bipartisan measure. The United States should
take measures as are necessary in response to Russia's
violations of the treaty, including the imposition of
restrictions upon Russian overflights of the United States.
Next, we will consider S. Res. 503, recognizing June 20,
2016 as World Refugee Day. The unprecedented number of refugees
across the globe and particularly from Syria has led to
unprecedented suffering and has strained our collective
capacity to govern. I appreciate Senator Cardin working with us
to bring a good balanced resolution forward to mark World
Refugee Day.
We also have S. Res. 501, expressing the sense of Congress
on Russian military aggression. I want to thank Senators
Perdue, Johnson, Gardner, Menendez, Risch, and Shaheen for
working together to bring attention to Russia's reckless
aggressive military behavior.
We also have S. Con. Res. 38, a concurrent resolution
reaffirming the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances as
cornerstones of U.S.-Taiwan relations. I would like to thank
Senators Rubio, Menendez, Perdue, and Gardner for introducing
this important and timely bipartisan resolution. Taiwan is a
good friend and partner of the United States, and it is
critical that our U.S. Congress continues to demonstrate
support for the Taiwan people and our shared democratic values.
The last resolution considered today will be S. Res. 504,
recognizing the anniversary of the Fulbright Program. This
program not only promotes U.S. higher education abroad, but
also remains a diplomatic tool. I thank Senators Boozman and
Leahy for introducing this legislation.
Today we will also consider S. Res. 1605, the M-CORE Act. I
want to commend Senators Cardin, Isakson, Coons, and Flake for
bringing this bipartisan legislation to the committee. It is an
important step for the Millennium Challenge Corporation. It is
something that I know we have been trying to reform for some
time. M-CORE will ensure that the agency takes a coordinated
and thoughtful approach in implementing regional compacts.
Additionally, this legislation establishes necessary reforms
that will safeguard democratic values and foster good
governance overseas.
Lastly--I am sure you are glad to hear that word.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. I am glad to hear it.
We will consider S. 2201, Global Gateways Trade Capacity
Act of 2015. Current U.S. trade capacity building assistance is
unfocused. It is really unbelievable how is spread through so
many different departments and it is inefficient and it lacks a
comprehensive strategy. This legislation is designed to bring a
focused and coordinated effort to trade capacity assistance for
developing countries. It also will provide resources to help
developing countries implement the World Trade Organization
Trade Facilitation Agreement, TFA. I thank the ranking member
for his role in this effort. I urge my colleagues to support a
bill that I believe reflects how we should be using existing
foreign assistance dollars to advance U.S. economic interests.
Let me just say this on this one. If you look at much of
our foreign aid today, it is built around a Cold War mentality
where what we are trying to do is buy influence--buy
influence--in countries. We have got to move to something that
generates economic growth. Almost every single issue we work on
around here relative to other countries is hoping that they are
going to generate the economic growth that will improve the
standard of living in their countries and cause them to be less
receptive to ISIS and other entities that take advantage of
people that are not moving along. And I hope that we can move
our foreign aid in a direction that promotes economic growth. I
look at this as a step in that direction.
With that, I would like to recognize our distinguished
ranking member, Senator Cardin.
STATEMENT OF HON. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN,
U.S. SENATOR FROM MARYLAND
Senator Cardin. Well, Mr. Chairman, thank you for that very
lengthy introduction----
The Chairman. I apologize for that.
Senator Cardin. No, no, no. Because it means we have a very
full agenda. And I thank you very much for the accommodations
not only for me but for many members of this committee and the
United States Senate, in working to get legislation ready for
approval by this committee, as well as the resolutions and the
treaties. In addition, of course, we have the nominations and
the Foreign Service lists. So I thank you very much for
accommodating this lengthy agenda today, and I hope we can move
through it rather quickly.
I just really want to emphasize the last issue you talked
about, the Global Gateways bill that through your leadership,
we have before us today. I could not agree with you more. We
invest a lot of U.S. taxpayer dollars and efforts on world
security and stability. And we spend a lot of money on foreign
assistance. And what your legislation will do is assist us in
helping countries develop transparent, predictable, and
simplified trade procedures so that we can get growing
economies and economies that can provide stability for the
people of the region. So I thank you for your legislation on
Global Gateways, and I was proud to work with you on that
legislation.
Thank you for also accommodating the Millennium Compact for
Regional Economic Integration. I do thank my colleagues,
Senator Flake and Senator Isakson and Senator Coons, for their
help in developing this. It is a very simple bill that says to
the Millennium Compact that we can use regional in addition to
country. This gives us greater flexibility in dealing with
issues such as in Africa where we have energy issues. In
Central America, we have economic challenges where we can use
the larger region in order to be able to achieve even greater
results in the individual countries.
Mr. Chairman, you mentioned the different resolutions that
we are considering. I am going to be very, very brief.
Thank you for bringing up the Ethiopia resolution. I thank
Senator Rubio and Senator Gardner for their help, as well as
Senators Markey, Coons, and Menendez. Since 2005, the Ethiopian
Government has been using tactics to stifle free speech and
debate, including using anti-terrorism efforts in the name of
anti-terrorism to block free expression. And we know of
specific cases, such as the Zone 9 bloggers, and there are many
other examples that have been used in Ethiopia. And this
resolution speaks, I think, clearly to that issue.
Thank you on the World Refugee Day resolution. It is widely
supported in our caucus and I think it is bipartisan. I want to
thank Senator Rubio. I want to thank Coons, Kaine, Markey,
Menendez, and Murphy. There are 65 million displaced people
globally, and this resolution states our responsibilities in
regards to that humanitarian crisis.
The NATO resolution--I am glad to work with you on that.
The summit is coming up soon, and we are going to have a
hearing in a few minutes that will emphasize the need for us to
be able to use NATO effectively to deal with the challenges
presented by Russia, as well as the challenges presented by the
increased terrorist threat in Europe and in our region.
Russia military aggression resolution--I want to thank
Senator Perdue. I strongly support his resolution. I think it
speaks to the major challenges we are having with Russia today.
Taiwan--Glad we had that resolution. The concerns in that
region are very, very challenging and the resolution restates
our firm commitment to Taiwan.
The Open Skies resolution--An area that you helped take the
lead on. I want to thank Senator Cotton for his efforts in that
regard, and we have come together with a very strong resolution
speaking to what we believe needs to be our policies in regards
to Russia and the Open Skies Treaty.
And also thank you for Senator Boozman's Fulbright
resolution, it is also important.
The treaties are all important. You mentioned the Plant
Genetic Resources. That helps developing countries. It helps
develop new crop outcomes.
Another treaty you mentioned is the Convention on the
securities held with an intermediary. What that treaty does is
take basically the Uniform Commercial Code that U.S. states are
bound by and uses that to make sure that we can have a little
bit more uniformity on the securities held globally.
Extradition treaties are important.
And the Mutual Legal Assistance in criminal matters
treaties are important. Five countries overall are involved in
those law enforcement treaties.
And also, we have nominations and foreign service lists. We
have a busy agenda.
Thank you.
The Chairman. Thank you.
There is going to be a lot of time for people to comment on
individual pieces. So if people could maybe wait until that
time, I think Senator Boxer may want to speak, though, to the
Kurdistan issue.
Senator Boxer. I do and thank you so much.
First, I want to congratulate both of you on what is a
really full and important agenda.
I am so disappointed, though, that my chairman and my
ranking member were going to change--had a substitute amendment
that would have undermined the Ernst-Boxer resolution to give
arms directly to the Kurds.
Now, I want to point out that we have been trying to do
this for a while, for a long while. And in NDAA, we got 54
votes for an authorization to directly arm--54 votes. We needed
60. But a majority of the United States Senate wants this done.
And I am sad to say I do not believe we have a majority of this
committee and we do not have the administration. And I think in
all due respect, it is a huge mistake.
The Kurds have been our most effective partner on the
ground. I do not think there is any disagreement with that.
They took back Mount Sinjar from ISIS, rescuing tens of
thousands of Yazidis, cutting off the main supply lines between
ISIS' strongholds of Raqqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq. They
played a crucial role in retaking the Mosul dam, and they will
be absolutely critical in the fight to retake the City of
Mosul.
The Kurdish regional government has also provided refuge to
over 1 million refugees from Iraq and Syria.
Beyond these headlines, Kurdish forces are fighting on the
front lines facing ISIS every single day. Everybody around here
goes to the floor and rightly so condemning these monsters. So
the people who are out there are getting, I think, the back of
the hand here in many ways.
Kurdish leaders have expressed concern that their forces
are overstretched and they lack the necessary equipment to
combat ISIS' forces in Iraq. This includes medium and heavy
weaponry that they need to defend themselves particularly
against vehicle-mounted improvised explosive devices used by
ISIS.
In April, their Deputy Prime Minister Talibani said, quote,
unless we get direct support, we will not be able to continue
the way we are currently in the fight against ISIS. He said
that the KRG is facing drastic and unprecedented fiscal and
economic challenges which, if unresolved, will, quote,
undoubtedly impact the ability of our forces to keep on the
front line.
It is clear they are in desperate need of financial
assistance. And I was pleased that the U.S. has pledged $415
million in April, and we must make it a priority to ensure that
the KRG quickly receives these funds and future assistance.
The Deputy Prime Minister's statements underscore why
Senator Ernst and I introduced a bill last year to provide the
President with the temporary emergency authority to provide
weapons, equipment, and training directly to Kurdish military
forces for their fight against ISIS.
So we are not considering this bill today because of the
substitute amendment that was going to be offered that would
call for the explicit approval of the Iraqi Government. You
know, if anyone has been there and discussed the Kurds with
either the Sunni or the Shia, as I did, the attitude toward the
Kurds is horrific. And I am telling you this is a big historic
mistake, and I am criticizing Democrats and some Republicans
here--some Democrats and some Republicans. It is a bipartisan
disagreement that I have and with the administration.
So I think we need to make a commitment to the Kurds in
their fight against ISIS who is raping and torturing and
killing innocent civilians, who has forced thousands of women
and girls into sexual slavery, who have sent children out on
the battlefield as suicide bombers, who have committed genocide
against the groups in areas under its control.
The Kurds are fearless. They need our help. And to set up a
circumstance where they need to get approval from some people
who are so prejudice against them that it sends chills up and
down my spine, I just am really sorry about it.
So I am hoping to work with my colleagues to see if in the
week ahead--you know, we pulled it off today, and Senator Ernst
and I are in full agreement that this should not have happened,
that we should have supported this. But I am so happy to work
with you because maybe I am misreading where you are coming
from, but I hope there is a way that we do not have to get the
approval of the Iraqi Government to--where we have lost so many
people for them. Now we need their approval to help our best
allies in the area who are going after ISIS? I am sorry to go
on so long. I will stop, but I hope we can work something out,
Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Well, I thank you for your passion.
And I too am very close to the Kurdish people and spent a
lot of time with President Barzani and his foreign minister and
have been to Irbil many times. And just for what it is worth,
we worked with them on this resolution. They support the
resolution.
And I just want you to know, I know that they are moving
towards greater independence.
I just met with them within the last 10 days. I think
Senator Cardin did too. And they support what we are doing.
They want the United States Senate to fully endorse this
resolution because they believe it puts them in the right
place. So, look, we have gone through how the weaponry is
getting to the Kurdish people. There is language in here that
points to that. We are giving them economic aid which again, by
the way, is going through the Iraqi Government.
And by the way, this is being done because I think the
Kurdish people understand that while they want greater
independence--and they are great friends and they are supported
by the United States--that to begin a separation process right
now where they are dealing with ISIS on one hand and then will
have the wrath of the rest of the people of Iraq on the other
is not the right place for them to be there.
So I just want you to know again Joni Ernst, who worked
with you on the floor, fully supports our resolution today.
Fully supports our resolution today. The Kurdish government
fully supports our resolution today. And I am disappointed that
we are going to have to wait a little while to do it again. I
think we may have the same result.
But I thank you for your passion. I really do and want you
to know that we would not be doing this in a vacuum. We would
be doing it as we have before, working really, really closely
with the Kurdish people. And I thank you for your passion.
Senator Cardin. If I could just have a word first, Senator
Boxer, and then certainly we want to hear your comments.
First, I join the chairman in expressing our appreciation
for your commitment to the Kurdish people, your commitment to
security in that region, and to the protection of all
communities in Iraq. And I understand the conversations you had
in April.
Senator Corker and I had conversations just a couple weeks
ago with leaders of the Kurdish community. Their number one
concern today is whether they can make payroll, their economic
circumstances. That is their number one concern. Another
concern is that we strengthen the Iraqi central government at
this particular moment.
Chairman Corker is correct. The long-term issues on either
the ability of the Kurdish population to self-determine their
future and what state that will be, is it a full independence,
is it a part of Iraq--that is an issue that is going to be
debated and is not resolved.
But the immediate concern for Iraq is to have a government
that can protect all of the ethnic communities and can work
effectively, including in the Kurdish areas. So, yes, we very
much want to make sure that the Kurds who have been our most
reliable fighters in the region--you are absolutely right about
that--have the equipment that they need in order to defend
themselves in order to help us in our fight against ISIL. We do
want to make sure they have that. And there have been problems,
and we have worked out some of those problems.
But you do not undermine the central government in an
effort to resolve that issue. You work with the parties, and
that is exactly what we have done, worked with the Kurdish
leaders in an effort to make sure that they have a true ally in
the United States and that this resolution that we worked out
was done with that in mind. It is more involved than just
arming the Kurds.
Senator Boxer. If I could respond. I stand on every single
thing I said. I double down. I know about what people say. I
know when people are desperate, what they want. I have been
around here a long time to understand it. But I am just saying
to you we know the situation. And you are absolutely right.
They need the financial aid, and that is absolutely critical.
But they also need the military help or they will not be able
to sustain against ISIS. And if that is one of our greatest
priorities, the way should be clear.
Now, I want you to know that I have been in very close
touch with Senator Ernst. She gets the whole situation as well,
and what we are hoping is in this little time since we took
this down, we will have a chance to perhaps improve it in a way
that the signal is very, very clear because you know all
politics is local. I do not have to tell you that. We all know
that. And in Iraq, all you have to do is know the history. We
all know it. We have been super involved. And the pain of that
history comes back and the pain of that history is the
incredible rivalries and problems and prejudices within Iraq.
So the bottom line is if this group is doing our work of
going after ISIL, which is indeed what all of us have said we
want--and I think we all want them to continue--and they are in
desperate shape in terms of military equipment, it seems to me
pretty clear.
And it does not have anything to do in my view--I disagree
with my leaders here, which is rare, very rare. It has nothing
to do with the idea that we want one Iraq. Of course, we want
one Iraq. People died for that for God's sake, 4,000 soldiers.
The Chairman. I would just ask that we----
Senator Boxer. I will stop and you will not have to hear
this anymore.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Senator Boxer. But the bottom line is when we stand up and
make these speeches about going after ISIL and we see what
happens with the lone wolves and the rest of it, we ought to be
a little more direct about our feelings towards the Kurds. And
I would rest my case on that. I lost it, but will come back and
hope that we can renegotiate something.
The Chairman. Let me just reiterate. The Kurdish
government fully supports our resolution. President Barzani has
told me he is getting every piece of equipment we have
committed to him. I think there are some myths out there
relative to what is actually happening in the transfers from
Baghdad.
But with that, let me move on.
The first order of business today will be four Foreign
Service lists. Senator Cardin, do you have any comments you
want to make on these lists?
Senator Cardin. No. Thank you for bringing them forward. I
move we approve them.
The Chairman. Would anyone like to speak to these lists?
[No response.]
The Chairman. If there is no further discussion on these
lists, I would entertain a motion to approve these lists en
bloc by voice vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Boxer. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve four Foreign
Service lists en bloc. All those in favor, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. All opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. The ayes have it.
With that, the appointments and promotions are agreed to.
Next, in the interest of time, I would ask the committee to
proceed with an en bloc voice vote in consideration of the
following nominees before the committee: the Honorable Geeta
Pasi, to be Ambassador to Chad; the Honorable Mary Beth
Leonard, to be Representative of the U.S. in the African Union
with rank of Ambassador; and Ms. Anne Casper to be Ambassador
to Burundi. I thank all these nominees for being willing to
settle into these positions.
Senator Cardin, do you have any comments on these nominees?
Senator Cardin. I move the nominations.
Senator Boxer. Second.
The Chairman. Is there any member who wishes to speak to
these nominees?
[No response.]
The Chairman. If there is no further discussion on the
nominations, I would entertain a motion to approve them by
voice vote en bloc.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Boxer. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the nominations.
All those in favor, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The nominations
are agreed to.
Next, I would like to consider the seven treaties on the
agenda. Senator Cardin, do you have any comments on any of
these treaties?
Senator Cardin. No. I support them all.
The Chairman. Thank you, sir.
Is there any member who wishes to speak to any of these
treaties?
[No response.]
The Chairman. If there is no further discussion on these,
I would entertain a motion to approve them by voice vote en
bloc.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Boxer. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the seven
treaties. All those in favor, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. All opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The treaties
are agreed to.
Next, we will consider S. Res. 506, the NATO resolution.
Senator Cardin, do you have any comments on this?
Senator Cardin. No. I have already commented on it. I
strongly support the resolution, and again thank you for your
help and leadership in putting this together.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Anyone else like to speak?
[No response.]
The Chairman. If there is no further discussion----
Senator Shaheen. Mr. Chairman?
The Chairman. Yes, ma'am.
Senator Shaheen. I would like to be added as a cosponsor.
The Chairman. Absolutely. Thank you. Without objection.
If there is no further discussion on this resolution, I
would entertain a motion to approve the Rubio amendment number
1 by voice vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Boxer. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the Rubio
amendment 1 by voice vote. All those in favor, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. All opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it and the
amendment is agreed to.
Next, I would entertain a motion to approve the Corker-
Cardin second degree amendment to the Rubio amendment number 2.
Is there a second?
Senator Cardin. So moved.
Senator Boxer. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the Corker-Cardin
second degree amendment to the Rubio second degree by voice
vote--Rubio amendment 2 by voice vote. All those in favor, say
aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. All opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it and the
amendment is agreed to.
Next, I would entertain a motion to approve Rubio amendment
number 2, amended by the Corker-Cardin second degree.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Rubio. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve Rubio number 2, as
amended by Corker-Cardin second degree. All those in favor, say
aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that the ayes have it, and the
amendment is agreed to.
Are there any further amendments?
[No response.]
The Chairman. Hearing none, is there a motion to approve
this resolution, as amended?
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Rubio. Second.
The Chairman. Moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve S. Res. 506, as
amended. All in favor will say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
resolution, as amended, is agreed to.
Next, we will consider S. Res. 505, the Russian violations
of the Open Skies Treaty resolution. Senator Cardin, any
comment?
Senator Cardin. I have already commented about it. Thank
you for your leadership on this.
The Chairman. If it is okay, I just want to speak to this.
I am going to go through a procedure, if I could, to put
Senator Cotton at the top of this since he really raised this
issue. I know he is on it already.
Senator Cardin. I have no objections. Senator Cotton was
the one who worked with us and urged us to do this.
The Chairman. I just think it is an appropriate way for us
to go about it.
Are there any members who wish to speak to this resolution?
[No response.]
The Chairman. Thankfully.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. If there is no further discussion on this
resolution, I would entertain a motion to approve this by voice
vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Coons. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve S. Res. 505. All
those in favor, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it and the
resolution is agreed to.
Our next order of business that I also ask we consider en
bloc by voice vote are the remaining resolutions before the
committee: S. Res. 432, S. Res. 482, S. Res. 503, S. Res. 501,
S. Con. Res. 38, S. Res. 504.
Senator Cardin, do you have any comments?
Senator Cardin. No. I support them all.
The Chairman. Are there any members that wish to speak to
these resolutions? Senator Menendez?
Senator Menendez. Mr. Chairman, you all did such a great
job of going through them all. I just want to briefly
synthesize on two.
On the Russian S. 501, I think it is very important that
the Senate express its sentiment about where Russian aggression
is going because in my mind unchecked Russian aggression
without consequences at the end of the day by both diplomacy,
sanctions, and other diplomatic tools is a concern. They went
over and took over Crimea, and the world lamented and scolded
but that was the end of that. Then they did eastern Ukraine,
creating an effort to create another frozen conflict. They are
still not pursuing their elements of the Minsk Agreement. Then
they enter into Syria and change the dynamics of Syria to prop
up the Assad regime. Then they constantly seek to create
friction with our own forces by their flyovers and whatnot.
I just think it goes on and on and on. I will not belabor
it except to say that Putin is someone who only understands
strength at the end of the day, and unless he has a sense that
there will be consequences for his actions, he will continue to
take them.
So I am glad that we have come together on a resolution at
least that speaks towards that, and I appreciate the leadership
of both you and Senator Cardin on it.
And secondly, on the Taiwan Relations Act, which has had
enormous support, there could not be a more important moment at
this time with the efforts of China to create such an
overwhelming presence in the region and to try to dwarf all of
the other countries in the region in a way that is intimidating
than to reassert our support and relationship with Taiwan so
that China also understands that there are consequences as
well.
There are other resolutions that are important, but in the
interest of time and your hearing, I will reserve that for the
record. But I did think these two are important and thank you.
The Chairman. Thank you. I do think we have some very
strong resolutions here, and I think they make more of a
difference than I fully realized when I first came on the
committee.
Any other comments?
[No response.]
The Chairman. If there is no further discussion on these
resolutions, I would entertain a motion to approve these en
bloc by voice vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Udall. Second.
The Chairman. Thank you. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve six resolutions en
bloc. All those in favor, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. All opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it and the
resolutions are agreed to.
Next, we will consider S. 2201, Global Gateways Trade
Capacity Act of 2015. Senator Cardin, do you have any comments?
Senator Cardin. I support it and thank you for your
leadership on it.
The Chairman. Would anyone else like to speak to this
legislation? Senator Coons?
Senator Coons. I will just talk for one sentence of thanks
and compliment both you and Senator Cardin for your great
leadership on both of these bills, which make a real
contribution to development in Africa. Thank you.
The Chairman. Thank you. Thank you so much.
Senator Barrasso. Mr. Chairman, I would like to call up
Barrasso amendment number 1 to the Global Gateways bill. The
purpose of the amendment is straightforward if this is the
appropriate time to do that.
The Chairman. Yes, sir.
Senator Barrasso. Thank you.
This amendment strikes section 7 of the bill which does
create a brand new $300 million trade facilitation pilot
program. With over 95 percent of the world's consumers living
outside the U.S., we should be aggressively pursuing new trade
opportunities wherever they arise, and we must work to identify
and eliminate barriers to trade whenever possible.
To that end, this bill points out some very important
facts. According to the U.S. Trade Representative, the United
States is one of the largest single country providers of trade-
related assistance. There is no single coordinating agency for
trade capacity building activities in our government. And
according to the GAO, in 2012, we spent nearly $1 billion in
trade capacity building efforts in 120 countries which were
implemented by 20 different agencies and departments.
I believe we can do better. So while I recognize we may
have international obligations, we also have an obligation to
the American taxpayer to make wise decisions in the face of
over $19 trillion in debt facing the country. So I do not
believe that putting an additional $300 million towards trade
facilitation on the taxpayers' credit card is a wise decision.
Until we properly prioritize and coordinate current spending,
we should not be discussing new spending.
So I support many of the stated objectives of the
legislation. I support the smart, streamlined, the whole-of-
government approach to trade capacity assistance, but I just
cannot support creating a pilot program spending $300 million
on top of the nearly billion we are already spending in trade-
related assistance. So as I see it, pilot programs are a first
step toward permanent spending. It is a step I am not willing
to take at this time.
So I would urge my colleagues to support the amendment, and
I ask for a roll call vote.
The Chairman. Thank you so much.
If I could just respond. As you mentioned, we are spending
$1 billion at least on trade programs throughout the U.S.
Government. They are uncoordinated, unfocused, and the purpose
of this pilot program is to do away with that, is to
consolidate, is to create something that actually works. There
are $300 million, by the way, being authorized--not spent,
authorized--over the next 5 years.
And if we actually had a State Department authorization
bill, which we do not have, unfortunately, we would be more
than willing to offset against that State Department
authorization. But as the Senator rightly knows, because there
is not an authorization that exists right now--we have not done
one since 2002--there is nothing to offset against. So this is
actually going to save taxpayers over time.
It is not unlike, by the way, on the Veterans bill, if you
remember, there was a clause to create a Choice program. It was
a pilot program to really transform the way that veterans'
benefits are delivered to people around the country so that
people could actually seek services in other places. Well, this
pilot program has much of that same mentality, and that is to
make what we are doing far better.
I appreciate the Senator's concerns about fiscal issues.
Actually that is why we created this was to save our government
money over time, to do away with the Cold War model of foreign
aid that we have right now that does nothing but buy influence,
and to try to create a program that actually encourages--
creates a possibility that these countries' standard of living
is going to increase.
So I understand, based on just the number, why you might
raise this issue. I strongly oppose this amendment and hope
that we will vote it down.
Senator Cardin. Mr. Chairman, if I might just very briefly.
I know Senator Barrasso's intentions in filing this amendment,
but I strongly agree with the chairman and urge our colleagues
to reject the amendment.
Whether you believe that we have to do more in this area in
foreign policy or whether you think that we need to be much
smarter in how we spend our foreign dollars, you should reject
the Barrasso amendment. I will tell you why.
We are not going to grow the size of our budgets. We know
that. We have got to get more effective with the resources we
are currently using. And we have too much fragmentation of
programs, and we have to be able to use these programs more
effectively to accomplish our missions.
And that is exactly what this bill attempts to do, to take
our current presence in this area and focus it in a more
effective way so that we can get the results in the country
that are in the best interests of U.S. foreign policy. And that
is what this bill is intended to do, and I would just urge my
colleagues to reject the amendment.
The Chairman. Any other comments?
I will say this. The committee to me has got about as good
a membership as anyone would want. And I appreciate Senator
Barrasso raising this. We have a difference of opinion. I
appreciate the passion that Senator Boxer expressed earlier
today. And I am going to miss her after January.
Senator Boxer. I will call you.
The Chairman. Call me. Good.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. And I am glad we can have a debate like this
and have passion and people disagree or agree.
But after saying that, if we could, let us move on with
this. So you are moving the amendment.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
[No response.]
The Chairman. I will second it so you can have a vote.
Senator Barrasso. Appreciate it.
The Chairman. Even though I hate the amendment, I second
it.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. I want everybody to be heard today.
So with that, did you want a roll call vote?
Senator Barrasso. I will settle for a voice vote.
The Chairman. With that, all in favor of the Barrasso
amendment say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. All opposed to it?
[Chorus of nays.]
The Chairman. The nays have it. Thank you for bringing
this issue forth.
Would anyone else want to be recorded as a no?
Senator Cardin. Aye on the amendment.
The Chairman. Aye. Excuse me.
Okay. Senator Rubio and Senator Barrasso.
Thank you very much.
If there is no further discussion, I would entertain a
motion to consider the Corker substitute amendment by voice
vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Boxer. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the Corker
substitute amendment. All those in favor, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
amendment is agreed to.
Any further amendments?
Senator Barrasso. Can I be recorded as no?
The Chairman. Senator Barrasso will be recorded as a no.
Anyone else?
[No response.]
The Chairman. If there is not, is there a motion to
approve the legislation, as amended?
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Second?
Senator Boxer. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve S. 2201, as
amended. All in favor, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
legislation, as amended, is agreed to.
Lastly, we will move to S. 1605, M-CORE Act. Senator
Cardin, do you have any comments you want to make?
Senator Cardin. I have already commented about it. I urge
my colleagues to support the legislation.
The Chairman. Would anyone else like to speak to this
legislation?
[No response.]
The Chairman. If there is no further discussion, I would
entertain a motion to consider the Corker amendment by voice
vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Boxer. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the Corker
amendment substitute. All those in favor, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
amendment is agreed to.
Are there further amendments?
Senator Cardin. Mr. Chairman, we have an amendment that
changes the reporting requirement, and I would move that
amendment.
The Chairman. Okay. There is a motion to move the Cardin
substitute. Is there a motion?
Senator Cardin. So moved.
Senator Menendez. Second.
The Chairman. It has been moved and seconded. All in
favor, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. All opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
amendment is agreed to.
Is there a motion to approve the legislation, as amended?
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Udall. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve S. 1605, as
amended. All in favor, say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The
legislation, as amended, is agreed to.
That completes the committee's----
Senator Barrasso. Mr. Chairman, can I be recorded as a no?
The Chairman. Senator Barrasso is recorded as no.
Anyone else?
[No response.]
The Chairman. I ask unanimous consent that staff be
authorized to make technical and conforming changes. Without
objection, so ordered.
And without objection, this outstanding committee business
meeting is coming to a close. We are adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 10:47 a.m., the meeting was adjourned.]
----------
BUSINESS MEETING
----------
THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2016
https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/business-meeting-071416
U.S. Senate.
Committee on Foreign Relations,
Washington, DC.
The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:05 a.m. in,
Room SD-419, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Bob Corker,
chairman of the committee, presiding.
Present: Senators Corker [presiding], Risch, Rubio, Flake,
Perdue, Isakson, Barrasso, Cardin, Menendez, Shaheen, Coons,
Udall, Murphy, and Markey.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. BOB CORKER,
U.S. SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE
The Chairman. I am going to go ahead and call the meeting
to order. We will do our preliminary work, and by that time, I
think we will have enough people here to go ahead and vote.
So the business meeting of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee will come to order. On the agenda for today, we have
a number of pieces of legislation and eight nominations. First,
we will consider a number of nominations, including several
important new ambassadors and the U.S. executive director to
the IMF.
First, we will consider S. Res. 515, a resolution welcoming
Prime Minister Lee and reaffirming Singapore's strategic
partnership with the United States. I would like to thank
Senators Cardin and Gardner for reaffirming the importance of
this strategic partnership between the United States and
Singapore in this 50th year of diplomatic relations between our
two countries.
Singapore is a valued partner in the Asia-Pacific, and I
have appreciated the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister
Lee on several occasions to discuss issues of mutual interest,
including the South China Sea and TPP.
Next on the agenda is S. Con. Res. 41, expressing the sense
of Congress on the Peshmerga, the Kurdistan region of Iraq. I
want to thank Senator Boxer for working with Senator Ernst and
us on this effort.
The Peshmerga has been an invaluable ally to the United
States in a region fraught with enemies and has demonstrated
itself to be one of the most effective fighting forces in the
military campaign against ISIS. For that, we are incredibly
grateful.
The severe budget shortfalls faced by both the Government
of Iraq and the Kurdistan regional government are real, and
they are hindering the stability of Iraq and have the potential
to limit our ability to fully defeat ISIS.
So, again, I thank her for her efforts in that regard, and
the committee in working with her to make this happen.
We will also consider S. Con. Res. 42, expressing the sense
of Congress regarding the safe and expeditious resettlement to
Albania of all residents of Camp Liberty.
I want to thank Senator McCain for bringing S. Con. Res. 42
before the Senate and this committee. It is extremely important
that we safely resettle the residents of Camp Liberty in
Baghdad in a timely manner as we have seen attacks on the camp
in 2013, 2015, and recently just this month. The recent rocket
attack on Camp Liberty only emphasizes the need to ensure their
expeditious resettlement to Albania.
We will also consider S. Con. Res. 46, expressing the
support of the goal of ensuring that all Holocaust victims live
with dignity in their remaining years.
The White House has recently added a special envoy for U.S.
Holocaust survivor services under the Department of Health and
Human Services to ensure that Holocaust victims living in the
United States receive the care they need.
I would like to thank Senators Nelson, Cardin, Boxer,
Rubio, and Markey for working with us on this.
Lastly, we will consider S. Res. 485, urging the Government
of the DRC to comply with constitutional provisions regarding
the holding of presidential elections in 2016. Progress toward
free, fair, peaceful, and constitutional elections has been
insufficient this late in the year. Government excesses have
signaled the prospect for insecurity and instability, so much
so that the U.S. has already sanctioned one Congolese official.
I support the passage of this resolution and would like to
thank Senators Flake and Markey for working together to bring
it to the committee.
With that, I would like to recognize our distinguished
ranking member and my friend, Senator Cardin.
STATEMENT OF HON. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN,
U.S. SENATOR FROM MARYLAND
Senator Cardin. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you
again for the way in which this business meeting has come
together, continuing this committee's commitment under your
leadership to move nominees in a very efficient, effective
manner, with eight additional nominations being brought to our
attention, all of which I support, and the resolutions, which I
think are extremely important.
You went through all of those resolutions, so I will not go
through them all again, other than to say I thank all of our
colleagues for their work on this. There was I think the right
amount of input. I know we had some concerns on some of the
drafting, but it came together in a way that I think reflects
the best traditions of this committee.
So whether it was the Singapore resolution, and I'm proud
to work with Senator Gardner, the chair of the subcommittee, on
that resolution, or whether it is how we deal with the
Peshmerga in the Kurdish region of Iraq with Senators Boxer and
Ernst working together, and Senator McCain on the refugees.
The Holocaust, I want to thank Senator Nelson for his long-
standing work on this working with Senator Collins.
Senator Murphy, for your work on Yemen, I appreciate very
much all the work that you put into that. It is a very tense
situation, and I think it expresses the views of all of us
here, and thank you for that.
And on the DRC, the work done by several of our colleagues,
Senators Flake, Coons, Isakson, and Durbin, I think reflects
the best traditions.
So, Mr. Chairman, I note that we have quorum.
The Chairman. That is a good thing to have in a business
meeting, so I would like to thank you for the comments.
In the interest of time, I would ask the committee to
proceed with an en bloc vote in consideration of the following
nominees before the committee: the Hon. Marie. Yovanovitch to
be Ambassador to Ukraine, the Hon. Geoffrey Pyatt to be
Ambassador to Greece, the Hon. Douglas Silliman to be
Ambassador to Iraq, the Hon. Michael McKinley to be Ambassador
to Brazil, Ms. Anne Hall to be Ambassador to Lithuania, Mr.
Lawrence Silverman to be Ambassador to Kuwait, Ms. Carol Perez
to be Ambassador to Chile, Mr. Mark Sobel to be United States
executive director to the IMF.
I want to thank all these nominees for their willingness to
serve and settle in these positions.
Senator Cardin, do you have any additional comments?
Senator Cardin. I do not. I again thank you for bringing
these to the committee's attention. I support all of them.
The Chairman. Does anyone else wish to speak to these
nominees?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, I would entertain a motion to pass
them en bloc.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. A second?
Senator Shaheen. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the nominations.
All in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. All opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it.
Senator Barrasso. Mr. Chairman, could I please be recorded
as a no on Mark Sobel?
The Chairman. Absolutely.
Senator Perdue. As I.
The Chairman. Absolutely.
Senator Rubio. Mr. Chairman, I wanted to be recorded as a
no as well.
The Chairman. And Senator Rubio is a no on Sobel, is that
correct?
Any other?
[No response.]
The Chairman. Next, we will consider S. Con. Res. 41, the
Peshmerga resolution.
Senator Cardin, do you have any additional comments?
Senator Cardin. No, I do not. I support the resolution. I
know there is an amendment, so I do support the bill and the
amendment.
The Chairman. Okay.
Anyone else wish to speak to this resolution?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With no further discussion on this
resolution, I would entertain a motion to approve the Rubio
second degree amendment to the Corker-Boxer amendment by voice
vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Shaheen. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the Rubio second
degree to the Corker-Boxer amendment by voice vote.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The amendment
is agreed to.
Next, I would entertain a motion to approve the Corker-
Boxer amendment, as amended by the second Rubio second degree,
by voice vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Shaheen. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the Corker-Boxer
amendment, as amended.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
amendment is agreed to.
Are there any further amendments?
[No response.]
The Chairman. Hearing none, is there a motion to approve
the resolution as amended?
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Shaheen. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve S. Con. Res. 41 as
amended.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The resolution,
as amended, is agreed to.
Next we will consider S. Res. 485, the DRC resolution.
Senator Cardin, any comments?
Senator Cardin. I support the resolution. I know there are
some amendments, and I would urge approval of the amendments
and the resolution.
The Chairman. Any other members wish to speak to the
resolution?
Senator Flake?
Senator Flake. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank the
committee for considering this resolution. I also want to thank
Senator Markey for his work on this issue. Senator Coons and
others have great interest here.
We are proposing three amendments on behalf of myself and
Senator Markey to this measure to address the current state of
the transition in power in the DRC. Senators Rubio, Isakson,
Coons, Durbin, Murphy, and Sheehan are also cosponsoring these
amendments.
According to the DRC's 2006 Constitution, the term of the
current President, Mr. Kabila, expires at the end of this year,
but he has taken no moves to show that he is willing to comply
with the Constitution.
DRC security and intelligence officials have arrested and
harassed and detained peaceful activists, and members of civil
society, and we need to speak out here.
I am probably the last person to ever reach for sanctions,
but we do want to authorize and encourage the State Department
to use any diplomatic tool available, including sanctions on
individuals, to encourage the Government there to move toward
these elections.
I appreciate, again, Senator Markey and others who worked
on this, and I appreciate the consideration today.
The Chairman. Thank you. Thanks for your work on this
issue.
Anyone else wish to speak?
Senator Markey?
Senator Markey. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you and thank Ranking Member
Cardin, and most especially Senator Flake, our chairman on the
Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, Senator Coons
and other members who have shown an interest in this very
important issue.
This resolution in support of the democratic electoral
process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo makes a very
important statement at a very critical time. Through 2015 and
into 2016, we on this committee watched closely as government
leaders in central Africa have increasingly appeared to back
away from the promises of their democratic constitutions.
As we entered 2016, it appeared apparent that the
Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo was doing little
to prepare for the presidential election required to be held
this November under the DRC's Constitution, and I became
increasingly worried that the country was headed toward a
constitutional crisis that carried with it a real risk of
seriously destabilizing an already fragile country.
In February, I wrote to Secretary Kerry expressing concerns
about delays in the DRC's electoral process and asking him to
consider sanctions as a tool to press Congo's leadership to
keep the promises of the country's Constitution.
This situation is not unique to the DRC. A similar crisis
unfolded in neighboring Burundi last summer, but the
international community was largely caught by surprise and
acted too late to help Burundi avoid the crisis. That crisis
has cost the lives of hundreds and displaced thousands.
The DRC is much larger, and what happens there will send
much wider waves rippling in concentric circles across the
region. If the DRC reneges on the promise of its democratic
Constitution, there is every reason to believe that those waves
will push forward tension, instability, and violence in the
region.
But if the DRC's leader's keep faith with the people and
fulfill the promise of the Constitution, those waves have the
potential to carry the blessings of a better, more stable, more
dignified and prosperous life for all of the people of the
Congo and the wider region.
It is my strong believe that the surest way for the DRC to
avoid crisis is for the government to demonstrate its
commitment to the DRC Constitution by holding free and fair
elections, and preparing for the transfer of power from the
incumbent to a new leader.
Together with the administration's recent imposition of
sanctions on Celestin Kanyama, the police commissioner of
Kinshasa, for violence against civilians during a crackdown on
democratic protests, this resolution sends a critical message
of support to help the people of DRC.
It is important that the international community press
leaders from across the DRC's political spectrum to keep the
promises of the Constitution.
Our resolution calls on the government to respect the
Constitution and to take concrete steps to organize the
elections. We also call on the government and all other
relevant parties to engage in a focused, urgent discussion on
the nature of those elections.
Lastly, the resolution calls on the President of the United
States to use appropriate means to help make sure these things
take place and to consider additional targeted sanctions
against anyone--government, opposition, or otherwise--found to
be undermining the democratic process of the DRC.
I would like to share a story with you from my trip to New
York this past weekend. The original cast of the Broadway play
Hamilton staged their final performance on Saturday night. My
wife and I went there for our wedding anniversary.
In the days since I have seen the play on Saturday, I have
been thinking about how some of the same questions that faced
our early leaders now face African countries working to fulfill
the promises of their democratic constitutions.
There is a moment near the end of the play, an essential
moment, both for the play and for our history as a country, in
which George Washington confides in Alexander Hamilton that he
intends to step aside at the end of his second term after 8
years in office. Hamilton, who was 40 at the time and had been
working for Washington as his right-hand man since he was 22
years old, was distraught that the only leader our young
country had ever known intended to step aside. He tried to
convince Washington to change his mind, to continue to run for
yet another term.
I was incredibly moved by how the performers captured this
fundamental moment in American history. Against Hamilton's
protests, Washington responded that by stepping aside, he was
teaching the American people that democracy is not about
personalities, and, just as importantly, he was teaching the
presidents to follow him in learning how to say goodbye.
After doing his part to fulfill America's democratic
Constitution, his final official act was to demonstrate that
democracy does not depend on him or any other individual
politician. He needed to show the American people that they
must commit to democratic institutions over political
personalities.
Last summer, I had the great pleasure of joining with
Senator Flake and Senator Coons to accompany President Obama on
his historic trip to Kenya and Ethiopia. On that trip, we
attended a large public event at the African Union in Addis
Ababa. Throughout the front of that massive auditorium sat many
of Africa's heads of state, and the rest of the hall was filled
with mostly young people from throughout all of Africa. The
place was packed all the way up to the rafters.
President Obama delivered a speech about the responsibility
that leaders have to build and to respect democracy in Africa.
He reinforced a message he had delivered on his first trip to
the continent as President years earlier, that Africa does not
need strong men; it needs strong institutions.
As the President spoke, he looked at those leaders and told
them that as much as he would like to continue in office as
President of the United States, the Constitution of the United
States, like many of the constitutions in Africa and around the
world, limited him to two terms. He explained that even the
President must respect the rules of the game because governance
is fundamentally about trust, promises made and promises kept
between elected leaders and the people who elected them.
Changing or ignoring those rules risks breaking that trust and
sending a society toward turmoil and instability.
Of all the great things Washington did for this country,
perhaps the greatest was his decision to say goodbye. I find it
very difficult to imagine that America would be what it is
today if he had not made that decision.
What the DRC needs, and what I believe the Congolese people
are demanding, is its leaders understand that they are not
indispensable. Leaders who understand that they are merely
players in a much larger and more important epic to build a
Nation that lives up to the expectations of its people is what
their story and our story is all about.
The United States has no interest and no say in which
leaders the Congolese people choose, but we do care very deeply
that the Congolese people have the opportunity to find their
way through this democratic process promised in their
Constitution.
So I thank you again, Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Cardin,
and, especially, Chairman Flake for making this resolution
possible. I am very hopeful that it can move forward to the
floor and pass the full Senate before we adjourn for the
recess.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. We thank you.
And members do have the ability, if they so choose, to have
written comments entered into the record, but we thank you for
those.
Are there any further comments?
Yes?
Senator Coons. I will just briefly thank Senator Flake and
Senator Markey for working hard to bring this important
resolution forward today.
DRC is as large as all of Western Europe combined and has
known more violence than almost any country on the continent. I
think this is a great contribution.
Thank you.
The Chairman. Any other comments?
[No response.]
The Chairman. If not, if someone would make a motion that
we approve this, I would appreciate it.
Senator Cardin. We have some amendments, I think. Do we
have the amendments?
The Chairman. Okay.
We would entertain a motion to approve all three Flake-
Markey amendments en bloc by voice vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Flake. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve all three Flake-
Markey amendments en bloc by voice vote.
All in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. All opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
amendments are agreed to.
Are there any further amendments?
[No response.]
The Chairman. Hearing none, is there a motion to approve
the resolution as amended?
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. So moved.
And second?
Senator Flake. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve S. Res. 485, as
amended.
All in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
resolution, as amended, is agreed to.
Our next order of business that I would also like to
consider en bloc by voice vote are the amazing resolutions
before the committee: S. Res. 515; S. Con. Res. 42; S. Con.
Res. 46; S. Res. 524, the Yemen resolution.
Senator Cardin, any comments?
Senator Cardin. I support them all.
The Chairman. Senator Shaheen?
Senator Shaheen. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to
be added as a cosponsor of S. Con. Res. 42, and I appreciate
that we are taking this action at this time.
The Chairman. Without objection.
Senator Menendez?
Senator Menendez. Mr. Chairman, briefly, I appreciate that
we are moving the resolution calling on the Government of Iraq,
the United Nations, and the United States Government to commit
to expediting a workable resettlement process for the people of
Camp Liberty.
And we were reminded of the danger they face just this past
Fourth of July when attacks were once again upon Camp Liberty
as a reality of everyday life there.
It is the United States, when we invaded Iraq, that went to
the MEK and said we want you to give up your weapons and in
return we guarantee you your security. We guarantee you your
security.
Well, they did that and much more. They gave us information
about Iran's nuclear program. They have continued to do so. And
yet, we have not, from my perspective, done what is necessary
to secure the guarantee that we gave them.
I hope this resolution moves forward so they can be
resettled safely outside of Iraq and continue to enjoy the
freedoms of liberty.
The Chairman. Any other members?
Senator Murphy?
Senator Murphy. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I want
to thank you and Ranking Member Cardin for working with me on
the resolution setting forth some basic guardrails on our
priorities and concerns about the ongoing conflict in Yemen.
Clearly, this should be at the top of our priority list as
a committee, given the fact that the United States is
supporting, in a fairly major way, the coalition activities
there. It is the latest front in the proxy war between the
Saudis and the Iranians. It has led to close to 6,000 civilian
deaths. It has proffered dramatic growth of AQAP and the
entrance of ISIS into that conflict.
I think we have built a very fair-minded and balanced
resolution that calls on both sides to reduce civilian
casualties, to allow for humanitarian aid to flow into Yemen,
and to support a peace-driven diplomatic process that is
ongoing as we speak.
So I thank both of you for taking your time to put forward
what I think is a very constructive resolution.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Any other comments?
[No response.]
The Chairman. If there is no further discussion on these
resolutions, I would entertain a motion to approve all of these
en bloc by voice vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Risch. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded. The question is on
the motion to approve these resolutions en bloc.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. All opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The resolutions
are agreed to.
That completes our committee's business.
I ask unanimous consent that staff be authorized to make
technical and conforming changes.
Without objection, so ordered.
With that, without objection, the committee business
meeting will stand adjourned.
Senator Risch. Mr. Chairman, before you adjourn, can I be
recorded as no on Sobel, please?
The Chairman. Please record Senator Risch as a no on
Sobel.
Anyone else?
The meeting is adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 10:28 a.m., the meeting was adjourned.]
----------
BUSINESS MEETING
----------
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2016
https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/business-meeting-092216
U.S. Senate,
Committee on Foreign Relations,
Washington, DC.
The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:30 p.m. in Room
S-116, The Capitol, Hon. Bob Corker, chairman of the committee,
presiding.
Present: Senators Corker [presiding], Risch, Rubio,
Johnson, Flake, Gardner, Perdue, Isakson, Barrasso, Cardin,
Menendez, Shaheen, Coons, Udall, Murphy, Kaine, and Markey.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. BOB CORKER,
U.S. SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE
The Chairman. This business meeting of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee will come to order. Today we will consider
all agenda items, en bloc, by voice vote.
On the agenda, we have 7 nominations, including Senators
Coons and Johnson to the Representatives of the U.S. to the
71st Session of the General Assembly at the United Nations.
I am confident Senators Johnson and Coons will do
exceptional jobs representing the U.S. at UNGA.
We will also consider the Honorable Sung Kim to be
Ambassador to the Philippines, Ms. Rena Bitter to be Ambassadpr
to Laos, the Honorable Stuart Symington to be Ambassador to
Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Young to be Ambassador to Burkina Faso, and
Mr. Joseph Donovan to be Ambassador to Indonesia.
A member asked that the nomination of Ms. Kamala Lakhdhir
be held over until the committee's next business meeting, and
we will respect that request and not vote on her nomination
today.
We will also consider 4 lists of over 300 personnel
referred to the committee who have been nominated for
appointment or promotion into and within the Foreign Service.
I support these appointments and promotions and would like
to thank all of these officers for their service.
In the interest of time, I would entertain a motion to
approve all agenda items, except the nomination of Ms. Lakhdhir
to be Ambassador to Malaysia, en bloc, by voice vote.
[A Senator makes the motion.]
The Chairman. Is there a second?
[A Senator seconds.]
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve all agenda items
with exception of the Ambassador to malaysia, en bloc, by voice
vote.
All those in favor, say aye.
[Senators cast aye votes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[Senators cast no votes.]
The Chairman. And with that, the ayes have it, and the
appointments and promotions and nominations are agreed to.
And that completes the committee's business.
I ask unanimous consent that staff be authorized to make
technical and conforming changes; without objection, so
ordered.
And with that, without objection, the committee will stand
adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 2:45 p.m., the meeting was adjourned.]
----------
BUSINESS MEETING
----------
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016
https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/business-meeting-120616
U.S. Senate,
Committee on Foreign Relations,
Washington, DC.
The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:32 p.m. in Room
SD-419, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Bob Corker,
chairman of the committee, presiding.
Present: Senators Corker [presiding], Risch, Rubio,
Johnson, Flake, Gardner, Perdue, Isakson, Barrasso, Cardin,
Boxer, Menendez, Shaheen, Coons, Udall, Murphy, Kaine, and
Markey.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. BOB CORKER,
U.S. SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE
The Chairman. The business meeting of the Foreign
Relations Committee will come to order.
I know we do not have a quorum yet, but we will go ahead
and get the front end out of the way so that we, hopefully, can
move quickly through it. I want to thank everybody for being
here.
On the agenda for today, we have 10 pieces of legislation,
one treaty, one nomination, and multiple Foreign Service
Officer lists.
First, we will consider six Foreign Service Officer lists
of over 400 personnel referred to the committee. I support
these appointments and promotions and thank all of these
officers for their service.
We will also consider the nomination of Ms. Kamala
Lakhdhir, a career Foreign Service Officer, to be a U.S.
Ambassador to Malaysia. I want to thank my colleagues for
helping the committee take these steps forward on her
nomination today.
We will also consider a resolution of ratification that
supports the accession of Montenegro to the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization.
And I want to thank our chairman, Ron Johnson, for having a
great hearing on that, especially when he had so many other
challenging things occurring at the time, and allowing us to be
able to move ahead with this today. Thank you very much.
Montenegro has implemented tough reforms to address
corruption and other rule-of-law standards. More work by the
Montenegrin Government will be necessary, and we should
continue to encourage their progress in achieving and upholding
the standards set for NATO allies.
This committee has reviewed the protocol and believes that
the accession of Montenegro to full NATO membership is in the
interest of the United States.
We will also consider H. Con. Res. 40 encouraging reunions
of divided Korean-American families. I would like to thank
Senator Kirk, Congressman Rangel, and Chairman Royce for being
champions of Korean divided families. I am pleased to lend my
support to this resolution.
Next on the agenda is S. Con. Res. 30 expressing concern
over the disappearance of David Sneddon. I would like to thank
Senator Lee for his leadership on this matter, and I am pleased
to support this resolution.
I expressed my sympathy to the Sneddon family on the
ongoing uncertainty about their son, David. I am confident the
United States Government will continue to investigate any
information that may come to light regarding David's
disappearance or any American citizen missing abroad.
We will also consider S. Con. Res. 57 honoring the life of
the King of Thailand. I would also like to thank Senator Hatch
for introducing this timely bipartisan solution.
Also on the agenda today is S. Res. 535 expressing the
sense of the Senate regarding the trafficking of illicit
fentanyl into United States from Mexico and China. The United
States is experiencing a prescription opioid and heroin
overdose epidemic that is claiming thousands of lives each
year. I want to thank Senators Markey and Rubio for their work
and leadership on this important issue.
We will also consider S. Res. 537 expressing profound
concern about the ongoing political, economic, social, and
humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, urging the release of
political prisoners and calling for respective constitutional
and democratic processes. I thank Senators Cardin, Rubio,
Menendez, Kaine, Gardner, and Boxer for bringing this
resolution before the committee. The situation in Venezuela is
tragic and people are suffering. We all hope they can find a
peaceful electoral way out of this crisis.
We will consider S. 8 to provide the approval of agreement
for cooperation between the Government of the United States and
the Government of Norway concerning peaceful uses of nuclear
energy. This will cause a civil nuclear cooperation agreement
with Norway to come into effect in advance of the completion of
the 90-day congressional review period, which occurs after we
have adjourned on December 16th. Absent this affirmative
approval of agreement, the administration will complete a
trilateral servicing agreement with Norway and the IAEA, which
is not subject to congressional review or oversight.
This committee has reviewed the agreement, held briefings
and a hearing, and has found the agreement not to be
objectionable, though we wish that the administration, as I am
sure Senator Markey will echo, had not included advanced
consent for retransfer for storage and reprocessing of spent
fuel.
We will also consider H.R. 4939, the U.S. Caribbean
Strategic Engagement Act of 2016. I want to thank
Representatives Engle and Ros-Lehtinen for their work on this
legislation. I thank Senator Cardin for working with us to
streamline this bill to ensure that it focuses on encouraging
Caribbean nations to seek partnerships in the United States.
H.R. 4481, the Education for All Act of 2016, is also on
the agenda. This act restores our committee's role in providing
authorities and direction for a USAID program that has been
appropriated without such guidance from our committee for over
a decade. This bill authorizes programs to help countries
provide quality basic education, the lack of which is a
significant barrier to economic growth.
We will also consider H.R. 2845, the African Growth and
Opportunity Enhancement Act of 2015. AGOA has been an important
part of our engagement with Africa. This bill asks the
President to direct more resources toward helping African
businesses trade with United States.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation, MCC, amendment
represents the M-CORE bill this committee approved at our June
23rd markup. I want to commend Senators Cardin, Isakson, Coons,
and Flake for bringing this bipartisan legislation to the
committee.
I also want to thank Senator Barrasso for his constructive
input on how we can improve MCC oversight. Our amendment
includes Senator Barrasso's recommendations.
I need to take breath here, Senator Cardin.
We will also consider H.R. 1150, the Frank R. Wolf
International Religious Freedom Act. I thank Senator Cardin for
working with us to bring this legislation before the committee.
This bill, as amended, reinforces the 1998 law to strengthen
the role of the Ambassador at Large for International Religious
Freedoms and enhances the congressional oversight of the State
Department. This legislation enjoys broad interfaith support,
and we will be seeking to have this bill passed in the Senate
by unanimous consent so the amended legislation may be taken up
and approved by the House this week.
Lastly, and this is not on the agenda, we have a resolution
that I would like to present to Senator Boxer.
Senator Boxer. Oh, you are kidding.
[Laughter.]
Senator Boxer. I am surprised. Thank you.
The Chairman. This is going to be her last business
meeting, and we appreciate all you have done for this committee
and the United States Senate.
Serving the Senate since 1993, Senator Boxer has been the
longest-serving woman in the history of the Committee on
Foreign Relations with 18 years of service.
I want to thank her for her patriotism and commitment to
this institution and our country.
When I ran for the Senate and was elected 10 years ago,
Senator Boxer was well-known in Tennessee, and I just want to
say it has been a privilege for me not only to know you as a
well-known Senator but to know you well.
Senator Boxer. That is so sweet.
The Chairman. It has been a blessing. We wish you well.
[Applause.]
Senator Boxer. Thank you.
STATEMENT OF HON. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN,
U.S. SENATOR FROM MARYLAND
Senator Cardin. Mr. Chairman, if I might, if I could just
say a word or two and then perhaps yield to Senator Boxer, and
then I would like to say a few more things about today's agenda
and about our committee.
Some of the great pleasures of my life serving in the
United States are the friends that I made. I knew Senator Boxer
when she was Congresswoman Boxer. I knew of her incredible
talent, but we became buddies here in the United States Senate.
The people of California have been blessed to have an
incredible advocate on their behalf on so many issues, but our
Nation has been blessed. Indeed, the global community has been
blessed.
There are so many things we could talk about with Senator
Boxer on the environmental issues. But I think on this
committee, what you have done for women and girls around the
world is just incredible.
In Afghanistan, you have made a huge difference in the
lives of so many young children, and I just really want you to
know how much we all appreciate what you have done.
This is family, and we are very proud of our sister, so
congratulations for just an incredible career.
Senator Boxer. Thank you so much. I just want to say this
is such an honor to have this resolution. Good Lord, we do not
agree on anything, so this is special that you got this done.
[Laughter.]
Senator Boxer. And no one said, ``I signed in protest.''
That was good.
[Laughter.]
Senator Boxer. But each of you, as I look at you, we have
worked so well together, and sometimes we fought--sometimes,
once in a while, not that often. But I can truly say every
member of this committee I have worked with on issues that we
all care about, and Jim on the Ethics Committee, being just
dedicated to our work. It doesn't matter when you are in there
what party you are in. A lot of my love for this committee
comes from that same point.
These two gentlemen, the chairman and the ranking member,
working hand in glove constantly in an age where it is not
expected, and we are so thrilled to see it.
Whoever said politics stops at the water's edge is right.
This committee has to be nonpartisan because nothing less is at
stake than the security of every man, woman, and child that we
fight for every day.
I will close with this because--Senator, it is hard to talk
fast, but I am just going to close with this. I have seen many
chairmen. Bob, and I have seen this Bob, and I have seen John
Kerry, Richard Lugar, I could go through the list, Joe Biden, I
could go through the list, wonderful people all, friends all.
And when I got the ability to move forward on the first-
ever subcommittee that dealt with women's issues all over the
globe, it was a wonderful moment because everyone said, ``You
know, you are right, Barbara. We need to do this.''
I know I have spoken to Jeanne. It is not as if only a
woman would carry these issues, but it is a reminder to
everyone that we do see the world through a slightly different
lens. That is just the beauty of diversity, and Jeanne is going
to pick up a lot of these particular issues, and a lot of the
rest of you will as well on other subjects.
But it has been a joy, and I am going to close with this. I
am so loath to say this, but it is so perfect that I end with
this. I was disappointed we did not pass a piece of legislation
that I wanted you to pass today. That is a joke.
[Laughter.]
Senator Boxer. It is true that we did not, but I know----
The Chairman. We are going to get it done.
Senator Boxer [continuing]. We are going to get it done
after I leave. But if I did not say that, it would not be
Barbara Boxer.
[Laughter.]
Senator Boxer. I cannot let you get away with everything
today.
Fond memories, made me a better person, God bless each and
every one of you in the days and the years ahead in keeping our
country strong and safe.
Thank you.
[Applause.]
The Chairman. Thank you.
Senator Cardin. Mr. Chairman, if I might, later this week,
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will celebrate its 200th
anniversary, when the first standing committees were approved
by the United States Senate on December 10th.
This committee has had a very, very proud history. I know I
speak for all the members on the Democratic side, and I think I
also speak for the Republican side, to congratulate our
chairman, Bob Corker, on an incredible 2-year leadership of
this committee.
This has been a very difficult time. Your leadership has
shown the strength that we wanted in our chairman, the fairness
to include all members of our committee in the work of this
committee. You have been able to get the type of unity that we
needed to preserve the appropriate role for the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, and you have made it an honor to serve on
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
So I want to congratulate you for an incredible 2 years as
chairman.
[Applause.]
Senator Cardin. Mr. Chairman, I know we have a long agenda,
and I very much appreciate what is included on this agenda. I
think what might be easier--I was going to go through all the
items on the list, and they are important items, and I do want
to comment on what we have done. Perhaps the best way, if we
start into the agenda, I will comment as we get to the
legislation.
The Chairman. Very good. Thank you very much.
The first order of business for today's agenda will be six
Foreign Service lists.
Senator Cardin, do you have any comments on these?
Senator Cardin. I support all of them and move their
adoption.
The Chairman. Would anyone else like to speak to the list?
[No response.]
If there is no further discussion on these lists, I would
entertain a motion to approve these lists en bloc by voice
vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Shaheen. Second.
The Chairman. Thank you. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve six Foreign
Service lists en bloc.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
appointments and promotions are agreed to.
Next, I would like to ask the committee to proceed to a
voice vote on the consideration of Ms. Kamala Lakhdhir to be
U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia.
Senator Cardin, do you have any comments?
Senator Cardin. I strongly support the nomination and move
her adoption.
The Chairman. Would any member like to be recognized?
[No response.]
If there is no further discussion on the nomination, I
would entertain a motion to approve her by voice vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Menendez. Second.
The Chairman. Moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the nomination.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. All opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The nomination
is agreed to.
Next, I would like to consider the treaty on the agenda.
Senator Cardin, do you have any comments on this treaty?
Senator Cardin. Is this Montenegro?
The Chairman. Yes.
Senator Cardin. Yes, Mr. Chairman. First, let me thank you
very much for bringing the Montenegro NATO accession treaty
today.
I want to acknowledge the distinguished Ambassador for
Montenegro, who is present in our committee room, and thank him
for his availability to our committee.
It was clear that this small country has made significant
contributions to the alliance efforts around the world and made
the necessary internal reforms to address governance, rule of
law, and corruption.
This progress appears all the more remarkable for the fact
that Montenegro has been subject to a wave of anti-NATO and
anti-Western propaganda emanating from Russia. I congratulate
the manner in which the country has responded, and I am very
happy that we are making it clear that Russia does not have a
veto over the decisions of the NATO alliance, and I strongly
urge my colleagues to support the accession.
The Chairman. Does any other member wish to speak?
I am going to go back and forth, if that is okay.
Senator Johnson. Not to repeat, but I certainly want to
thank the chairman and ranking member for support of this
resolution.
You are correct. Montenegro has made great strides in
reform, both militarily as well as legal reform, trying to
drive out corruption. We had a great hearing on it.
And again, I just urge my colleagues to support the
resolution.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Senator Shaheen?
Senator Shaheen. Yes, I would echo what has been said, but
I would also ask that we encourage leadership to bring this to
the floor before we go into recess and end this session of
Congress. I think the best message we could send to Russia, as
they are looking at their future plans in Europe, is the
message that we want Montenegro to join NATO and to be part of
the European bloc that protects all of Europe.
The Chairman. Anyone else?
[No response.]
The Chairman. Thank you both for your leadership on this
issue.
If there is no further discussion on this, I would
entertain a motion to approve this by voice vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Kaine. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded. Thank you so much.
The question is on the motion to approve the treaty.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The treaty is
agreed to.
Next, we will consider S. Res. 537, the Venezuelan
resolution.
Senator Cardin, do you have any comments you want to make?
Senator Cardin. Mr. Chairman, I just really want to thank
you for your help in getting this resolution before us today.
It is a resolution that I worked on with Senators Rubio,
Menendez, Kaine, Boxer, and other members of this committee.
It is a heart-wrenching narrative that emerged from
Venezuela in which economic unraveling, lack of food and
medicine, the deterioration of the rule of law, and rising
levels of corruption have created an unstable situation where
citizens face tremendous hardship.
So I am glad that we are speaking as a body on this issue,
recognizing that Venezuela is in crisis and needs international
understanding.
The Chairman. Any others?
Senator Rubio. Mr. Chairman, I just want to echo that I
thank everyone, especially Senator Menendez, for his work on
this issue in general.
I just want to point out to everyone that what has happened
to Venezuela is nothing short of a coup d'etat. The
constitutional order has been ignored and completely canceled.
The Supreme Court has been overtaken, the media, the like. It
is not a democracy any longer, not even the facade of a
democracy. The impact that it is having on the region is
extraordinary.
I encourage my colleagues, when you have the chance, to
read the report. This is one of the richest countries in the
world, and you have people literally selling their hair for
pennies to try to be able to feed their families.
So it is a catastrophic situation that is coming to bear
here rapidly, and it is having an impact on South Florida and I
believe of the region. So I encourage everyone who has not kept
up-to-date with it, because a lot of other issues have been
going on, to really look into the tragic humanitarian and
political tragedy that is occurring in Venezuela.
The Chairman. I could not agree more.
Anyone else?
[No response.]
The Chairman. If there is no further discussion on this
resolution, I would entertain a motion to approve all three
Cardin amendments en bloc by voice vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Boxer. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve all three Cardin
amendments en bloc by voice vote.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The amendments
are agreed to.
Are there any further amendments?
[No response.]
The Chairman. Hearing none, is there a motion to approve
the resolution as amended?
Senator Kaine. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Boxer. Second.
The Chairman. Thank you. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve S. Res. 537, as
amended.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The resolution,
as amended, is agreed to.
Next, we will consider S. Res. 535, the fentanyl
resolution.
Senator Cardin, do you have any comments you would like to
make?
Senator Cardin. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I strongly support
this resolution, and I want to thank Senators Markey and Rubio
for bringing this forward, calling upon the United States for
counternarcotics cooperation with Mexico and China.
Mr. Chairman, I am sure all members of this committee have
had meetings around our State, meetings with different groups,
about the drug problems in every community in America. We have
seen the opioid abuses lead to heroin, lead to synthetic drugs
and fentanyl. It has caused untold deaths. Fentanyl is a drug
that those who are using narcotics are not aware of its
strength, and it causes them to go into crisis.
So I thank very much our colleagues for bringing this to
our committee's attention, that we must do more within the
jurisdiction of our committee to control the importation of
fentanyl.
The Chairman. Would anyone else like to speak?
Senator Markey. Mr. Chairman, if I may?
The Chairman. Senator Markey, yes, sir?
Senator Markey. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Rubio and I have introduced this resolution. This
is the public health crisis in the United States, and we join
with Senator Shaheen on this resolution, calling for its
passage.
Fentanyl, just to give you a little bit of an idea about
how bad this is right now, we are going to have 2,000 people
die in Massachusetts from opioid overdoses this year. Of them,
1,500 will have fentanyl in their blood system, 75 percent.
Now, Massachusetts is 2 percent of America's population. So
if you multiply that by 50 and this epidemic was hitting the
whole country at the rate it is sitting Massachusetts, the rate
it is hitting New Hampshire, the rate it is hitting Florida and
several of the States, but not the country, that would be
100,000 deaths, of which 75,000 would come from fentanyl.
So what we are trying to do with this resolution is to get
out of this storm, this class 5 hurricane, which is already on
shore in certain States, but it is ready to hit.
What it does is it calls for our Government to work much
more closely with the Chinese Government, which is the source,
principally, of this chemical, this artificial substance that
has been created and is coming into our country, and with the
Mexican Government, where it is kind of fabricated and turned
into a product that then comes into the cities and States of
our country.
So this is something that in my opinion is going to wind up
dwarfing any other issue that we work on. That is why doing
this in the context of even deliberating on the current bill is
so appropriate because far, far many more people are going to
be terrorized by this than will ever be terrorized by what is
happening in Aleppo today. This is a threat to families on the
streets of our country, which is why I am proud to be able to
work with Senator Rubio in a bipartisan fashion on this
amendment.
The Chairman. Thank you both. Any other comments?
Senator Rubio. I would just add that the fentanyl is now
with carfentanil, which is a new threat or an additional
threat. It is actually animal tranquilizer. It is what they use
to tranquilize like an elephant.
This stuff is coming in in the mail, basically. It is being
shipped in FedEx, UPS. I do not mean to single out any
companies. I am just saying--I just did--
[Laughter.]
Senator Rubio.--and others. It is being sent in from these
countries, and it is by far--I encourage everyone to talk to
your hospitals and first responders, and they are going to tell
you that they are seeing just dozens of these. And the agents
to reverse it do not even work anymore because of how strong it
has gotten.
It is also manufactured, by the way--and we saw the loss of
Prince, who died. He died because he took fentanyl in pills
labeled as Percocet.
So that is what we are dealing with here now. It is a very
serious problem.
The Chairman. The lacing that is occurring with fentanyl,
and the fact that it can come in a FedEx package this size
equal to truckloads of other types of materials is really
wreaking havoc on our society. I appreciate both of you
bringing attention to this.
Any other comments on this?
[No response.]
The Chairman. If there is no further discussion on this
resolution, I would entertain a motion to approve both Markey
amendments en bloc by voice vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Johnson. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve both Markey
amendments en bloc by voice vote.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
All opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The amendments
are agreed to.
Are there any further amendments?
[No response.]
Hearing none, is there a motion to approve the resolution,
as amended?
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Shaheen. Second.
The Chairman. Thank you. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve S. Res. 535, as
amended.
All in favor will say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The resolution,
as amended, is agreed to.
Our next order of business that I would ask that we
consider en bloc by voice vote are the remaining resolutions
before the committee. That is S. Con. Res. 57, S. Con. Res. 30,
S. Con. Res. 40.
Senator Cardin, any comments?
Senator Cardin. I support all those resolutions.
The Chairman. Are there any members who would like to
speak to any of these resolutions?
[No response.]
The Chairman. If there is no further discussion on the
resolutions, I would entertain a motion to approve these en
bloc by voice vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Udall. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve these resolutions
en bloc.
All in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The resolutions
are agreed to.
Next, we will consider S. 8, the Norway 123 Agreement.
Senator Cardin, do you have any comments on this?
Senator Cardin. Mr. Chairman, thank you for bringing
forward this. I am a cosponsor of the resolution, under your
leadership. The bill will ensure congressional oversight of our
nuclear cooperation with Norway. So I support the resolution.
The Chairman. Does anyone else wish to speak to this?
I started to call on you before you raised you hand,
Senator Markey.
Senator Markey. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, very much.
I do commend Norway as one of our closest allies and
recognize the need to conduct nuclear research at Norway's
Halden research reactor. But I am very concerned that we are
offering affirmative support to 123 Agreements that do not meet
the gold standard. I believe that as we get deeper into the
21st century, that should be our standard, regardless of how
close an ally any of the countries are with whom we are
reaching these agreements.
This agreement is going to provide Norway with advanced
consent to transfer U.S.-obligated spent fuel to the United
Kingdom and France for reprocessing. That sends the wrong
signal to other countries considering pursuing this technology,
and I am particularly concerned about East Asia, and I am
concerned that the negotiators of this 123 Agreement did not
push to remove the advanced consent clause.
It is the larger principle that is at stake here, despite
the small amounts of material that are involved in this
agreement. We should not water down our global opposition to
reprocessing. It should be our gold standard.
If we do not stand for that, we are going to come back in
another 15 or 20 years as other countries in the Middle East
and in East Asia ask for the same kind of treatment, and we
will then have that catastrophic event that was created because
we did not give the political leadership.
So I believe there is a profound danger that we are
unleashing here as we create this exemption, and I just wanted
to state my opposition to this pathway, on principle.
The Chairman. So for what it is worth, Senator Markey and
I have met on several occasions regarding non-gold-standard
agreements, and I could not agree more.
I think we find ourselves in a place where even though this
is an imperfect 123 Agreement, it is better than what is going
to be in place if we just allow an administrative agreement to
take place in the time to lapse.
So I share your concerns. I wish that all of these
agreements were in the gold-standard fashion that you have
expressed. You know we have talked about this on many
occasions.
But this is putting us in a better place than letting the
time elapse and enter into an administrative agreement between
the United States and Norway.
Are there any other comments or questions?
[No response.]
The Chairman. If there is no further discussion, I would
entertain a motion to approve the legislation by voice vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Johnson. Second.
The Chairman. Thank you. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve S. 8 by voice
vote.
All in favor will say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
Senator Markey. No.
The Chairman. And I will record you as a no, if that is
okay.
With that, the ayes have it, and the substitute agreement
is agreed to.
Are there any other further amendments?
[No response.]
The Chairman. The question is on the motion to approve
H.R. 4939, as amended.
Are we in the right place here? I do not know how we got to
the House.
Okay, the question is on the motion to approve S. 8.
All in favor will say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The legislation
is agreed to.
Next, we will move to H.R. 4939, the U.S.-Caribbean
Strategic Engagement Act of 2016.
Senator Cardin, do you have any comments you would like to
make?
Senator Cardin. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate this
issue being brought up for today's business meeting. I
congratulate my colleague in the House, Congressman Engle, for
his work on this.
It is legislation, I think, that shows our commitment to
our partnership in the Caribbean, and I support it.
The Chairman. Would anyone else like to speak to the
legislation?
If there is no further discussion, I would entertain a
motion to consider the substitute amendment by voice vote.
Senator Coons. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Kaine. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the substitute
amendment.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The substitute
amendment is agreed to.
Are there any further amendments?
[No response.]
The Chairman. Hearing none, is there a motion to approve
the legislation as amendment?
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Boxer. Second.
The Chairman. Thank you. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve H.R. 4939, as
amended.
All those in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
legislation, as amended, is agreed to.
Now we will consider H.R. 4481, the Education for All Act
of 2016.
Senator Cardin?
Senator Cardin. Mr. Chairman, again, I thank you for
bringing this forward. I strongly support it and urge my
colleagues to support the legislation.
The Chairman. Anyone else?
[No response.]
The Chairman. If there is no further discussion, I will
entertain a motion to consider the substitute amendment by
voice vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Second?
Senator Menendez. Second.
The Chairman. Thank you. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the substitute
amendment.
All in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The substitute
amendment is agreed to.
Are there further amendments?
[No response.]
The Chairman. Hearing none, is there a motion to approve
the legislation, as amended?
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Second?
Senator Johnson. Second.
The Chairman. Thank you. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve H.R. 4481, as
amended.
All in favor will say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The
legislation, as amended, is agreed to.
Now we will consider H.R. 2845, the AGOA Enhancement Act of
2015.
Senator Cardin?
Senator Cardin. Mr. Chairman, again, I appreciate that this
is before us today. I want to thank Senators Flake, Coons, and
Isakson for introducing the Millennium Compacts for Regional
Economic Integration Act, or the M-CORE Act, with me last year.
The bill passed our committee earlier. This new authority for
MCC is included in H.R. 2845, so I would urge colleagues to
support this legislation.
The Chairman. Any other discussion?
Senator Coons?
Senator Coons. I will just briefly, if I might, thank
Senator Cardin for his real leadership on getting us over the
finish line in terms of MCC regional compact authority.
And thank you, Mr. Chairman, for working so closely with
the ranking member on such a wide range of bills for today's
markup. Thank you.
The Chairman. Thank you so much.
If there is no further discussion, I would entertain a
motion to consider the Corker amendment by voice vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Boxer. Second.
The Chairman. Thank you. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the Corker
amendment.
All in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The amendment
is agreed to.
Are there further amendments?
[No response.]
The Chairman. Hearing none, is there a motion to approve
the legislation, as amended?
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Isakson. Second.
The Chairman. Thank you. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve H.R. 2845, as
amended.
All in favor will say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The
legislation, as amended, is agreed to.
Lastly, we will consider H.R. 1150, the Frank R. Wolf
International Religious Freedom Act.
Senator Cardin?
Senator Cardin. First, Mr. Chairman, let me say, when you
are voting on a bill that includes Frank R. Wolf's name, I
cannot see anyone voting against it. He has been a real
champion throughout his lifetime and career on human rights
issues.
I do want to thank Senator Rubio for his work on this
legislation. There were some concerns that were expressed, and
we were able to work through those concerns. I thank him for
that. The department had concern about reporting on nonstate
actors which engage in religious persecution, as it may
undermine U.S. Government diplomatic efforts to hold
governments accountable for abuses committed within their
territory.
I think this legislation strikes the right balance, but it
is an issue that I think our committee will continue to monitor
to make sure that governments are held accountable for actions
within their country.
I want to acknowledge Congressman Smith and the work that
he has done on religious freedom, and I would urge my
colleagues to support the legislation.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Would anyone else like to speak to this? I know numbers of
people were involved.
Senator Flake. I just want to thank Senator Rubio and
Senator Cardin for including the language I had on religious
visas. Thank you.
The Chairman. Very good.
If there is no further discussion, I would entertain a
motion to consider the Rubio substitute amendment by voice
vote.
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Johnson. Second.
The Chairman. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve the Rubio
substitute amendment.
All in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it. The amendment
is agreed to.
Is there a motion to approve the legislation, as amended?
Senator Cardin. So moved.
The Chairman. Is there a second?
Senator Johnson. Second.
The Chairman. Thank you. So moved and seconded.
The question is on the motion to approve H.R. 1150, as
amended.
All in favor, say aye.
[A chorus of ayes.]
The Chairman. Opposed?
[No response.]
The Chairman. With that, the ayes have it, and the
legislation, as amended, is agreed to.
That completes the committee's business.
Senator Kaine. Mr. Chair?
The Chairman. Yes, sir?
Senator Kaine. If I may, just one other business item that
I tried to click as we were at the front end saying kind things
about the chair and about Senator Boxer. Another committee
member has of milestone that is a pretty important one.
On Election Day, Senator Cardin achieved 50 consecutive
years in elected office beginning with his election as a
youngster.
Senator Cardin. I am trying to keep that quiet.
Senator Kaine. He doesn't like you mentioning it, but that
is a pretty impressive record. Those of us who do it understand
how challenging that is.
So congratulations.
[Applause.]
Senator Cardin. In Maryland, you can run for office when
you are in your teens.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. Well, I am thankful that you will be serving
with us on a continual basis, and I think that makes you
definitely a part of the establishment.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. Jeanne?
Senator Shaheen. Mr. Chairman, I wanted to pick up on
Senator Boxer's brief comment as she was giving her remarks
earlier about the bill that did not get passed, and that is the
Women, Peace and Security Act, something that Senator Boxer has
been working on----
The Chairman. I see that you are taking up her mantle very
quickly.
Senator Shaheen [continuing]. For now 4 years.
This is legislation that the House passed just recently
without debate. I think it is important because there is real
evidence that women have a critical role to play in all stages
of conflict resolution. We know that when women are supported,
that they tend to give back to their families, to their
communities. And making sure that they have a place at the
table when we are trying to resolve conflicts I think is very
important.
I know there were some procedural concerns about the
legislation, but I just want to put everybody on the committee
on notice that this is not going away just because Senator
Boxer is not going to be here. I think this is legislation that
is important for us to pass. It sends an important message to
women in countries around the world that they need to be at the
table as we are deciding their fate.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you, and I look forward to calling
Senator Boxer when she is doing whatever she is going to be
doing after the first of the year to share with her that we
have addressed this issue. I received a call from President
Carter, and I talked to Kristi Noem last night, and there were
some issues that we would like to work out. But we will begin
that again.
I know the President has had in place since 2011 an
executive order of sorts to deal with this, and we would like
to see what the impact of that has been. But we understand it
is going to be something that, hopefully, we will resolve
together, and thank you both for making comments in that
regard.
Senator Boxer. Mr. Chairman, make sure that you call me,
but will you be calling me as you are Secretary of State? This
is what I am hoping for.
Oh, I should not have said that.
Let's see----
The Chairman. That will never happen now. That's for sure.
[Laughter.]
Senator Boxer. Let me say, I strongly would oppose the
nomination.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. Thank you.
Thank you so much. That completes the committee's business.
I ask unanimous consent that staff be authorized to make
technical and conforming changes.
Without objection, so ordered.
With that, and without objection, the committee will stand
adjourned.
Thank you all, and I wish you all a warm and meaningful
holiday. I hope most of you will stay for the hearing, but,
hopefully, we will finish up this week. Thank you.
[Whereupon, at 3:11 p.m., the meeting was adjourned.]
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