[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 146 (Saturday, October 8, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              STATEMENT ON THE NOMINATION OF ROBERT PASTOR

  Mr. SIMPSON. I rise to address the nomination of Robert Pastor to be 
Ambassador to Panama.
  Dr. Pastor was nominated by the President on June 8 to be Ambassador 
to Panama. He was reported out of the Senate Foreign Relations 
Committee by an 16-3 vote, supported by a majority of Democrats and 
Republicans alike.
  I have known Dr. Pastor for more than a decade. We worked together 
very closely on immigration issues, and he always provided important 
cooperation and expertise both to me and to the chief counsel on my 
immigration staff Dick Day. Dr. Pastor is renowned for his knowledge of 
a wide range of foreign policy issues, most especially concerning the 
region where he has been nominated to serve. He is exceptionally well 
qualified for the post to which he has been nominated, and I believe 
that he would represent our Nation with distinction, integrity, and 
creativity.
  We have not had an Ambassador in Panama since last February. This is 
most unfortunate, due to our important interests there, and I regret 
further that we will not have an Ambassador there for some months to 
come. I do wish the Record to reflect that I support Dr. Pastor's 
nomination and intend to vote in favor of his confirmation when that 
question comes again before the Senate.

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