[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 29, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S344-S347]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NOMINATION OF JOHN FORBES KERRY TO BE SECRETARY OF STATE
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Baldwin). Under the previous order, the
Senate will proceed to executive session to consider the following
nomination, which the clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read the nomination of John Forbes Kerry, of
Massachusetts, to be Secretary, Department of State.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, there will be 2
hours of debate on the nomination equally divided in the usual form.
The Senator from New Jersey.
Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam President, I rise to speak to the nomination of
Senator Kerry to be the next Secretary of State.
It has been more than 100 years since a member of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee was directly nominated to be the Secretary of
State. The last was Senator John Sherman of Ohio, who was selected to
serve as Secretary of State to President McKinley. It is important to
note that this historical fact exists because Senator Kerry's path
isn't one commonly taken but one that is earned by a select few, and he
has earned this opportunity.
From the first time John testified before Chairman Fulbright as a
young returning Vietnam war hero in 1971 to the day the President
announced his nomination as Secretary of State, he has invested himself
in all of his endeavors, always looking for the truth, for answers,
uncovering the facts, hearing all the evidence, and then publicly
speaking truth to power based solely on what was best for this Nation.
I know he will carry those leadership traits with him into his new
position, and I can think of no one better prepared to take on the
challenges of this position.
As a Senator, as a member of this committee, and as a chairman, John
has already built strong relationships with leaders across the world,
which will allow him to step seamlessly into the role of Secretary of
State. Senator Kerry will need no introduction to the world's political
and military leaders and will begin day one fully conversant not only
with the intricacies of U.S. foreign policy but with the understanding
of the nuanced approach necessary to effectively interact on a
multinational stage.
When Vice President Biden was chairman of the Foreign Relations
Committee, he said on more than one occasion that ``good international
relationships are always predicated on strong interpersonal
relationships.'' John Kerry understands there is no substitute for
strong interpersonal relationships, whether in Senate politics or
international diplomacy. Secretary of State is not a desk job. It
requires constant personal interactions in the furtherance of American
foreign policy.
During his 30 years in public life and more than 25 years in the
Senate, Senator Kerry has championed many issues. Earlier today the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee favorably reported his nomination to
the Senate unanimously and presented Senator Kerry with an honorary
resolution highlighting a few of his many accomplishments.
Amongst his accomplishments are the partnership he formed with
Senator John McCain that led to an effort to investigate the fate of
American soldiers unaccounted for in Vietnam and normalize relations
with a former enemy--which is, in essence, Vietnam; his leadership of
difficult, sensitive, and comprehensive investigations in the Senate on
everything from the Bank of Credit and Commerce International and
illegal money laundering, to the Noriega regime in Panama which is well
known; advocating for democratic elections in the Philippines and
serving with Senator Lugar as part of a Senate delegation that
uncovered the fraud that led to the ouster of President Ferdinand
Marcos; working with the Cambodian Government and the United Nations to
facilitate the creation of the genocide tribunal in Cambodia to
prosecute key members of the Khmer Rouge; advocating for programs that
help secure nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons stockpiles and
materials so they don't fall into the hands of hostile states or
terrorists; and leading the Senate to provide its advice and consent to
ratification of the New START treaty with Russia.
During the Arab spring, Senator Kerry supported a no-fly zone over
Libya, which helped to save thousands of civilians from being
massacred, and he was a voice of courage and conscience in calling for
President Hosni Mubarak to step aside and begin an orderly and peaceful
transition to a democratic political system in Egypt.
John has been a tireless advocate for the cause of peace in the Sudan
and South Sudan and played an instrumental role in the successful
referendum in 2011.
John is well known for his bipartisan work with former majority
leader Bill Frist on comprehensive HIV/AIDS legislation that laid the
foundation for
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the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, a program that provides
lifesaving treatment for people with HIV/AIDS and supports broad
prevention efforts that save lives every day.
Many of you know that John is a tireless and most convincing advocate
for addressing global climate change and supporting the transition to a
clean energy future. As chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations,
he convened eight major hearings and roundtables on climate change and
energy security, underscoring their connection to global stability,
economic competitiveness, and America's national security.
In his new role, his portfolio will be greatly expanded as he
represents the interests of the Nation, from securing our Embassies and
protecting our overseas personnel to promoting commerce, enhancing
cross-cultural ties, and keeping America secure through cooperation
where possible and isolation where necessary, as in the cases of Iran
and North Korea.
Whatever the challenges we will face as a nation, in my view, the
State Department could not be in better hands. When it comes to
America's role in world affairs, I know we all agree that it is
critical that the United States remain fully engaged, that we project
not only the power of our military strength when necessary but the
wisdom of our democratic ideas. I have no doubt that Senator Kerry will
rise to meet these challenges as he has so consistently in his many
years of service to his State and this country.
I see the distinguished ranking member on the committee, Senator
Corker, whom I look forward to working with as we move forward in the
days ahead.
I think all Members will say that even when they did not agree with
Chairman Kerry on a given issue, they always felt he had an open ear,
an open door, an opportunity for full debate, an effort to seek the
common ground, particularly in U.S. foreign policy. I believe those
traits are going to serve him extraordinarily well in his role as
Secretary of State as he deals with the Senate and the House of
Representatives as part of promoting U.S. foreign policy in a way that
brings us as cohesively together as we can to promote the national
interests and securities of the United States.
I look forward at the end of this time period to a strong
confirmation vote to send a message to the world that this is our
Secretary of State, and he speaks for America on behalf of the Obama
administration and the people of the United States.
Madam President, I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Tennessee.
Mr. CORKER. Madam President, I wish to thank the chairman for holding
the business meeting the way he held it today and the hearings last
week for this confirmation.
I know a lot of people think that because of the way partisan
politics are here in Washington, sometimes we can't be happy for
someone on the other side of the aisle when they do well. Nothing could
be further from the truth.
I just want to say that I thought Senator Kerry acquitted himself
exceptionally well in the hearings we had last week. I thought they
were wide-ranging, and I think he had the opportunity to display the
depth of knowledge he has on many issues. I don't know of anybody who
has lived a life that has been more oriented toward ultimately being
Secretary of State than John Kerry, and for that I also am happy for
him and his family and the fact that very soon he is going to be able
to express himself on behalf of our Nation in this way.
I think most of you know that his dad was a Foreign Service officer.
I know that you know he certainly made a splash. Some people thought it
was negative, some people, positive, but he certainly made a splash
here during the Vietnam era and from that point on has been very, very
active. So, again, I thought he acquitted himself exceptionally well.
There are four points I want to bring out. I know that he knows--and
many of us have seen recently just because of some of the things that
have happened in Libya--we have a State Department that needs some
oversight, and we haven't provided it. Neither side of the aisle has
provided it now for over a decade.
I know he sees the need for the Senate, through its authorization
process--and the House doing the same--to be involved and to be
partners with him as we try to cause this organization, which over the
years has just built into a sporadic stovepipe entity, to be assisted.
A lot of times when a political person comes into an organization, the
bureaucracy tries to wait it out until the next person comes along. I
don't think it can happen any more in any agency than it does in the
State Department.
So I look forward to working with the chairman in whatever way he
ends up deciding we are going to work together on this particular issue
to really look at the State Department. I know Senator Kerry certainly
welcomes that.
We most recently had a hearing with Senator Clinton on Benghazi, and
there have been Accountability Review Board recommendations that have
been put forth, and I know Senator Kerry has said he is certainly going
to see those through and make sure they are fully implemented.
I know we talked a great deal in the hearing--and certainly we have
done so personally--about our nuclear posture and nuclear
modernization, which is a big part of what we discussed during the
Start Treaty--something I supported and worked with him on--and I found
his comments about where we need to be in that regard certainly
reassuring.
I also think he is very clear-eyed as it relates to the threat we
face as a nation, especially in north Africa now but in many places as
it relates to terrorist groups such as al-Qaida. As a matter of fact, I
look at Senator Kerry as a realist. While we have not always agreed on
every issue, as the chairman just mentioned, I have always found him to
be someone who is open to discussion. I think he wants only the best
for our Nation. There is no question that as he moves ahead over the
next several years, I am sure he will take positions that in some cases
I and others--maybe Senator Menendez--may view as not exactly the
course of action that ought to be taken on behalf of our country. But
my sense is that he will be open to listening, and I think he will be
willing to sit down and talk about that as we move ahead.
He came out of the committee today by voice vote unanimously. As the
chairman mentioned, I think he is going to receive a very strong vote
of support today here on the Senate floor. As the chairman mentioned, I
think that it is good for our Nation, as he goes out across the world
representing us, for people to understand that this is someone who
received overwhelming support from the Senate.
All of us know we live in a dangerous world. We live in a world that
is changing dramatically. We live in a world in which things come over
the transom on a daily and weekly basis that are unexpected. I mean, we
look at what is happening right now throughout the country of Egypt,
which we might not have expected to occur a week ago. To have someone
like Senator Kerry, who has spent a lifetime on these issues and
understands the history and institutional issues that have bound us or
separated us from these countries--having someone like him representing
us will be a very good thing.
I join the chairman in supporting him. I know numbers of people will
have comments regarding his service here in the Senate but also his
future service, and I look forward to listening to that.
Madam President, I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maryland.
Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I would like to join with Senator
Menendez and Senator Corker in urging our colleagues to promptly
confirm Senator Kerry as our next Secretary of State.
It is a great honor to serve in the Senate. It is a great privilege
and honor to represent the people of Maryland here in the Senate. Part
of that special privilege is the people we serve with, the incredible
public servants we have had the privilege of serving with in the
Senate, and I put Senator Kerry at the top of that list.
He has devoted his life to public service in the finest manner. He is
so qualified to assume the responsibilities of Secretary of State. He
understands this complex world in which we live and the
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differences among countries. Many are strategically important to the
United States. Yet they don't share our values. Senator Kerry
understands that and understands the importance to advance U.S.
interests--we need to understand the concerns of other countries and we
need to establish relations with other countries.
He has made a personal commitment to understand the world in which we
live. I do not think there has been a Member of this body who has spent
more time, gone to more places, met with more people in order to
represent our Nation on the international stage. Senator Kerry has
always done that with the greatest degree of competency and
representing our country in the finest traditions. He has broad
experience: experience as a soldier serving in Vietnam, experience as a
Senator, 28 years representing the people of Massachusetts in the
Senate. We know about his service on the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee. I want to talk about two other committees on which he
served.
One is the Senate Finance Committee on which I had the pleasure of
serving with him. There is no Senator who has taken the fiscal
challenges of our country more seriously or understands the impact our
fiscal condition has on our national security interests. In fact,
during his confirmation hearings he mentioned the need to get our
fiscal house in order. I think he understands that and understands the
commitment he has, once confirmed and once heading the State
Department, to help us bring about fiscal sanity in the United States
to do what is necessary worldwide, but also to do it in a most cost
effective way.
I also served with Senator Kerry on the Small Business Committee. The
small business community did not have a better advocate when Senator
Kerry was chairman of that committee. I was pleased how many times we
brought out initiatives to help America and small businesses grow
because we know the growth engine for jobs has come from small
companies. But, clearly, it has been in the last few years that I had
the privilege of serving with Senator Kerry as he chaired the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee that I got to see so up close and personal
his extraordinary commitment to our country and his ability to carry
out so many important responsibilities.
Senator Kerry understands our national security, yes, depends upon a
strong military, but that also the other key ingredients to national
security are diplomacy and development assistance.
We had Secretary Clinton before our committee. Someone mentioned that
was about 1.5 percent of the budget, and she corrected it and said it
is really less than 1 percent of the budget. Diplomacy and
international assistance is less than 1 percent of the budget. We know
what we spend on our military is a lot larger than that. All three are
important to national security.
Senator Kerry understands that. He understands through diplomacy we
can avoid unnecessary military action. He understands through diplomacy
we can make America safer. He understands through international
development assistance we can strengthen countries, make them more
stable, and be less likely to need to use our military. That is the
type of leader we need as Secretary of State. We have a great leader
today, Secretary Clinton. I think Senator Kerry will follow in that
tradition.
Take a look at Senator Kerry's record of advancing America's
interests. We have a safer world today through Senator Kerry's efforts.
As you know, we approved the New START treaty with Russia, reducing the
amount of nuclear weapons between Russia and the United States. That
makes this world safer. His record on human rights is well known. From
Cambodia to Burma to Kosovo and many other places around the world,
Senator Kerry has been a leader in advancing the cause of human rights.
We already heard Senator Menendez point out his efforts in Vietnam.
He represented America to get an accounting of our POW/MIAs. It was
unprecedented in modern times to be able to go to a country with which
we are at war and have that kind of accounting. Senator Kerry used his
talent in order to bring closure for many American families, and that
was an incredible accomplishment. Then he was able to improve the
relationship between the United States and Vietnam, recognizing it is
in America's interests that we are able to communicate with other
countries.
I particularly appreciate his work on elevating the importance
internationally of human trafficking. The United States has taken the
leadership in saying, whether you are a receiving country or an origin
country or a country of transport, we all have a responsibility to stop
what we call modern slavery: the trafficking, usually of young girls,
but also sometimes boys. The United States has taken the leadership
there.
I like to think Senator Kerry's taking leadership on this started
with his position on the Helsinki Commission. He is a former member of
the Helsinki Commission. I now have an opportunity of being the Senate
chair of the Helsinki Commission. We raised the issue of human
trafficking and Senator Kerry was one of the great advocates to advance
America's leadership internationally to stop human trafficking. He has
protected people with disabilities.
As Senator Menendez mentioned, he has been our leader on energy and
climate issues, recognizing the importance of the United States to
demonstrate international leadership in order to deal with a global
problem, a problem that is important for us to deal with as a citizen
of the world but also important for us to deal with in regard to
America's economy and America's energy needs and America's security
responsibilities. Senator Kerry has been a great leader on that.
He has provided U.S. leadership for humanitarian assistance. I
remember the hearings we had in the committee on Haiti and the personal
commitment he made to make sure America was in the leadership for a
country in our own hemisphere that suffered such a horrible disaster,
and his work there was extremely important.
He led our efforts in dealing with HIV/AIDS, in doing the responsible
things as far as America's position on that problem. He understands the
importance of international development assistance to advance gender
equality. It is interesting, if you want to take a look at the health
of a country, look at the way they treat their women. We have a pretty
strong commitment as far as international development assistance around
the world. We need to make sure countries advance the rights of women.
It is not only the right thing to do from what we believe as Americans,
but it also provides a more stable country for us to have relations
with. Senator Kerry understands that.
He has been one of the leaders in fighting corruption in other
countries. I will always remember the hearing we had in our committee
when former President Clinton and Bill Gates testified before us. These
are two individuals who have headed a lot of international development
assistance. They have a zero policy in dealing with countries that
cannot control corruption because they want to make sure their
assistance doesn't go to fuel corruption. Senator Kerry understands we
don't want America's international development assistance to be used to
fuel corruption. That is the type of leadership we have in the
Secretary of State.
The list goes on of what he has been able to do to advance the rights
and interests of the United States. I am confident that Senator Kerry's
legacy of fighting for democracy, human rights, and global peace will
continue as he assumes his new responsibilities as the Secretary of
State for the United States of America.
I urge my colleagues to support his nomination.
I thank Chairman Menendez for bringing this nomination to the floor
so quickly and thank Senator Corker for accommodating it. It is
important that President Obama has his security team in place as
quickly as possible. I am proud the Senate will be doing its share, its
work by voting on this nomination later today.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
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Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent--it has been
agreed to by the Republican side as well--that any time spent during
debate time in a quorum call be equally charged against both sides.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. MENENDEZ. With that, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Manchin). The Senator from Texas.
Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.