[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 23, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14-S15]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       NOMINATION OF UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO THE PHILIPPINES

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I rise to bring to the attention of the 
Senate a situation on which we need to take some action. Presently in 
the Philippines there are two Kansans being held hostage by a group of 
terrorists called the Abu Sayf group. It has links to al-Qaida and bin 
Laden. They got their start through al-Qaida and bin Laden and now are 
operating in the Philippines.
  They have taken a number of people hostage over a period of 8 months. 
A number of these individuals have been released. One has been 
beheaded, a Californian. The two who are Kansans and a Filipino remain 
hostage. This matter was discussed on the TV show, ``48 Hours,'' Monday 
night of this week.
  They are in a desperate situation; Martin and Gracia Burnham are the 
two Kansans. They are missionaries. Their parents are missionaries in 
the Philippines. They have taken up that calling as well. They were 
there and taken hostage and have been held by this group now for 8 
months.
  The Senate has before us, nominated to be the United States 
Ambassador to the Philippines, Ambassador-designate Ricciardone. He is 
qualified and knowledgeable. He was cleared through the Senate Foreign 
Relations Committee. He is the appropriate and right person for this 
job. He remains stalled in this body, unfortunately, at this point in 
time.

[[Page S15]]

  I take this opportunity to ask my colleagues if there is a way that 
we could get this nomination cleared. I know there are a number of 
difficult and nettlesome issues in front of the Senate, and sometimes 
things are associated one with the other. But if possible, if we could 
free this nomination to move it forward so the United States would have 
an ambassador to the Philippines to negotiate and to see to the safe 
release of these two hostages, it would be important to America, 
important to the Philippines, and to the overall world effort.
  The United States is involved in some delicate issues with the 
Philippines at the present time. I will not speak about that. The 
current issue I am concerned about is not only the work the United 
States is doing with the Philippines--the Philippine military has taken 
on this exercise to free the Burnhams; they have been aggressively 
pursuing the terrorist group for some period of time--but we need a 
leader from the United States. We need our ambassador to the 
Philippines in this delicate situation.
  If the Presiding Officer or other Members of the Senate could have 
seen ``48 Hours,'' they would have seen Gracia Burnham pleading: Will 
somebody please show us mercy. Will somebody please notice that we are 
here and help us out. She said that morning she awakened with chest 
pains. They are living in the jungle, being moved daily and on the run. 
It is a difficult, horrible situation. They need our key representative 
in that country.
  I ask other Members of the Senate to please consider and see fit to 
moving forward on this nomination that has cleared unanimously the 
Senate Foreign Relations Committee--a professional, highly qualified 
for this position, which would mean so much for our efforts in the 
Philippines to date. If my colleagues could see to that, this would be 
an important addition to the international portfolio of ambassadors.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mrs. CLINTON. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Stabenow). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The Senator from New York.

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