[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 63 (Thursday, May 19, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        NOMINATION OF SAM BROWN

  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I am concerned about a nomination that the 
Senate, I believe, will be considering next week. It is the nomination 
by the President of Sam Brown for the rank of Ambassador to head our 
delegation to the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe.
  The Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe is an 
organization of enormous importance. Originally arising out of the 
Helsinki accords, this effort was designed to draw European nations on 
both sides of the Iron Curtain together; to have them work toward 
peace; and to have them work toward resolution of human rights 
questions. Nonetheless, the Conference was dramatically changed in 1990 
and 1992, when a substantial international security role was added. 
Responsibilities for monitoring both the Open Skies Treaty and the 
reduction of Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty were added. Also 
added was a Forum for Security Cooperation envisioned as the final 
point for resolution--including recommendations for military 
intervention--of vexing military confrontations. For instance, the 
forum has the leading European responsibility for recommendations 
concerning resolution of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
  Moreover, this Conference, and the Ambassador specifically, will be 
charged with efforts to help coordinate and negotiate new reductions in 
conventional forces. Thus, what was an ambassadorship dealing primarily 
with humanitarian efforts has changed dramatically. It now has 
significant responsibilities for major military recommendations and 
matters of enormous importance to our national security. The person who 
heads the CSCE delegation has a large responsibility, not simply to 
represent this country, but to coordinate the very important details of 
delicate negotiations while safeguarding our national security 
interests. I am particularly concerned because the nominee has no 
national security experience. The nominee has no military experience. 
The nominee has no diplomatic experience other than having supervised 
an agency that supervised the Peace Corps. Moreover, the nominee's 
management background is not one that would lend confidence. The 
nominee, to put it bluntly, while bright and articulate and an able 
person in many ways, is simply unqualified for the post.
  His lack of national security experience raises grave questions not 
only about his ability to do the job but his ability to sell a new 
conventional forces reduction agreement should one be achieved. This 
evening 41 of us have signed the following letter to the President of 
the United States.

       Dear President Clinton: We are writing to urge you to 
     reconsider your nomination of Mr. Sam Brown for the rank of 
     ambassador to head the U.S. delegation to the Conference on 
     Security and Cooperation in Europe. We question whether Mr. 
     Sam Brown possesses the necessary expertise to effectively 
     serve in this capacity.
       During the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's 
     consideration of Mr. Brown's nomination, he was questioned 
     extensively about his relevant experience. The CSCE has added 
     significant facilities to promote European security since 
     1990, and figures heavily into monitoring arms control 
     agreements central to the continued security of the 
     continent. Namely, CSCE is responsible for monitoring the 
     Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty, the Open Skies 
     treaty and for negotiating future follow-ons to these 
     important documents.
       Prior ambassadors to the CSCE and those sent from other 
     member nations as representatives had extensive diplomatic 
     and national security backgrounds. Mr. Sam Brown's record 
     speaks for itself. It contains no national security 
     experience and no significant diplomatic experience. He has 
     no international business experience and no relevant academic 
     experience.
       Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic have been eager to 
     become an integral part of the West. They've applied for NATO 
     membership and entry into the European Union. In both cases, 
     they were rebuffed. The only significant regional 
     organization which they can participate in as full members is 
     the CSCE. Posting an unqualified ambassador as our 
     representative sends yet another signal that the United 
     States attaches little importance to these fledgling 
     democracies.
       In addition to his lack of qualifications, Sam Brown's past 
     record is enlightening. He served as head of ACTION during 
     the Carter administration where his abilities earned him 
     headlines such as ``ACTION Chief Labeled Inept Martinet.'' 
     The House Appropriations Committee staff conducted an 
     extensive investigation of ACTION during his tenure, and 
     found numerous violations of law, regulation and policy. Not 
     only that, his effort to eliminate ACTION's independent 
     inspector general gave the distinct appearance of an attempt 
     to cover up these numerous discrepancies and prevent 
     independent review of the agency's practices.
       Clearly, Mr. Brown lacks the necessary diplomatic and 
     national security experience to effectively represent the 
     United States at CSCE. His mismanagement at ACTION further 
     calls into question his selection for this important post. If 
     it is your intention to ensure Sam Brown is appointed to a 
     post within the Federal Government, we urge you to consider 
     him for another position more suited to his experience.

  Mr. President, this letter is signed by 41 Members of this Chamber.
  I hope very much that the President will heed the role of advice and 
consent that is ours under the Constitution.
  The signers of this letter are not saying that Sam Brown should not 
serve the administration in some capacity. Certainly, the experience of 
this Chamber is to give the President wide discretion and even approve 
Members and Representatives which I know Members of this body would not 
necessarily nominate themselves.
  At least 40 nominees of this administration I have voted for and 
supported. This one, however, I cannot support. It is my belief that 
Sam Brown clearly does not have the experience that is needed.
  Mr. President, I raise these concerns because I believe it is 
important that the Senate have a full and clear debate on Sam Brown's 
qualifications before voting on cloture. I hope this evening to urge 
upon the consideration of the leadership an opportunity for that debate 
to take place before the cloture vote is taken.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BROWN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. BROWN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to proceed as if 
in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Moseley-Braun). Without objection, it is 
so ordered.

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