[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 27] [Senate] [Pages 36432-36440] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]EXECUTIVE SESSION ______ EXECUTIVE CALENDAR Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Executive Calendar Nos. 117, 372, 377, 393, 408, 409, 411, 412 through 427, 433 through 438, and all the nominations on the Secretary's desk; that the nominations be confirmed, the motions to reconsider be laid on the table, and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered. The nominations considered and confirmed are as follows: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Joseph Timothy Kelliher, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the term expiring June 30, 2012. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Julie L. Myers, of Kansas, to be Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security. FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY W. Ross Ashley, III, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Todd J. Zinser, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, Department of Commerce. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Benjamin Eric Sasse, of Nebraska, to be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services. Christina H. Pearson, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services. FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Jon Wellinghoff, of Nevada, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the term expiring June 30, 2013. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE James Shinn, of New Jersey, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense. Mary Beth Long, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense. John H. Gibson, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Air Force. Craig W. Duehring, of Minnesota, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Air Force. IN THE AIR FORCE The following named officer for appointment in the United States Air Force to the grade indicated while assigned to a position of importance and responsibility under title 10, U.S.C., section 601: To be general Lt. Gen. Roger A. Brady, 0000 The following named officer for appointment in the United States Air Force to the grade indicated while assigned to a position of importance and responsibility under title 10, U.S.C., section 601: To be lieutenant general Maj. Gen. Richard Y. Newton, III, 0000 The following named officer for appointment in the United States Air Force to the grade indicated under title 10, U.S.C., section 624: To be brigadier general Col. Walter D. Givhan, 0000 The following named officer for appointment in the United States Air Force to the grade indicated while assigned to a position of importance and responsibility under title 10, U.S.C., section 601: To be lieutenant general Maj. Gen. William L. Shelton, 0000 The following Air National Guard of the United States officer for appointment in the Reserve of the Air Force to the grade indicated under title 10, U.S.C., section 12203: To be brigadier general Col. Allyson R. Solomon, 0000 The following named officers for appointment in the United States Air Force to the grade indicated under title 10, U.S.C., section 624: To be brigadier general Col. Christopher F. Burne, 0000 [[Page 36433]] Col. Dwight D. Creasy, 0000 in the army The following named officers for appointment to the grade indicated in the United States Army under title 10, U.S.C., section 624: To be brigadier general Colonel Robert B. Abrams, 0000 Colonel Ralph O. Baker, 0000 Colonel Allen W. Batschelet, 0000 Colonel Peter C. Bayer, Jr., 0000 Colonel Arnold N.G. Bray, 0000 Colonel Jeffrey S. Buchanan, 0000 Colonel Robert A. Carr, 0000 Colonel Gary H. Cheek, 0000 Colonel Kendall P. Cox, 0000 Colonel William T. Crosby, 0000 Colonel Anthony G. Crutchfield, 0000 Colonel Joseph P. Disalvo, 0000 Colonel Brian J. Donahue, 0000 Colonel Patrick J. Donahue, II, 0000 Colonel Peter N. Fuller, 0000 Colonel William K. Fuller, 0000 Colonel Walter M. Golden, Jr., 0000 Colonel Patrick M. Higgins, 0000 Colonel Frederick B. Hodges, 0000 Colonel Brian R. Layer, 0000 Colonel Richard C. Longo, 0000 Colonel Alan R. Lynn, 0000 Colonel David L. Mann, 0000 Colonel Lloyd Miles, 0000 Colonel Mark A. Milley, 0000 Colonel John W. Nicholson, Jr., 0000 Colonel Henry J. Nowak, 0000 Colonel Raymond P. Palumbo, 0000 Colonel Gary S. Patton, 0000 Colonel Mark W. Perrin, 0000 Colonel William E. Rapp, 0000 Colonel Thomas J. Richardson, 0000 Colonel Steven L. Salazar, 0000 Colonel Raymond A. Thomas, III, 0000 Colonel Paul L. Wentz, 0000 Colonel Larry D. Wyche, 0000 The following named officer for appointment in the United States Army to the grade indicated while assigned to a position of importance and responsibility under title 10, U.S.C., section 601: To be lieutenant general Lt. Gen. R. Steven Whitcomb, 0000 The following named officer for appointment in the United States Army to the grade indicated under title 10, U.S.C., section 624: To be major general Brig. Gen. John A. Macdonald, 0000 The following named officer for appointment in the United States Army to the grade indicated under title 10, U.S.C., sections 624 and 3064: To be brigadier general Col. Dana K. Chipman, 0000 The following Army National Guard of the United States officer for appointment in the Reserve of the Army to the grade indicated under title 10, U.S.C., section 12203: To be major general Brig. Gen. Dennis L. Celletti, 0000 The following named officer for appointment in the United States Army to the grade indicated while assigned to a position of importance and responsibility under title 10, U.S.C., section 601: To be lieutenant general Lt. Gen. David P. Valcourt, 0000 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Francis Mulvey, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Surface Transportation Board for a term expiring December 31, 2012. Carl T. Johnson, of Virginia, to be Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Department of Transportation. in the coast guard The following named officer for appointment in the United States Coast Guard Reserve to the grade indicated under title 10, U.S.C., section 12203: To be rear admiral Rear Adm. (lh) Michael R. Seward, 0000 The following named officers for appointment in the United States Coast Guard to the grade indicated under title 14, U.S.C., section 271: To be rear admiral (lower half) Capt. Joseph R. Castillo, 0000 Capt. Daniel R. May, 0000 Capt. Peter V. Neffenger, 0000 Capt. Charles W. Ray, 0000 The following named officers for appointment in the United States Coast Guard to the grade indicated under title 14, U.S.C., section 271: To be rear admiral Rear Adm. (1h) William D. Baumgartner, 0000 Rear Adm. (1h) Manson K. Brown, 0000 Rear Adm. (1h) Cynthia A. Coogan, 0000 department of homeland security Robert D. Jamison, of Virginia, to be an Under Secretary of Homeland Security. Nominations Placed on the Secretary's Desk in the air force PN1121 AIR FORCE nomination of Joseph V. Treanor III, which was received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 6, 2007. PN1122 AIR FORCE nomination of Pamala L. Browngrayson, which was received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 6, 2007. PN1123 AIR FORCE nomination of Alicia J. Edwards, which was received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 6, 2007. PNl124 AIR FORCE nominations (2) beginning THERESA D. BROWNDOONQUAH, and ending CHERYL A. JOHNSON, which nominations were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 6, 2007. PNl125 AIR FORCE nominations (3) beginning JEFFREY J. HOFFMANN, and ending GERALD B. WHISLER III, which nominations were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 6, 2007. PNl126 AIR FORCE nominations (3) beginning KELLEY A. BROWN, and ending MARK A. NIELSEN, which nominations were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 6, 2007. PN1144 AIR FORGE nominations (3) beginning JOHN R. SHAW, and ending NATALIE L. RESTIVO, which nominations were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 11, 2007. IN THE ARMY PN1056 ARMY nominations (40) beginning WILLIAM E. ACKERMAN, and ending MARK A. VAITKUS, which nominations were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of November 15, 2007. PN1057 ARMY nominations (22) beginning RACHEL A. ARMSTRONG, and ending VERONICA A. THURMOND, which nominations were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of November 15, 2007. PN1058 ARMY nominations (6) beginning VIVIAN T. HUTSON, and ending LAURIE E. SWEET, which nominations were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of November 15, 2007. PN1059 ARMY nominations (7) beginning GARY D. COLEMAN, and ending PAUL E. WHIPPO, which nominations were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of November 15, 2007. PN1060 ARMY nomination of Lillian L. Landrigan, which was received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of November 15, 2007. PN1093 ARMY nominations (2) beginning SARAH B GOLDMAN, and ending MICHEAL B. MOORE, which nominations were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 3, 2007. PN1094 ARMY nominations (3) beginning RICKY A. THOMAS, and ending JOSEPH PUSKAR, which nominations were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 3, 2007. PN1095 ARMY nomination of Tarnjit S. Saini, which was received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 3, 2007. PN1096 ARMY nomination of Bockarie Sesay, which was received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 3, 2007. PN1097 ARMY nomination of Deborah Minnickshearin, which was received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 3, 2007. PN1098 ARMY nomination of Stephen L. Franco, which was received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 3, 2007. PN1099 ARMY nomination of George Quiroa, which was received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 3, 2007. PN1100 ARMY nominations (4) beginning DAVID N. GERESKI, and ending CLINT E. WALKER, which nominations were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 3, 2007. PN1101 ARMY nomination of Kimberly K. Johnson, which was received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 3, 2007. PNl102 ARMY nominations (4) beginning ALAN JONES, and ending CHANTAY P. WHITE, which nominations were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 3, 2007. PNll03 ARMY nominations (18) beginning MARIAN AMREIN, and ending D060583, which nominations were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 3, 2007. PN1l27 ARMY nomination of Daniel J. Judge, which was received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 6, 2007. PN1l28 ARMY nominations (2) beginning RICHARD HARRISON, and ending GREGORY W. WALTER, which nominations were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 6, 2007. PN1129 ARMY nominations (3) beginning JOE R. WARDLAW, and ending NICKOLAS KARAJOHN, which nominations were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 6, 2007. PN1130 ARMY nominations (2) beginning VANESSA M. MEYER, and ending JAMES E. ADAMS, which nominations were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 6, 2007. PN1145 ARMY nomination of Quindola M. Crowley, which was received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 11, 2007. [[Page 36434]] PN1146 ARMY nominations (3) beginning PAUL A. MABRY, and ending ROBERT PERITO, which nominations were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 11, 2007. PN1147 ARMY nominations (147) beginning JOSEPH M. ADAMS, and ending D060256, which nominations were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 11, 2007. PN1148 ARMY nominations (241) beginning ANTHONY J. ABATI, and ending D060260, which nominations were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 11, 2007. PN1149 ARMY nominations (142) beginning DAVID P. ACEVEDO, and ending X1408, which nominations were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 11, 2007. COAST GUARD PN1119 COAST GUARD nomination of Robert A. Stohlman, which was received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 6, 2007. PN1120 COAST GUARD nomination of Raymond S. Kingsley, which was received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 6, 2007. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION PN1014 NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION nominations (16) beginning Llian G. K Breen, and ending Anna- Elizabeth B. Villard-Howe, which nominations were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of November 1, 2007. IN THE NAVY PN1061 NAVY nomination of Horace E. Gilchrist, which was received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of November 15, 2007. PN1106 NAVY nominations (15) beginning RICHARD W. SISK, and ending JOHN T. SCHOFIELD, which nominations were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 3, 2007. PN1150 NAVY nominations (23) beginning STEPHEN W. ALDRIDGE, and ending KRISTOFER J. WESTPHAL, which nominations were received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of December 11, 2007. Nominations Discharged Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged of the following nominations: foreign service nominations listed as follows: PN 877, PN 955, PN 1006, PN 1007, PN 1015, PN 1034; that the nominations be confirmed, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. The nominations considered and confirmed are as follows: Department of State Cedra Danielle Eaton, of Maryland For appointment as Foreign Service Officer of Class Four, Consular Officer and Secretary in the Diplomatic Service of the United States of America: Department of State S. Nausher M. Ali, of California Christopher Charles Ashe, of Pennsylvania Kimberly K. Atkinson, of South Dakota Deidra Di Anne Avendasora, of Minnesota Tiffany M. Bartish, of Illinois Christopher Graydon Beard, of Florida Jennifer L. Becker, of Kansas Nancy R. Biasi, of Oregon Sheryl J. Bistransky, of Virginia Michael A. Bradecamp, of Virginia Cheryl R. Bruner, of South Dakota Mark Colbourne Carlson, of Washington Landry Joseph Carr, of Louisiana Michael Albert Chung, of Washington Sara M. Cobb, of Florida Kathleen Marie Corey, of Washington John C. Corrao, of Indiana Sonata N. Coulter, of Washington Joanne Held Cummings, of Texas Paul Michael Cunningham, of Connecticut Christopher M. Deutsch, of Virginia Janet E. Deutsch, of Illinois Beverli J. DeWalt, of Washington Sarah A. Duffy, of Illinois David Clifford Edginton, of Iowa Ellen Beth Eiseman, of New York Jill Foster, of California Eric Geelan, of New York Kathleen D. Gibilisco, of California John H. Gimbel IV, of Nevada Carla A. Gonneville, of California Christopher R. Green, of Texas John R. Groch, of Texas H. Rebecca Grutz, of Texas Traver Gudie, of Florida Richard F. Hanrahan, Jr., of Illinois Cash A. Herbolich, of Arizona Anny Chi-Jin Ho, of Virginia Robert F. Hommowun, of California Amy J. Hood, of Virginia Jessica Marie Franz Huaracayo, of California Dorian Hurtado, of Florida Mollie Jax Jackson, of Oregon Theodore Evan Jasik, of New York Alma Musanovic Johnson, of New Hampshire Tiffney J. Johnson, of Texas Wendy Annette Kahler, of Virginia Deborah J. Kanarek, of California Mary Virginia Kane, of Maryland Wendy A. Kennedy, of Washington Jason B. Khile, of Illinois Julie Kim-Johnson, of Washington Emily L. King, of Virginia Brian P. Klein, of Pennsylvania Richard W. La Roche, Jr., of California Guy M. Lawson, of Texas Paula I. L'Ecuyer, of Virginia Paul A. Loh, of New York Leon C. Lowder III, of New York Laura deNelle Lucas, of Idaho Mary Elizabeth Madden, of Oregon Guy Margalith, of New York Berenice Mariscal, of Texas Robert M. Marks, of Florida Hagen Davis Maroney, of New York Melissa E. Martinez, of New Mexico Partha Mazumdar, of Pennsylvania Lissa Mei-lin McAtee, of Washington P. Christopher McCabe, of Colorado Nancy Hillery McCarthy, of Texas Catherine E. McGeary, of Florida Aud-Frances McKernan, of California Cristina Marie Marko Meaney, of Arizona Ann Meceda, of California Sara M. Mercado, of California Kristian G. Moore, of Colorado John K. Moyer, of Pennsylvania Eshel William Murad, of Virginia Kevin T. Murakami, of Virginia Megan Thana Myers, of Minnesota Jeremy Nathan, of Illinois Jenifer Lynn Neidhart de Ortiz, of Florida Thu M. Nguyen, of Virginia Briana L. Olsen, of Washington Douglas S. O'Neill, of Florida Swati Mansukh Patel, of Alabama Coney Patterson, of Florida Timothy Eugene Peltier, of Virginia Steven Perry, of Virginia Brian R Peterson, of Washington Christopher R. Reynolds, of New Jersey Christine Riehl, of Maryland Michael R. Roberts, of New Jersey Richard W. Roesing III, of Pennsylvania Meredith Leigh Rubin, of Virginia Joseph H. Runyon, of Florida Trina D. Saha, of California Anne Lee Seshadri, of New Hampshire Charles H. Sewall, of Florida Preeti Vikas Shah, of Michigan Kim Shaw, of California Patrick Isamu Smeller, of Maryland Jeffrey Brian Smith, of Texas Steven T. Smith, of New Hampshire John Thomas Speaks III, of Texas Debra A. Steigerwalt, of Virginia Scott Adam Sternberg, of Florida Stephen Bruce Stewart, of California Erinn C. Stott, of Texas Andrea V. Strano, of New York Paul M. Stronski, of New York Joseph A. Strzalka, of Michigan Rachel Sunden, of Texas Kathleen S. Szpila, of Massachusetts Debra Taylor, of Washington Victoria Jean Taylor, of Missouri Chad Alan Thornberry, of California Jennifer L. Vieira, of Texas Thomas Joseph Wallis, of Virginia Drake A. Weisert, of Texas Adam P. West, of Illinois Joel Robert Wiegert, of Nebraska Patrick R. Wingate, of Texas Ellen Wong, of Missouri Danielle K. Wood, of Oregon Jean Thomas Woynicki, of Pennsylvania Daniela Zadrozny, of Texas Department of State Wendy P. Lyle, of Virginia Secretary in the Diplomatic Service of the United States of America: Department of Treasury Christopher Adams, of California Consular Officers and Secretaries in the Diplomatic Service of the United States of America: Department of Commerce Peter D. Liston, of Florida Department of State Mary E. Alexander, of Texas Logan Alschbach, of Virginia Robert T. Alter, of the District of Columbia Sandra E. Ambrose-Shem, of Virginia Robert Anderson, of Oregon Asha B. Andrews, of California David Avery, of New Mexico D. Heath Bailey, of Nevada Debra A. Barbessi, of Virginia Alexandra Lara Baumgartner, of West Virginia Shari Alyson Berke, of the District of Columbia Rachel E. Birthisel, of Virginia Brandon L. Borkowicz, of Illinois Donald A. Brown, of Louisiana Leslie E. Brown, of the District of Columbia Lindsay H. Bush, of Virginia Daniel J. Byrne, of Virginia Eric Camus, of Oregon Steven W. Carroll, of California Charles Coxwell Carson, of Virginia Christopher Ronald Carver, of Oregon Michael D. Christie, of Virginia Daniel Y. Chu, of California Daniel R. Cisek, of Illinois Alfonso Cortes, of New York John Edward Crippen, of Arkansas [[Page 36435]] Ramona S. Crippen, of Arkansas Thomas P. Dalton, of Texas Susan V. Dankovich, of Pennsylvania Nathalie Jordan Davis, of Maryland Wayne Charles Davis, of Virginia Nathaniel P. Delemarre, of Virginia Lawanda B. Dixon, of Maryland Michael Stephen Doumitt, of Virginia Monique A. Downs, of Maryland Scott Driskel, of Virginia Janet Marie Elbert, of Virginia David Aaron Epstein, of New York Nancy Ann Eyde, of Michigan Kellee A. Farmer, of Kansas David Kip Francis, of Georgia Kevin W Friloux, of Texas Edward A. Gallagher, of Virginia Nicole E. Gallagher, of Maryland Juan Jaime Gamboa, of Texas James C. Gessler, of Virginia Kristin Michele Gilmore, of California Stephen Glaser, of California Barry S. Greenberg, of Maryland Lawrence James Grossback, of Virginia Rebecca Haas, of Pennsylvania Greg A. Hall, of Maryland Mercedes Ruth Hammer, of Virginia Sarah J. Hansen, of Virginia Robert W. Hareland, of Nevada Anthony P. Harman, of Maryland S. Evan Harper, of the District of Columbia Megan Alice Harris, of Virginia Justin Matthew Hekel, of New York Paul E. Hickernell, of Virginia Rebecca Katherine Hunter, of Florida Kareem N. Jamjoom, of Mssouri James J. Jay, Jr, of Illinois Michael H. Johnson, Jr., of Virginia Nicole G Johnson, of Wisconsin Eric A. Jordan, of Kansas Przemyslaw Robert Kaczorowski, of Maryland George R. Kanekkeberg, of Virginia Megan M. Katin, of Virginia Elizabeth C. Kaufman, of Virginia James Brennan Kelly, of the District of Columbia Keely Zwart Kilburg, of Texas Eric Michael Kline, of Virginia Scott O. Koenig, of California Timothy R. Kraemer, of Virginia Jeanne Brennan Land, of Virginia Susan P. Larson, of Virginia Elizabeth K. Lee, of California Leslie A. Linnemeier, of Virginia Mary LoFrisco-McClure, of Maryland Billy Malone, of Virginia Bruce G. Mangum, of Maryland David Matthew Mark, of Virginia Charles Martin, of Kentucky Paul J. Martinek, of Massachusetts Marjorie A. Mathelus, of Virginia George D. Mathews, of Virginia Catherine Jean McFarland, of Florida Grant L. McMurran, of Virginia Richard Bruce Mddlebrooks, of Virginia Benjamin Edward Miller, of California Thomas Miniaci, of Virginia Blake W. Mobley, of the District of Columbia Kimberlee Moore, of Virginia Matthew Abraham Myers, Sr., of Florida William R. Nelson, of Wisconsin Nicole A. Nucelli, of Virginia Aaron P. Ong, of Virginia Robert C. Palmer, of California Brandy L. Pankau, of West Virginia Megan M. Phaneuf, of the District of Columbia Justin A. Ponchak, of Virginia Michael Hugh Quinn, of Alaska Jamie William Ravetz, of Pennsylvania Robin Reichenbach, of Virginia Christopher Rhoton, of Virginia Meredith Robertson, of Virginia Carolyn Rodal, of Virginia Timothy R. Roman, of Maryland Aaron John Rupert, of Ohio Manju K. Sadarangani, of New York Marco G. Sailors, of Pennsylvania Susan M. Sakraida, of Pennsylvania Marcelyn E. Sanchez, of California Cheryl Anderson Saus, of Virginia Kevi E. Sechrest, of Virginia David P. Segalini, of Virginia Anjalina Sen, of New York D. Alexandra Shuey, of the District of Columbia Richard R. Silver, of California Theodora S. Smith, of Maryland Timothy J. Smith, of Maryland Andrew D. Snodgrass, of Virginia Jimmi Nicole Sommer, of Idaho Jorge Patrick Sowers, of Virginia Paul Glen Stahle, of Maryland Wade B. Stanton, of Virginia Sharla Stephenson, of Virginia Sarah C. Stewart, of Arizona Erin C. Stuart, of Virginia Mary E. Stuessy, of Ohio Huguette Thornton, of Florida Peter J. Thrapp, of Illinois Benjamin Tietz, of Virginia Joseph Anthony Tordella, of Florida Rubani I. Trimiew, of New Jersey Nguyen C. Trinh, of Maryland Kristine M. Tuori, of Maryland Cynthia Jean Turner, of Florida Ariel Rebecca Vaagen, of Texas Michelle R. Vassar, of Virginia Jessica R. Vielhuber, of Virginia Heidi B. Vierow, of Virginia Timothy S. Wade, of the District of Columbia Kerry Merkl Wald, of Connecticut Michele Wells, of California Richard Whitten, of Florida Whitney Scott Wiedeman, of Texas Stewart A.S. Wight, of Virginia Todd Andrew Wilder, of Washington Michelle Marie Wildman, of Indiana Suzanne M. Yountchi, of California The following-named Career Members of the Senior Foreign Service of the Department of Agriculture/APHIS for promotion within and into the Senior Foreign Service to the classes indicated: Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister: Danny J. Sheesley, of Colorado Department of State Julia A. Stewart, of Virginia The following-named Members of the Foreign Service to be Consular Officers and/or Secretaries in the Diplomatic Service of the United States of America, as indicated: Consular Officers and Secretaries in the Diplomatic Service of the United States of America: Department of Commerce Paul S. Cushman, of Florida Department of State Jessica Lynn Adams, of Ohio Gregory David Aurit, of Nevada Mark J. Bosse, of California Roberta R. Burns, of New York Lydia Beth Butts, of Texas Lisa Arunee Buzenas, of the District of Columbia Daniel C. Callahan, of Virginia Thomas L. Card, of Virginia Michael Carney, of Georgia Mary Karol Cline, of the District of Columbia Marc S. Cook, of the District of Columbia Michael Albert Daschbach, of Arizona Thomas R. De Bor, of Pennsylvania Kristen Fresonke, of New York Lawrence H. Gemmell, of Maine Lewis Gitter, of Pennsylvania Kristofor E. Graf, of Texas Sean S. Greenley, of South Carolina Michael William Hale, of Virginia Paul Allen Hinshaw, of Mississippi A. Diane Holcombe, of Maryland Richard B. Johns, of Virginia Steve M. Kenoyer, of California Richard Morris, of Colorado Andrea Jane Parsons, of the District of Columbia Miranda A. Rinaldi, of the District of Columbia Amy E. Roth, of Louisiana Erik Martinas Ryan, of Arkansas Denise Shen, of Virginia Joan Renee Sinclair, of California Diana Maria Sitt, of California Elizabeth A. Sunday, of Pennsylvania Mary C. Thompson, of Texas Laura A. Till, of Colorado Miriam Elise Tokumasu, of Washington Nyree Tripptree, of Georgia Christopher Van Bebber, of California Angela Raye Ventling, of New York Vaida Vidugiris, of New York Zebulun Q Weeks, of Nevada Diane Whitten, of Nebraska Brandon L Wilson, of Virginia Deborah Winters, of the District of Columbia Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister: Anne H. Aarnes, of Vermont Hilda Marie Arellano, of Texas Karen Dene-Turner, of the District of Columbia Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor: Deborah K. Kennedy-Iraheta, of Virginia Erma Willis Kerst, of the District of Columbia Howard Jeffrey Sumka, of Maryland Leon S. Waskin, Jr., of Florida Paul E. Weisenfeld, of the District of Columbia Susumu Ken Yamashita, of Florida Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor; Jennifer Adams, of New York John A. Beed, of Maryland Beth Ellen Cypser-Kim, of New York Thomas R. Delaney, of Pennsylvania Dona M. Dinkler, of Virginia Gary Flynn Fuller, of Califomia Lawence Hardy II, of Washington Michael T. Harvey, of Texas James M Harmon, of Maryland Edith Fayssoux-Jones Humphreys, of Florida Brooke Andrea Isham, of Washington David Leong, of Virginia Bobbie E. Myers, of Florida Charles Eric North, of Virginia Martha Erin Solo, of Virginia Dennis J. Weller, of Illinois Melissa Ann Williams, of Virginia Career Members of the Senior Foreign Service of the United States of America, Class of Career Minister: Pamela E. Bridgewater, of Maryland Steven A. Browning, of Texas Jeremy F. Curtin, of Maryland Daniel Fried, of California Francis Joseph Ricciardone, Jr., of New Hampshire Career Members of the Senior Foreign Service of the United States of America, Class of Minister-Counselor: Bernadette Mary Allen, of Maryland Betsy Lynn Anderson, of Virginia Claudia E. Anyaso, of the District of Columbia [[Page 36436]] Edmund Earl Atkins, of California Joyce A. Barr, of Washington Kevin Michael Barry, of Virginia Leslie Ann Bassett, of California Donna M. Blair, of Louisiana Anne Taylor Callaghan, of Virginia Arnold A. Chac, of New York Michael Hugh Corbin, of California Gene Allan Cretz, of New York Michael Joseph Darmiento, of Virginia Jonathan D. Farrar, of California Philip S. Goldberg, of New York Gary A. Grappo, of Florida Charles H. Grover, of New Hampshire David M. Hale, of New Jersey Robert Porter Jackson, of Virginia Tracey Ann Jacobson, of the District of Columbia Stuart E. Jones, of Pennsylvania Peter Graham Kaestner, of Florida Susan E. Keogh, of California Nabeel A. Khoury, of New York Lisa Jean Kubiske, of Virginia Joseph Estey MacManus, of New York Haynes Richardson Mahoney III, of Massachusetts M. Lee McClenny, of Washington Nancy E. McEldowney, of Florida Christopher J. McMullen, of the District of Columbia James Desmond Melville, Jr., of New Jersey William H. Moser, of Florida Sandra M. Muench, of Florida Anthony Muse, of Tennessee Geraldine H. O'Brien, of Massachusetts James A. Paige, of Ohio Isiah L. Parnell, of Florida Michael Bernard Regan, of New Jersey Paul Edward Rowe, of Virginia Larry Schwartz, of Washington Justine M. Sincavage, of Pennsylvania Jay Thomas Smith, of Indiana Barbara J. Stephenson, of Florida Agu Suvari, of Rhode Island Teddy B. Taylor, of Maryland Donald Gene Teitelbaum, of Virginia Margaret A. Uyehara, of Virginia James B. Warlick, Jr., of California Kevin Michael Whitaker, of Virginia Mary Jo Wills, of Virginia Marie L. Yovanovitch, of Connecticut Career Members of the Senior Foreign Service of the United States of America, Class of Counselor: Gregory Adams, of Arizona Susan Elaine Alexander, of Washington Richard Hanson Appleton, of California Michael Lee Bajek, of Texas Robert David Banks, of Virginia John R. Bass II, of New York Robert Stephen Beecroft, of California Robert I. Blau, of Virginia Thurmond H. Borden, of Texas Philip Jackson Breeden, Jr., of California Matthew J. Bryza, of California Piper Anne-Wind Campbell, of New York Thomas H. Casey, Jr., of New Jersey Karen Lise Christensen, of Virginia Robert John Clarke, of Florida John Alan Connerley, of California Thomas Frederick Daughton, of New York Robert Richard Downes, of Texas Susan Marsh Elliott, of Virginia Laura Patricia Faux-Gable, of Virginia Julie A. Furuta-Toy, of California Gonzalo Rolando Gallegos, of Texas Peggy Ann Gennatiempo, of Washington Thomas Henry Goldberger, of New Jersey Robert Daniel Griffiths, of Nevada Eva Jane Groening, of New Jersey Ted William Halstead, of Virginia D. Brent Hardt, of Florida Clifford Awtrey Hart, Jr., of Virginia Francisca Thomas Helmer, of California Simon Henshaw, of Massachusetts Leslie C. High, of Pennsylvania Anthony Alonzo Hutchinson, of Washington Dorothy Senger Imwold, of Florida Tina S. Kaidanow, of New York Ann N. Kambara, of California David Joel Katz, of Washington Neil R. Klopfenstein, of Iowa Christopher A. Lambert, of Virginia John Charles Law, of Virginia Frank Joseph Ledahawsky, of New Jersey Lewis Alan Lukens, of Vermont Carol Lynn MacCurdy, of Virginia Kevin K. Maher, of Virginia John A. Matel, of Washington Robin Hill Matthewman, of Washington Matthew John Matthews, of Virginia Louis Mazel, of New Hampshire Michael William McClellan, of Kentucky Kenneth H. Merten, of Virginia Lawrence Mire, of California Michael Chase Mullins, of New Hampshire Richard Walter Nelson, of California Virginia E. Palmer, of Virginia Robert Patterson, of Pennsylvania Claire A. Pierangelo, of California H. Dean Pittman, of Mississippi Robert Glenn Rapson, of New Hampshire Philip Thomas Reeker, of New York Gary D. Robbins, of Washington Todd David Robinson, of New Jersey Matthew M. Rooney, of Texas Dorothea-Maria Rosen, of California Andrew T. Simkin, of Washington Pamela Leora Spratlen, of California William Ralph Stewart, of Texas Stephanie Sanders Sullivan, of Maryland Susan M. Sutton, of Virginia Alaina Teplitz, of the District of Columbia Heather Ann Townsend, of the District of Columbia Jeffrey Stewart Alexander Tunis, of Florida Thomas E. Williams, Jr., of Virginia Bisa Williams-Manigault, of Texas Mary Hillers Witt, of Pennsylvania Robert A. Wood, of New York Career Members of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, and Consular Officers and Secretaries in the Diplomatic Service of the United States of America: Cheryl L. Alston, of Texas Robert Douglas Barton, of Texas Kevin W. Bauer, of Virginia Stephen P. Brunette, of Virginia Scott P. Bultrowicz, of Ohio Kenneth B. Dekleva, of Texas Loren F. File, Jr., of Virginia Gregory V. Gavagan, of Florida Joseph G. Hays III, of Virginia John F. Hernly, of Maryland Kibby Felecia Jorgensen, of Florida George G. Lambert, of Indiana Phillip S. Louh, of New Jersey James P. McDermott, of Maryland Bill A. Miller, of Georgia Richard A. Nicholas, of Colorado Robert A. Riley, of Florida Michael H. Ross, of Virginia Eric N. Rumpf, of Washington Donald A. Schenck, of Virginia John W. Schilling, of Virginia Conrad V. Schmitt, of Texas James E. Vanderpool, of California Frontis B. Wiggins, of Virginia Agency for International Development Jeffery A. Lifur, of Nevada For appointment as Foreign Service Officer of Class Three, Consular Officer and Secretary in the Diplomatic Service of the United States of America: Agency for International Development Sabinus Fyne Anaele, of Texas Yohannes A. Araya, of Virginia Jeff Richard Bryan, of Florida Samuel Carter, Jr., of Virginia Thaddeus S. Corley, of Nevada Linda S. Crawford, of Florida Matthew R. Drake, of California Steven DeVane Edminster, of Maryland Steven M. Fondriest, of the District of Columbia Wayne A. Frank, of Hawaii Jeffery T. Goebel, of the District of Columbia David Gosney, of California Stephen F. Herbaly, of Montana Nicholas B. Higgins, of the District of Columbia Michelle A. Jennings, of California Melissa A. Jones, of California Terence Ernest Jones, of Florida Jessica J. Jordan, of Florida Erin Austin Krasik, of Ohio Akua N. Kwateng-Addo, of Maryland Lisa Magno, of Virginia Michael Richard McCord, of Maryland Erin Nicholson Pacific, of the District of Columbia Sheila R. Roquitte, of Washington Daniel Sanchez-Bustamante, of Maryland Nancy M. Shalala, of New Jersey Jeffry B. Sharp, of Illinois Jason Kennedy Singer, of the District of Columbia Kathyrine R. Soliven, of Maryland Michael B. Stewart, of South Dakota Aye Aye Thwin, of Virginia Sara R. Walter, of Kansas James Matthew Pye Weatherill, of New Jersey The following-named Members of the Foreign Service to be Consular Officers and Secretaries in the Diplomatic Service of the United States of America: Department of Commerce Thomas P. Cassidy III, of Texas Tanya Cole, of California Nasir Khan, of Virginia Ashley Miller, of Maryland Department of State Brian D. Adkins, of Ohio Nushin Sadik Alloo, of California Laura E. Anderson, of South Carolina Kathleen N. Astorita, of Virginia Alfredo Ayuso, of Virginia Adam Christopher Bacon, of Virginia Alexander M. Bailey, of Virginia Jennifer M. Bailey, of Virginia Steven C. Barlow, of Virginia Joseph George Bergen, of South Carolina James T. Berry, of Virginia Sarah E Bobbin, of Virginia Darren Paul Bologna, of Virginia Brian Andrew Bresnan, of Virginia Kendrick Bennett Brown, of Virginia Marcy S. Brown, of New York Matthew Crane Buffington, of Utah Meagan Call, of New Mexico Anne M. Camus, of Virginia Lindsay K. Campbell, of Maryland Dean D. Caras, of the District of Columbia James Michael Cichon, of Virginia William Percy Cobb, Jr., of the District of Columbia Henry Clay Constantine IV, of Virginia Christopher L. Cook, of Texas L.A. Cordero, of California Andrea D. Corey, of Colorado Brian F. Corteville, of Michigan Jeffrey A. Courtemanche, of Virginia Angela Vernet Dalrymple, of New York Ralph Dixon III, of Virginia Meera Doraiswamy, of Virginia Damon DuBord, of the District of Columbia Khashayar Ghashghai, of Texas Fonta J. Gilliam, of North Carolina [[Page 36437]] Sandrine Susan Goffard, of Florida Andrea Lauren Gottlich, of Kansas Teresa L. Grantham, of Arizona Andrea G. Hall, of Virginia Thomas Neal Halphen, of Louisiana Harry J. Handlin, of Maryland Kathryn Hartmere, of Maryland Brendan Kyle Hatcher, of Tennessee Heidi S. Hattenbach, of Colorado Cristin Heinbeck, of Michigan Prashant Hemady, of Pennsylvania Jacquelyn E. Henderson, of Indiana Annalis Hermann, of Virginia Norma C. Hernandez, of California Roy Arturo Hines, of California Winifred Loop Hofstetter, of Colorado Mark W. Hopkins, of Virginia Charles Phillip Hornbostel, of Virginia Matthew Lane Horner, of Oregon Eric S. Huguley, of Maryland Francine I. Kalnoske, of Maryland Zoraida Tarifa Kelley, of Virginia James Sean Kennedy, of California Colleen M. Kenning, of the District of Columbia Anna M. Klimaszewska, of Virginia Rachel R Kutzley, of Ohio Tye M. Lageman, of Virginia James G. Lankford, of Texas Eric James Legallais, of Virginia Maria del Carmen Liautaud, of Virginia Brian Jay Luster, of Virginia Margaret Grace MacLeod, of New York Denise M. Malone, of Florida Jeff D. Malsam, of Virginia Amanda Joy Mansour, of the District of Columbia Sara Elizabeth Martz, of Virginia Pamela S. Miller, of Virginia James Alexander Moore, of Virginia Matthew A. Morrow, of Ohio Victor G. Myers, of Maryland Victoria A. Nestor, of Pennsylvania Tyler Ross Nicholes, of Virginia Siobhan Colby Oat-Judge, of Connecticut Craig P. Osth, of Virginia Steven Lynn Ovard, of Utah Matthew R. Petersen, of Virginia Garry Pierrot, of Florida Sharon L. Pollard, of Virginia Kathryn E. Porter, of Alabama Brandon Possin, of Wisconsin Rachel E. Quiroga, of Virginia Amy J. Reardon, of Washington Richard N. Reilly, of Florida Charles A. Reynolds, of Georgia David Reynolds, of Rhode Island Kristin Marie Roberts, of Virginia Michael Rosenthal, of the District of Columbia Lindsey L. Rothenberg, of the District of Columbia Samuel Flom Rothenberg, of the District of Columbia Sarah A. Sadow, of Virginia Alexander Rafael Schaper, of Virginia Jacob Taylor Schultz, of Florida Frank Erick Sellin, of Virginia Ami U. Shah, of New Jersey Philip Lee Shaw, of Virginia David C. Shiao, of Virginia Beth Nichole Skubis, of Virginia Rhonda Lynn Slusher, of Kansas Lachrisha D. Smith, of Maryland John Steven Soltys, of Virginia Jonathan W. Spitzer, of Virginia Kimberly M Strollo, of Florida Nikhil P. Sudame, of Connecticut Erin P. Sweeney, of New Jersey Michael J. Sweet, of Virginia Justen Allen Thomas, of Wisconsin Scott VanBeuge, of Washington Nancy Taylor VanHorn, of Texas Marlan C. Walker, of Utah Dineen B. Willats, of Virginia Timothy Lee Witkiewicz, of Virginia Daniel Wallace Wright, of Virginia Kevin S. Yates, of North Carolina Zainab Zaid, of Maryland Marwa Zeini, of Florida Department of State S. Najlaa Abdus-Samad, of New York J. Andrew Abell, of the District of Columbia Anthony W. Alexander, of California Christopher Campbell Allison, of Missouri Erfana Andrabi, of Washington Faris Y. Asad, of Ohio Forest Grady Atkinson, of California Benjamin Seth Bailey, of Washington Anne Elizabeth Baker, of Washington Chelsea M.H. Bakken, of Washington Daniela A. Ballard, of California Ann Barrow, of Florida Alistair Charles Baskey, of Texas Todd Michael Bate-Poxon, of Florida Matthew Kenneth Beh, of New York Mariju Libo-on Bofill, of West Virginia Scott Charles Bolz, of Washington Pauline Nicole Borderies, of California Jennifer F. Bosworth, of the District of Columbia Tobias Alyn Bradford, of Texas Staci A. Brothers-Jackson, of Georgia Christopher Charles Brown, of Wisconsin D.A. Brown, of Florida Justin Patrick Brown, of California Thomas E. Brown, Jr., of Maryland Timothy Patrick Buckley, of New York Dayle Rebecca Carden, of Texas Lyra Sharon Carr, of Nevada Cassandra Carraway, of California Michael J. Carver, of Texas Eric Catalfamo, of Florida Ethan Daniel Chorin, of California Lewis A. Clark, of Texas Christopher T. Cortese, of Florida Kim D'Auria-Vazira, of California Timmy T. Davis, of California Frank DeParis, of Virginia Shelly J. Dittmar, of New York Katya Dmitrieva, of New York Andrea Susana M. Donnally, of Florida Jed Taro Dornburg, of the District of Columbia Daniel S. Duane, of New York Julie A. Eadeh, of Michigan Michael G. Edwards, of Washington Kiera Lacey Emmons, of California Richard J. Faillace, of New Jersey Joseph T. Farrelly, of the District of Columbia Yuriy R. Fedkiw, of Ohio Julia C. Fendrick, of Maryland Timothy J. Fingarson, of Maryland Andrea Finnegan, of New York Rees M. Fischer, of Florida Michael Kevin Fitzpatrick, of Maryland Christopher T. Friefeld, of Virginia Thomas Barry Fullerton, Jr., of Tennessee Enrique Rodrigo Gallego, of Illinois Angela Louise Gemza, of Minnesota Anita Ghildyal, of Missouri Matthew Bryant Golden, of California Candace A. Graves, of North Carolina John H. Gregg, of Alabama Jason Kamata Hackworth, of Washington Daniel E. Hall, of Arizona Scott William Hansen, of Virginia Alexander K. Hardin, of Ohio Danielle Alisa Harms, of Pennsylvania Scott Edward Hartmann, of the District of Columbia Lesley M. Hayden, of Minnesota Rich Heaton, of California Maria Herbst Richart, of Alaska Priscilla A. Hernandez, of Texas Kary I. Hintz-Tate, of Virginia Courtney Houk, of Florida Jerry S. Ismail, of Virginia Joseph Samuel Jacanin, of Indiana Richard C. Jao, of New York Judith M. Johnson, of Texas Todd M. Katschke, of Illinois Pamela R. Kazi, of Minnesota Mary Elizabeth Knapp-Rasay, of Florida Elizabeth J. Konick, of New York Bryan K. Koontz, Jr., of Virginia Stephen Gyula Kovacsics, of Florida Eric J. Kramp, of Florida Marybeth Krumm, of California Jamie Tyler La More, of Arizona Marsha Ann Lance, of Florida John C. Letvin, of Florida Adham Zibas Loutfi, of California Christian J Lynch, of New York Thomas H. Lyons, of Tennessee Michael H. Margolies, of Louisiana Ann L. Mason, of Michigan Jennifer J. McAlpine, of Minnesota Evan McCarthy, of Rhode Island Robert A. McCutcheon, of Maryland Shannon Tovan McDaniel, of Missouri Jason McInerney, of California John T. McNamara, of New York Bernadette M. Meehan, of New York Richard Conrad Michaels, of Arizona Matthew J. Miller, of Wyoming Anthony Miranda, of Washington Rebecca Shira Morgan, of Illinois Eric G. Morin, of Florida James M. Morris, of Massachusetts Joshua C. Morris, of Washington Oliver John Moss III, of Florida Junaid Mazhar Munir, of Michigan Fahez Ahmad Nadi, of New York Ari Nathan, of California James Patrick Neel, of Nevada Peter Neisuler, of Massachusetts Phillip B. Nervig, of New York David C. Ng, of Arizona Sadia Niazi, of Virginia Sean Patrick O'Hara, of Virginia Trevor R. Olson, of Idaho Adam Daniel Packer, of Indiana Christine D. Parker, of Illinois Walter Parrs Ill, of New York Dexter C. Payne, of Virginia Jonathan R. Peccia, of Illinois Robert Patrick Peck, of Florida Elizabeth Lynne Perry, of Massachusetts Timothy C. Phillips, of California Michael Edward Pignatello, of the District of Columbia Cynthia L. Plath, of California Mary Elizabeth Rose Polley, of Virginia Jennifer Kathleen Purl, of California Sara M. Revell, of Texas Jason Bradley Rieff, of the District of Columbia Bernadette Eileen Roberts, of Michigan Benedict Robinette, of Virginia Scott Ashton Robinson, of California Jacquelyn Burke Rosholt, of Minnesota Adam Douglas Ross, of Connecticut Jeff Rotering, of North Dakota Ruth Ellen Rudzinski, of Colorado Emmett J. Ryan, Jr., of Montana Kirk Harris Samson, of Wisconsin Janet Nicole Sanders, of Arkansas Gabrielle Hayes Sarrano, of Virginia Briana L.M. Saunders, of Minnesota Karen P. Schinnerer, of Michigan J. Michelle Schohn, of North Carolina Dawn M. Schrepel, of Texas Vanessa A. Schulz, of the District of Columbia Shelly A. Seaver, of Florida June A. Shin, of California John H. Silson, of Ohio Daniel E. Slaven, of Texas Patrick T. Lowinski, of Texas Beth Moser Smith, of Virginia [[Page 36438]] Brian Kenneth Stimmler, of Florida Christy Melicia Watkins Stoner, of Virginia Amy L. Storrow, of Texas Bryan Richard Switzer, of California Matthew Alan Taylor, of Florida Paul S. Thomas, of Colorado Anthony Dean Tranchina, of New York Shawn Harris Tribe, of California Karen K. Tsai, of New York Frank F. Tu, of California Michael Turner, of California Susan Lea Unruh, of Texas Adam Richard Vogelzang, of Michigan Jason Vorderstrasse, of California Jocelyn Ann Vossler, of California Sharon Ann Weber-Rivera, of New York Helaena Wossum White, of Tennessee Scott Lee Whitmore, of New Hampshire John David Wilcock, of Virginia Emily L. Williams, of Minnesota Patrick C. Williams III, of West Virginia Rachel Elizabeth Wolfe, of Virginia Carson H. Wu, of Virginia Michael H. Young, of California Stacie Zerdecki, of Texas Melanie Anne Zimmerman, of Maryland Jim Zix, of Oregon The following-named Members of the Foreign Service to be Consular Officers and Secretaries in the Diplomatic Service of the United States of America: Department of Commerce Lawrence G. Johnson, of California Tracy T. Perrelli, of the District of Columbia Lisa Rigoli, of Virginia The following-named Career Members of the Foreign Service of the Department of State for promotion into the Senior Foreign Service, and for appointment as Consular Officers and Secretaries in the Diplomatic Service, as indicated: Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service of the United States of America, Class of Counselor: Kurt Walter Tong, of Virginia Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, and Consular Officer and Secretary in the Diplomatic Service of the United States of America: Lonnie J. Price, of Virginia Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged of the following nominations: Mary Ann Glendon to be Ambassador to the Holy See, PN 1028; Charles Larson to be Ambassador to Latvia, PN 1087; that the nominations be confirmed, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. The nominations considered and confirmed are as follows: Department of state Mary Ann Glendon, of Massachusetts, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Holy See. Charles W. Larson, Jr., of Iowa, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Latvia. Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Homeland Security Committee be discharged from the following nominations: Steven Murdock to be Director of the census, PN 660; Jeffrey Runge to be Assistant Secretary for the Health Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, PN 826; that the nominations be confirmed, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. The nominations considered and confirmed are as follows: Department of Commerce Steven H. Murdock, of Texas, to be Director of the Census. Department of Homeland Security Jeffrey William Runge, of North Carolina, to be Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, Department of Homeland Security. Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee and the Banking Committee be discharged of the following nominations: Scott Burns, to be Deputy Director of National Drug Control Policy, PN692; Cynthia Dyer, to be Director of the Violence Against Women Office, PN827; Nathan Hochman, to be Assistant Attorney General, PN1052; Joseph Russoniello, to be U.S. attorney, PN1070; Alan Mendelowitz, to be Director of Federal Housing Finance Board, PN989; Christopher Padilla, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, PN861; that the nominations be confirmed, the motions to reconsider be laid on the table, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then return to legislative session. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. The nominations, considered and confirmed, are as follows: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Christopher A. Padilla, of the district of Columbia, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Cynthia Dyer, of Texas, to be Director of the Violence Against Women Office, Department of Justice. Nathan J. Hochman, of California, to be an Assistant Attorney General. Joseph P. Russoniello, of California, to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of California. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT Scott M. Burns, of Utah, to be Deputy Director of National Drug Control Policy. FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE BOARD Allan I. Mendelowitz, of Connecticut, to be a Director of the Federal Housing Finance Board. Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the HELP Committee be discharged of the following nominations: Tracy Justesen, to be Assistant Secretary for Special Education, PN1051; Carol D'Amico, PN244; and Eric Hanusek, PN243, to be members of the board of directors of the National Board for Education Sciences; that the nominations be confirmed, the motions to reconsider be laid on the table; the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate return to legislation session. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. The nominations, considered and confirmed, are as follows: department of education Tracy Ralph Justesen, of Utah, to be Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education. national board for education sciences Eric Alan Hanushek, of California, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the National Board for Education Sciences. Carol D'Amico, of Indiana, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the National Board for Education Sciences. Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the HELP Committee be discharged of the following nominations: Howard Radzely, to be Deputy Secretary of Labor, PN562; Stuart Ishimaru, to be a member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, PN845; Gregory Jacob, to be Solicitor for the Department of Labor Statistics, PN944; Keith Hall, to be Commissioner of Labor Statistics, PN944; Douglas Webster, to be Chief Financial Officer at the Department of Labor, PN964; that the nominations be confirmed, the motions to reconsider be laid on the table; the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and the Senate then return to legislative session. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. The nominations, considered and confirmed, are as follows: Department of Labor Howard Radzely, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary of Labor. Gregory F. Jacob, of New Jersey, to be Solicitor for the Department of Labor. Keith Hall, of Virginia, to be Commissioner of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor. Douglas W. Webster, of Virginia, to be Chief Financial Officer, Department of Labor. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Stuart Ishimaru, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. nominations Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, as the first session of the 110th Congress concludes, we should note that the Senate has worked hard on executive nominations. In addition to confirming 40 lifetime appointments to the Federal bench, we confirmed 21 of this President's nominations for high-ranking executive branch positions, including the confirmations of nine U.S. attorneys, four U.S. marshals, and nine [[Page 36439]] other important positions. We achieved these numbers in a year when our investigation into the mass firing of U.S. attorneys, which triggered a host of resignations by senior White House and Justice Department officials, led the Judiciary Committee to devote significant time to rebuilding the integrity and independence of the Justice Department. We held hearings on nine executive nominations, including 2-day hearing on the nomination of Michael B. Mukasey to be Attorney General of the United States and another hearing on the nomination of Judge Mark Filip to be Deputy Attorney General of the United States, the top two positions at the Justice Department. We also held hearings on the nominations of Michael J. Sullivan to be Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Ronald Jay Tenpas to be Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, Department of Justice; Ondray T. Harris to be Director, Community Relations Service, Department of Justice; David W. Hagy, to be Director of the National Institute of Justice, Department of Justice; Scott M. Burns, to be Deputy Director of National Drug Control Policy, Executive Office of the President; Cynthia Dyer, to be Director of the Violence Against Women Office, Department of Justice; and Nathan J. Hochman, to be an Assistant Attorney General, Tax Division, Department of Justice. I thank the members of the Judiciary Committee for their hard work all year in considering these important nominations. I especially thank those Senators who have given generously of their time to chair confirmation hearings throughout the year. These nominations come at a critical time for the Nation. Over the course of this year, during which the Judiciary Committee investigated the firing of U.S. attorneys, we faced the most serious threat to the effectiveness and professionalism of the Justice Department since Watergate and the Saturday Night Massacre. Under this President, the Justice Department suffered a severe crisis of leadership that allowed our justice system to be corrupted by political int1uence. The crisis of leadership that led to numerous resignations and has taken a heavy toll on the tradition of independence that has long guided the Department and protected it from political influence. This crisis has also taken a heavy toll on morale at the Department and in confidence among the American people. Our work to restore the Justice Department also including reporting nine U.S. attorney nominations: James Russell Dedrick to be U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Thomas P. O'Brien to be U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, Edward Meacham Yarbrough to be U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, Rosa Emilia Rodriguez-Velez to be U.S. attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Joe W. Stecher to be U.S. attorney for the District of Nebraska, John Wood to be U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri, Diane J. Humetewa to be U.S. attorney for the District of Arizona, Gregory A. Brower to be U.S. attorney for the District of Nevada, and Edmund A. Booth, Jr. to be U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Some replace outstanding U.S. attorneys who were fired almost a year ago as part of the ill-advised, partisan plan to fire well-performing U.S. attorneys. We also reported the nominations of four U.S. marshals: Michael David Credo for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Esteban Soto III for the District of Puerto Rico, John Roberts Hackman for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Robert Gideon Howard, Jr., for the Eastern District of Arkansas. We also reported the nominations of Julie L. Myers to be Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, Dabney Langhorne Friedrich to be a member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, and Beryl A. Howell to be a member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission. Just this week, with only a few legislative days left to us before the Christmas holidays and the end of this session, our committee held two hearings for executive nominations. Our track record shows that the Judiciary Committee has been working hard to make progress. Of course, when the White House fails to timely send us nominations to fill vacancies, it makes it that much harder. The White House has made an abysmal effort to send nominees to the Senate to replace the fired U.S. attorneys and to fill vacancies in those districts and many others. There are now 19 districts with acting or interim U.S. attorneys instead of Senate-confirmed U.S. attorneys. That is nearly a quarter of all districts. Yet the White House has nominated only 4 people for these 19 spots. Of course, some of these could have been filled a year ago had the White House worked with the Senate. I have urged the President to fill the remaining executive vacancies with nominees who will restore the independence of Federal law enforcement. Last month, the White House announced with great fanfare its intent to make nominations for key positions at the Department of Justice. It was only weeks later that several of these nominations were sent to the Senate. The delays in sending U.S. attorney nominees and others to the Senate follow the many months of delay where the White House failed to send nominees to fill vacancies that have been open since the summer, or before. In the course of the committee's investigation into the unprecedented mass firing of U.S. attorneys by the President who appointed them, we uncovered an effort by officials at the White House and the Justice Department to exploit an obscure provision enacted during the PATRIOT Act reauthorization to do an end-run around the Senate's constitutional to confirm U.S. attorneys. The result was the firing of well-performing U.S. attorneys for not bending to the political will of political operatives at the White House. I have repeatedly emphasized that when it comes to the Justice Department and to the U.S. attorneys in our home States, Senators have a say and a stake in ensuring fairness and independence in order to insulate Federal law enforcement function from untoward political influence. That is why the law and the practice has always been that these appointments require Senate confirmation. The advice and consent check on the appointment power for U.S attorneys is a critical function of the Senate. I had hoped when the Senate voted overwhelmingly to close the loophole created by the PATRIOT Act when we passed S.214, the Preserving United States Attorneys Independence Act of 2007, by a vote of 97 to 0, it would send a clear message to the administration to make nominations that could receive Senate support and begin to restore an important check on the partisan influence in law enforcement. Yet, even as we closed one loophole, the administration has been exploiting others to continue to avoid coming to the Senate. Under the guidance of an erroneous opinion of the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel, the administration has been, employing the Vacancies Act authority to use acting U.S. attorneys and the power to appoint interim U.S. attorneys sequentially. They have used this misguided approach to put somebody in place for 330 days without the advice and consent of the Senate. This approach runs afoul of congressional intent and the law. By not providing us with the nominations to the highest ranking vacancies within the Justice Department and not providing the basic background materials needed to review such nominations before the Thanksgiving recess, the administration has once again foreclosed the opportunity to have these nominees considered by the Senate and in place this year. Those nominations will now necessarily carryover into the next session. That is unfortunate and was unnecessary. We will continue to make progress when we can, and I will urge the White House to work with the Senate to fill these vacancies. Nomination of Jon Wellinghoff and Joe Kelliher Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I will support the Senate moving forward on the confirmation of Jon [[Page 36440]] Wellinghoff and Joe Kelliher to be members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. While I am pleased that FERC has been using its expanded authority granted by Congress in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to pursue manipulation in the electricity and natural gas markets, I think it is critically important to remind FERC of its statutory duty to oversee the energy markets and protect consumers. In light of evidence of market manipulation in the Western electricity crisis in 2001, I fought hard to ban market manipulation in electricity and natural gas markets. My amendment, adopted by Congress as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, provided FERC new authority under the Federal Power Act and Natural Gas Act to investigate and punish market manipulation in electricity and natural gas markets. I am pleased to see that FERC has used this expanded authority to conduct 64 investigations. According to FERC, 13 of these investigations have resulted in settlements involving the payment of civil penalties or other monetary remedies totaling over $40 million. Two investigations have resulted in FERC bringing enforcement actions for alleged market manipulation against Amaranth Advisors LLC for $291 million in civil penalties and Energy Trading Partners for $167 million in civil penalties. Amaranth's shenanigans cost consumers upwards of $9 billion dollars during the summer of 2006. However, I want to remind FERC of its responsibilities relating to protecting consumers under the Federal Power Act's statutory ``just and reasonable'' standard. In section 1290 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which I authored, Congress directed FERC to exercise its Federal Power Act authority to enforce ``just and reasonable'' rates when it reviewed the validity of termination payment claims made by Enron during the Western energy crisis of 2000-2001. After entering into power contracts in a market that Enron manipulated, several utilities, including the Snohomish Public Utility District in my State, the Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company in Nevada, terminated their contracts with Enron or watched as Enron terminated them when the company's web of fraudulent accounting was revealed in late 2001. As a result, Enron tried to squeeze hundreds of millions of dollars of termination fee payments from the electricity consumers of these utilities. In my opinion, these payments demanded by Enron were certainly neither just nor reasonable. After enactment of the Cantwell amendment, the Snohomish Public Utility District in my State and several other entities including the Nevada Power Company, asked FERC to exercise its Federal Power Act authority, which includes enforcing ``just and reasonable'' rates, and deny Enron the ability to charge the fraudulent termination payments. Using the force of the Cantwell amendment, these Washington State and Nevada utilities were able to avoid protracted litigation and settle Enron's absurd termination fee claims, saving these utilities from paying hundreds of millions in unjust payments on contracts that Enron fraudulently induced. This has helped save electricity consumers of Washington and Nevada hundreds of millions of dollars. This spring, the U.S. Supreme Court will review a decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit which declared that FERC failed to use its authority under the Federal Power Act to enforce ``just and reasonable'' rates. In a brief to the Supreme Court in this matter, FERC recently took the position that it was free to approve long-term contracts arising out of the 2000-2001 Western power crisis notwithstanding evidence that, in the words of Stanford University energy economist Dr. Frank Wolak, suppliers to the Western markets during this period were ``able to exercise market power at unprecedented levels'' resulting in ``prices vastly in excess of competitive levels.'' As the Ninth Circuit's opinion makes clear, if FERC adopts market- based rates, it has an obligation to ensure that the markets operate properly and it cannot simply assume that a contract is just and reasonable even if the contract is the product of a manipulated market, such as the experienced in the West during 2000-2001. It is troublesome that FERC continues to argue that it is free to ignore evidence of market manipulation and market power abuse when reviewing contracts affected by that abuse. Moreover, this position is inconsistent with its recent emphasis on enforcement of market standards. FERC's position in the Supreme Court essentially could allow market abusers to protect their ill-gotten gains by locking them up in contracts, undermining any incentive they might otherwise have to obey market rules and report abuses by other market participants. While I am pleased that Commissioner Wellinghoff's response to my questions indicates that he does not agree with FERC's brief in this matter, I will continue to watch FERC very closely as this case moves forward. FERC is the sole forum to bring complaints of market power abuse and manipulation in electricity and natural gas, markets, and I fully expect FERC to not abrogate its Federal Power Act responsibilities to protect consumers and enforce ``just and reasonable'' rates. ____________________