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[Pages S5207-S5208]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS
Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, yesterday the Senate took a number of
steps forward on our considerable to-do list for the week. We confirmed
four well-qualified jurists who are now our country's newest district
court judges and voted to advance the nominations of 10 more--10. That
is what you call big progress for the Federal Judiciary. Today, we are
going to continue moving these nominations forward.
For too long, thoroughly uncontroversial judicial nominees just like
these have been held up and delayed by our Democratic colleagues, even
when the vacancy qualifies as a judicial emergency.
Uncontroversial district judges used to be confirmed promptly in big
groups by voice vote. These days, in a kind of protest theater, our
colleagues across the aisle usually insist that we hold a cloture vote
and then a rollcall confirmation vote on each one. But we are getting
the President's impressive nominees on the job one way or another, and
we will continue doing just that.
Our work doesn't stop there. The administration remains in need of a
full complement of leaders at the Pentagon and in the diplomatic corps.
Last night, we voted to confirm David Norquist, the President's pick to
serve as No. 2 at the Pentagon under our new
[[Page S5208]]
Secretary of Defense, Mark Esper. We also voted to advance the
nomination of Ambassador Kelly Craft, a very impressive individual, to
serve in the critical role of U.N. Ambassador.
Ms. Craft is a fellow product of the Bluegrass State. She has already
made Kentucky and the Nation proud through significant public service,
including as an alternate delegate to the United Nations and, most
recently, as Ambassador to Canada.
In each of these cases, this impressive nominee earned an unopposed
confirmation, and, in each case, she repaid the Senate's confidence by
skillfully and effectively advocating for the interests of the United
States on the international stage. During her tenure as Ambassador to
Canada, America's relationship with our northern neighbor was tested. A
number of challenging policy hurdles threatened to trip up progress on
several important issues, including trade negotiations, but, by all
accounts, Ambassador Craft's involvement led to greater cooperation.
She worked on finalizing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, encouraged
cross-border participation in joint sanctions efforts, and helped more
Americans do business in Canada. As she stands in this new role, she
brings the ringing endorsements of peers and counterparts she engaged
all along the way.
The Premier of Ontario and a former Canadian Ambassador to the United
States has said: ``She's done the job very well.''
And another quote: ``Every Premier I know thinks the world of her. .
. . She really proved herself over some tough times.''
Our partners to the north have a healthy respect for the hard work
and qualifications of Ambassador Kelly Craft, and so does the Senate.
Last week, even in this contentious moment, a wide bipartisan majority
of our colleagues on the Foreign Relations Committee voted to recommend
her nomination to be U.N. Ambassador favorably here to the floor, and
before we adjourn this week, we will confirm her.
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