[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 29, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S348-S352]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Immigration Reform
One of those concerns on which I also rise concerns and affects
American immigration policy. We are truly at a moment when Secretary
Kerry and the administration can transform this debate and national
conversation with the leadership of Members of this body, including
most prominently my colleagues Senator Schumer, Senator McCain, and the
other members of their bipartisan group who recently unveiled a
bipartisan blueprint for comprehensive immigration reform.
One of the things I do as a Senator and did when I was attorney
general of our State is to visit the citizenship and immigration
ceremonies where people become new citizens of our Nation. It is one of
the most moving and powerful of experiences I have seen in public life.
The tears in the eyes of these new citizens and their families, in
celebration and joy and pride of their becoming citizens of the United
States and looking forward to contributing, giving back to this
country, reaffirmed my faith not only in this Nation--in its strength
and decency and generosity--but also in the men and women who want to
come here because they see it as a beacon of freedom and democracy.
That is the tradition and ethos that should guide us in seeking
comprehensive immigration reform. We have a unique opportunity now--and
I will work to fulfill it, to reform our broken immigration system as a
member of the Judiciary Committee and most particularly its Immigration
Subcommittee. I look forward to playing a leading role in achieving
this group's working blueprint for comprehensive reform.
Establishing a path to citizenship, securing our borders, making
employers more accountable, ensuring that the DREAMers--young people
brought to this country as infants and young children--can find a way
to citizenship are all goals that are fulfilled by this blueprint.
We have an obligation, an opportunity that is compelling, absolutely
historic, to change the discussion and debate, but also the outcome,
and we should seize that opportunity, make sure this moment is
fulfilled, I think, particularly for those DREAMers. For them, this
moment and every moment is precious. They are young people who are in
our schools, in our military, seeking a way to be citizens of the only
country many of them know. They speak English. It is the only language
most of them know. They have friends and a life here. It is the only
life they have.
The administration, rightly and commendably, has provided an
administrative route to temporary reprieve from the laws that would
result in their deportation. But they need the certainty and security
of a law that gives them a real path to citizenship, not at some point
in the indefinite future but now.
The DREAM Act that Senator Durbin has fought so hard and valiantly
over so many years to achieve deserves passage now. I will continue to
come to the floor with photographs of the DREAMers, as I have done week
after week, to make sure their fate and future is on our minds.
Today, I also want to speak about another related immigration issue--
the Immigration Innovation Act of 2013, known as the I-squared bill,
which was introduced in the U.S. Senate today.
I am proud to be an original cosponsor of it. I know firsthand from
talking to employers in the State of Connecticut, and all around not
only our State but the country, how significant this measure could be
to attracting and retaining people with the skills America needs to
remain the greatest Nation in the history of the world.
I thank Senators Klobuchar, Hatch, Coons, and Rubio for their
leadership on this issue. The I-squared bill has a very simple
objective, which is to ensure that America's innovative companies are
able to access high-skilled workers who would go back to their
countries of origin when we need them here.
In some areas, such as computer science, the demand for workers
greatly exceeds the labor pool available of U.S.-born workers. Senator
Hatch described on the floor of the Senate how in this decade the
American economy will create a demand for an estimated 120,000 computer
science jobs requiring at least a bachelor's degree, but U.S.
universities will generate only an estimated 40,000 graduates in that
field.
So just to take that one example--just that one example--there is a
gap we need to fill to keep our companies competitive. I have heard
about this issue from Connecticut employers big and small. There are
jobs. They exist. We need the people who have the skills to fill them.
The I-squared bill seeks to fill that gap, most importantly, by
allowing high-skilled workers, who are foreign born but often U.S.
educated, to fill some of those jobs in high-need areas. The
legislation makes sense because it makes it easier for U.S.-educated
holders of advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, and
math to obtain green cards.
The bill also, importantly, generates new revenue through fees that
visas and employment-based green cards will provide, and it directs
funds to promote STEM education and worker retraining at the State
level--STEM being science, technology, engineering, and math.
This measure is about American competitiveness. We ought to make a
priority of STEM education for young people in our country who are born
here and raised in the United States. But we must be open to creating
jobs for American workers in the most innovative sectors of society and
making it easier for those industries to thrive by attracting people
from throughout the world to the United States as a beacon of
opportunity, a land of unlimited potential accomplishment.
We are a nation of immigrants. We are great because of our diversity.
We are strong because we have always attracted people who want freedom
and the potential to do their best, accomplish the most, and realize
the full extent of what they can achieve.
I again thank Senators Klobuchar, Hatch, Coons, and Rubio for their
leadership. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, as well as the
Immigration Subcommittee, I look forward to working with them on this
important legislation in the months ahead.
I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to express my strong
support for the nomination of John Kerry to be our next Secretary of
State.
As a friend and colleague for more than 20 years, I can think of no
one who is more qualified and better prepared to be our Nation's chief
diplomat.
He has the intelligence, judgment, compassion, determination, and
above all, leadership experience to help the administration confront
and find common sense solutions to the multitude of foreign policy
challenges now before us.
His story is well known to those of us who have worked side by side
with him for so many years.
The son of a distinguished foreign service officer, his understanding
of the
[[Page S349]]
world and America's critical role in it began at an early age. He
learned the value of American diplomacy and the indispensable role
played by our diplomats here in Washington and at our consulates and
embassies around the world.
He served with distinction and honor in Vietnam, earning a Bronze
Star, a Silver Star, and three Purple Hearts. He saw first hand the
costs of war, and he recognized that military force must be used wisely
and only after all other options have been exhausted.
After 2 years as Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, he came to the
Senate in 1985 and took his place on the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, rising to the position of chairman in 2009.
As a member of that committee and its leader, he demonstrated the
qualities that will serve him well as Secretary of State.
He did his homework, and he asked tough questions. He traveled the
world and engaged key leaders, gaining their respect and confidence. He
developed an admirable track record of listening carefully to both
sides of an issue and developing the relationships on both sides of the
aisle necessary to forge bipartisan agreements.
From re-establishing diplomatic relations with Vietnam and organizing
the ratification of the New START Agreement to managing our
relationship with Pakistan and Afghanistan, fighting the HIV/AIDS
pandemic, and addressing the threat posed by climate change, Senator
Kerry has clearly left his mark on United States foreign policy.
As President Obama noted, ``John has played a central role in every
major foreign policy debate for nearly 30 years.''
And that experience will serve him well as Secretary of State.
Indeed, we live in challenging and constantly evolving times.
We have ended the war in Iraq, and our mission in Afghanistan is
winding down. But the threat of global terror endures.
We have seen the Arab Spring topple autocrats and bring hope for a
new future. But the ultimate fate of those countries and their
commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law remains
uncertain.
We have enacted a robust set of bilateral and multilateral sanctions
on Iran and launched a diplomatic initiative through the P5+1 process,
but its nuclear program continues.
We have built a close and mutually beneficial relationship with
China, but there are lingering questions about its human rights record
and its growing military assertiveness, particularly in the South China
Sea.
And we have seen how our humanitarian and development assistance
programs can lift people out of poverty in the developing world; yet
nearly 2.5 billion people still live on less than $2 a day.
These are just some of the items that will be on Senator Kerry's
agenda as Secretary of State.
I know he understands that in facing these challenges American
leadership is essential but we will also need the help and cooperation
of our friends, allies, and partners in the international community.
I know he understands that the strength of this country lies not just
in our military but in the power of our ideas.
And I know he understands that in order for the United States to
lead, we must maintain a strong and effective international affairs
budget.
We will certainly miss Senator Kerry's leadership and experience in
the Senate. But I am heartened to know that he will continue to serve
his country and bring those skills to the State Department,
representing the United States around the world.
I urge my colleagues to support Senator Kerry's nomination to be our
next Secretary of State.
Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I am pleased to stand here today to
support President Obama's nomination of my esteemed colleague, Senator
John Kerry, to serve as our Nation's next Secretary of State.
Senator Kerry has had a long career of service to the American
people. We have served together in the Senate for 26 years and I look
forward to continuing our relationship. As a Senator he has always
approached his work with seriousness and dedication. Nowhere can this
be seen more than in his work as a member of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, where he has shown a mastery of the challenges
that face our global community.
As the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee he has played a
prominent role in the establishment of U.S. foreign policy. He has
traveled the globe and built relationships and coalitions with
international leaders. Most importantly, he has demonstrated an ability
to balance our Nation's long history of diplomacy with our changing
national security needs. The unanimous support given to him by the
Foreign Relations Committee exhibits the respect and confidence he has
earned from this body.
The Department of State faces evolving challenges that reflect our
increasingly interconnected world and require a modern approach to
diplomacy. Senator Kerry will lead a team that must confront global
security challenges and ensure the security of our diplomatic corps and
their families. I am confident that Senator Kerry will meet these
challenges, and I will work with him to ensure that the State
Department and its employees have the resources they need to serve
their mission.
While I am sorry to see Secretary Clinton leave her post after 4
successful and productive years, I am pleased to know that Senator
Kerry will take on the role with the same dedication. I call on my
colleagues to join me in approving his nomination to Secretary of
State.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, John Kerry is a valued colleague and a
loyal friend, and we will miss him in the Senate. But at a time when
our Nation faces complex and difficult challenges around the globe, he
is especially well qualified to serve as Secretary of State, and I
strongly support his confirmation.
Unquestionably, Iran is at the top of the list of challenges the next
Secretary of State will face. Senator Kerry has supported efforts in
the Senate, including sanctions language included in the defense
authorization acts for 2012 and 2013, that have helped isolate the
Iranian regime. At his confirmation hearing, Senator Kerry succinctly
stated the Obama administration's policy on Iran:
We will do what we must do to prevent Iran from obtaining a
nuclear weapon and I repeat here today: Our policy is not
containment, it is prevention and the clock is ticking on our
efforts to secure responsible compliance.
Senator Kerry will be an effective and dedicated executor of that
policy as we unify the international community in our efforts to
prevent the Iranian government from developing nuclear weapons.
Another significant challenge for our foreign policy is the volatile
Afghanistan-Pakistan region. Here again, Senator Kerry's unique
qualifications will serve our Nation well. He strongly supports the
plan for transitioning the security lead to Afghan forces so they can
provide for their own security. He has established a critical
relationship with President Karzai that will strengthen our bilateral
relations as we define the enduring strategic relationship between the
United States and Afghanistan for post-2014. Senator Kerry understands
the importance of negotiating a bilateral security agreement that
provides our troops the necessary protections, including legal
immunity, for a limited force to continue to train, advise and assist
the Afghan forces and conduct counterterrorism operations after 2014.
Senator Kerry also has significant experience engaging with Pakistan,
which remains key to efforts to establish security and stability in
South Asia. Through the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Act and other efforts, Kerry
has led efforts to strengthen civilian institutions in Pakistan and to
reset our bilateral relations.
Senator Kerry also recognizes, as he said during his confirmation
hearing, that ``[m]ore than ever, foreign policy is economic policy.''
Those words will hearten working families in my State and across the
Nation whose well-being is increasingly connected to our economic
competitiveness around the world, our ability to engage with other
nations to ensure that our companies and workers have the opportunity
to compete in the global marketplace on an equal footing, and our
recognition that economic competition today is
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not just among companies, but also among the countries that support
their companies and workers. I look forward to working with Senator
Kerry as we bring all the levers of American policy to bear on this
issue of paramount importance to American prosperity.
Another issue on which I look forward to cooperating with Senator
Kerry is our policy toward Cuba. Senator Kerry and I have similar
voting records on United States policy towards Cuba. We also both
recognize the need for policy that places maximum pressure on the Cuban
regime to democratize. However, our voting records maintain that our
Cuba policy is counter-productive in promoting change in Cuba. I look
forward to working with Senator Kerry to rebalance our approach to Cuba
as we look forward to a new era in that nation's history and its
relations with us.
Throughout his public career, John Kerry has proven his dedication
not just to America's interests, but to its values. Indeed, he
recognizes that our ability to defend our interests around the world
depends on adherence to the values that make the United States a beacon
of freedom and opportunity. He has spoken with eloquence about the need
to combat violence and extremism around the world not just with our
military might, but with the power of our ideas. As he said in his
confirmation hearing, ``America lives up to her values when we give
voice to the voiceless.'' His commitment to aiding those around the
world whose lives have been shattered by war, repression or disaster is
in keeping with those values.
Senator Kerry knows personally the cost of war and the value of
peace. He knows the difficulty of the challenges we face, and the
importance of American leadership in facing those challenges--
leadership important not just to our Nation's security and prosperity,
but to the world's. He has been an outstanding servant of the American
people, and I am confident he will continue that record of
extraordinary service as our next Secretary of State.
Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I am proud to support the confirmation
of our colleague Senator Kerry to be Secretary of State. Senator Kerry
is one of our Nation's great leaders in foreign affairs, and has been
since he arrived in the Senate 28 years ago. His remarkable record
speaks for itself, but I would especially like to recognize and thank
him for his service as chairman of Foreign Relations Committee over the
past 4 years.
=========================== NOTE ===========================
On page S350, January 29, 2013, the Record reads: Mr. President.
I am proud to support . . .
The online Record has been corrected to read: Ms.
KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I am proud to support . . .
========================= END NOTE =========================
In addition to his hands-on diplomacy in Afghanistan, Pakistan,
Sudan, and elsewhere around the globe, Senator Kerry has fought to
bring up more treaties for Senate consideration. We of course remember
his leadership during the consideration of the New START treaty in
2010, which has enabled a responsible reduction of our nuclear arsenal
in concert with Russia. But he also worked to bring forward the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and held hearings
on the Convention on the Law of the Sea, two important international
agreements that the United States has not ratified. Trying to shepherd
treaties through the Senate is a much less glamorous task than
traveling to summits overseas, but Senator Kerry approached them with
the same level of passion and energy. He fought for these treaties
because he truly believes in the importance of American leadership in
the world, and he understands that that leadership does not come solely
from our military strength but our commitment to dialogue and
diplomacy.
Senator Kerry will undoubtedly serve as Secretary of State with the
same honor and integrity that have defined his career. It will be up to
us to continue his legacy in the Senate, and I look forward to
continuing to work with him as he takes on this new challenge.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I believe the business before the Senate
is the confirmation of John Kerry as Secretary of State, to which I
would like to speak. I actually rise in support of two Senators, one
former and one current, as America's Secretary of State.
Last week, both were guests at the Foreign Relations Committee which
I served on and both did an outstanding job. The Secretary of State,
former Senator from New York, Hillary Clinton, has served the U.S.
interests with distinction. She championed a diversity of causes that
strengthen our security and at the same time improved the lives of so
many around the world, particularly women and children.
Secretary Clinton leaves an incredible legacy in her diplomatic
efforts. There is no one more suited or more qualified to take up the
challenges and promise than my friend and colleague and our mutual
friend Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts.
John Kerry came to the Senate almost 30 years ago. From his first
days as a freshman, he served with distinction on the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee. As a Navy patrol boat captain in the Vietnam war,
he had notable and lasting exposure to complex foreign policy
challenges and the wars that result when diplomacy fails.
Certainly one lesson he brought back with him was the heavy and all
too personal knowledge of the consequences of war. But his experience
in representing the U.S. interests abroad did not begin in this
institution. Rather, the journey to his nomination for Secretary of
State began when John Kerry was a child, when his own father was a
Foreign Service officer. John tells fond stories about his time as a
child living in Berlin while his father was stationed there.
During those years, he developed a profound respect for the men and
women of the Foreign Service, their sacrifice, their dedication, and
their ability to demonstrate the values of our democracy. During his
tenure as a Senator from Massachusetts and from 2009 as the chairman of
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, John Kerry has been a tireless
leader on behalf of the American people to ensure that our security
remains strong and our interests well represented around the world.
He has been a leading voice on the Iran-Contra investigation, the war
and fragile peace in Afghanistan, arms control and verification,
building lasting ties with Pakistan, and perhaps in his most personal
contribution, opening diplomatic relations with Vietnam. I would like
to speak to that for a moment, if I can, because it is a personal story
I would like to share.
It was John Kerry and John McCain, more than any others, who moved us
from that stage in our history where we shunned the people of Vietnam
to the point where we recognized their country, established normal
relations with them, and built a new relationship. There were no better
Senators to do it than John Kerry and John McCain, both of whom were
decorated veterans of the Vietnam war, both of whom gave so much in
that conflict, particularly Senator McCain, spending 5 years as a
prisoner of war in Vietnam. They worked hard to establish normal
relations with that country and to put behind the bitterness and the
war that had divided the two countries, the United States and Vietnam.
It was not easy. One of the issues front and center was the question
of prisoners of war and missing in action. There were all sorts of
rumors and speculation that, in fact, there were still Americans being
held prisoner in Vietnam. That rumor was very strong across America.
There was a lot of criticism of the Vietnamese in not cooperating with
us in trying to identify anyone still remaining or the remains of
American soldiers who died in that conflict.
John McCain and John Kerry came together and put an incredible
bipartisan voice to resolving these issues. It came to my attention
because it was about the time when I was elected to the Senate in 1996.
I served in the House of Representatives with an extraordinary
individual, Pete Peterson of Florida.
Pete Peterson had been an Air Force pilot in the Vietnam war, shot
down, and himself imprisoned in a POW camp for more than 5 years. He
was a quiet person and did not talk much about it. But one day, I kind
of provoked him at lunch, and he started talking about what it meant to
live in isolation for 5 years, how they coped, how they survived, and
the impact it still had on his life.
President Clinton at that moment decided it would be a significant
symbol that the first Ambassador of the United States to Vietnam would
be Pete Peterson of Florida, a man who
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had been held as a POW by the Vietnamese would return as American's
voice in that new country. He was brought before the Senate for
confirmation.
I remember saying to my staff when I came over here: Be sure and tell
me when Pete Peterson's nomination comes to the floor. I want to say a
few words about my friendship with him and what he means to me and how
important this appointment is. Time passed. I did not hear anything.
Then there was a ``60 Minutes'' program on that I happened to watch. It
was all about Pete Peterson becoming the Ambassador to Vietnam. I came
back to my staff. I was upset. I said: You were supposed to tell me
when this happened so I could get up and give a speech and say
something nice. They said: It never happened. ``60 Minutes'' is
speculating. The fact is, Pete Peterson's nomination has been put on
hold--a secret hold in the Senate.
I could not believe it. I called Pete Peterson. I think he lived in
Jupiter, FL, at the time. I said to him: Pete, what is going on here?
He said: Dick, I am about to give up. It has been almost 1 year since
President Clinton named me to the spot and I cannot clear the Senate.
Somebody is holding me up. I do not know who it is. I have to get on
with my life.
I said: Let me at least talk to some people. So I came to the floor.
The first person I looked for was John Kerry and then John McCain. They
said: Yes; there is a hold, but we are trying to work through it.
I said: You know, if you cannot get this done and done quickly, then
I think there has to be a speech on the floor that says: Holding Pete
Peterson in a POW camp for 5 years is bad enough, but the Senate
holding his nomination as Ambassador is unforgivable. We need to vote
on Pete Peterson. He has given so much to this country.
It is credit to John Kerry and John McCain that they quieted down
this new Member of the Senate and said: Let us get this done quietly.
They did. Pete Peterson went on to serve as Ambassador in Vietnam. He
was a widower at the time. He met a lovely young Vietnamese-Australian
woman. They married. They now live in Australia and we keep in touch
from time to time. But I think of that moment in time in our history
when John Kerry and John McCain showed what diplomacy and careful
consideration can do.
We not only established relations with Vietnam, we sent a great
individual to serve as its first Ambassador. They did it quietly and
effectively. Can he be a great Secretary of State? You bet he can. I
will be the first to tell you that I saw his skill firsthand when I
came to the Senate. If confirmed, he will bring a breadth of experience
to global challenges, some new and some which we cannot even anticipate
as we debate this matter. The list is vast and formidable: Iran,
Syrian, North Korea, cyber security, failed and fragile states, and
democratic backsliding in Russia, to name a few.
One of the issues John Kerry has tackled for many years that will
desperately need attention, and the President highlighted in his
inaugural address, is that of climate change. As was mentioned during
his nomination hearing last week, climate change is the one of the most
pressing and consequential issues of our time. It is not just an
environmental issue, it is a moral issue. What kind of planet will our
generation leave for our children and grandchildren? How will history
judge us if we ignore the evidence and warning signs and do nothing to
head off climate catastrophes? Senator Kerry is uniquely qualified to
address this great moral challenge. He knows if we are ever going to
get China and India to take responsibility for their carbon emissions,
we have to start from a strong position of legitimacy, having taken
these steps ourselves.
He knows when the United States tackles climate change, it also
increases our diplomatic standing and reputation around the world. He
knows tackling climate change will help prevent a host of terrible
global problems, from famine, water shortages to political instability,
any of which can draw the United States into a costly or bloody
conflict.
Addressing climate change is in our vital national, economic, and
security interests. I know John Kerry will tackle this and many other
challenges that await him at the State Department. He has been a
trusted and admired colleague of mine and so many others in the Senate.
I have enjoyed his work on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. I
wish to especially thank him for calling the Convention on Disability
Treaty for consideration by the Senate. I am sorry it did not pass, but
it was not for lack of effort by John Kerry.
His passionate pursuit of a safe and just Nation and world, his deep
sense of patriotism and commitment to America's most challenged values
are well documented. While I am sorry to lose him in the Senate as a
colleague, I can think of no better person to serve as our Nation's
next Secretary of State. I congratulate John Kerry on his nomination.
As a friend and colleague, I urge my fellow Senators to swiftly confirm
John Kerry so he can get about the work of making America a safer
nation.
I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, it is my understanding we are coming to
the end of the time on this debate--or consideration, I should say.
There has really been no debate. I think that speaks to Senator Kerry's
tremendous standing in the Senate on his nomination as Secretary of
State.
This is a Member of the Senate who has an extraordinary American
history. After volunteering for the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam war,
Senator Kerry was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and three
Purple Hearts. Upon returning home, he continued his efforts to fight
for and protect the veterans who served beside him in combat, joining
with others to found the Vietnam Veterans for America organization,
working tirelessly for veterans' benefits.
With over three decades of foreign policy and national security
experience under his belt, Senator Kerry is uniquely qualified to serve
as the next Secretary of State. A decorated Vietnam combat veteran,
dedicated public servant, with deep experience in international affairs
and close relationships with Presidents and Prime Ministers throughout
the world, he will have an extraordinary beginning to his job as
Secretary of State.
He has demonstrated time and time again his ability to build
coalitions and craft compromises. He has amassed a broad record of
foreign policy accomplishments and has distinguished himself as one of
the Nation's most respected voices on national security.
I look forward to a very strong bipartisan vote that sends a very
clear message to the world: This is America's representative. This is
our Secretary of State. I believe he has earned that vote and that
respect through a lifetime of work and the tremendous collegiality he
has had among Members on both sides of the aisle, including those who
may not agree with him on any given issue but have always respected the
manner in which he has approached that issue.
Mr. President, understanding there are no other speakers wishing to
come before the Senate on this matter, I yield back all time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is, Shall the Senate advise and
consent to the nomination of John Forbes Kerry to be Secretary of
State?
Mr. MENENDEZ. I ask for the yeas and nays.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There appears to be a sufficient second.
The clerk will call the roll.
The bill clerk called the roll.
Mr. KERRY (when his name was called). Present.
Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Washington (Mrs. Murray)
is necessarily absent.
Mr. CORNYN. The following Senator is necessarily absent: the Senator
from North Dakota (Mr. Hoeven).
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there any other Senators in the Chamber
desiring to vote?
The result was announced--yeas 94, nays 3, as follows:
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[Rollcall Vote No. 5 Ex.]
YEAS--94
Alexander
Ayotte
Baldwin
Barrasso
Baucus
Begich
Bennet
Blumenthal
Blunt
Boozman
Boxer
Brown
Burr
Cantwell
Cardin
Carper
Casey
Chambliss
Coats
Coburn
Cochran
Collins
Coons
Corker
Crapo
Donnelly
Durbin
Enzi
Feinstein
Fischer
Flake
Franken
Gillibrand
Graham
Grassley
Hagan
Harkin
Hatch
Heinrich
Heitkamp
Heller
Hirono
Isakson
Johanns
Johnson (SD)
Johnson (WI)
Kaine
King
Kirk
Klobuchar
Landrieu
Lautenberg
Leahy
Lee
Levin
Manchin
McCain
McCaskill
McConnell
Menendez
Merkley
Mikulski
Moran
Murkowski
Murphy
Nelson
Paul
Portman
Pryor
Reed
Reid
Risch
Roberts
Rockefeller
Rubio
Sanders
Schatz
Schumer
Scott
Sessions
Shaheen
Shelby
Stabenow
Tester
Thune
Toomey
Udall (CO)
Udall (NM)
Vitter
Warner
Warren
Whitehouse
Wicker
Wyden
NAYS--3
Cornyn
Cruz
Inhofe
ANSWERED ``PRESENT''--1
Kerry
NOT VOTING--2
Hoeven
Murray
The nomination was confirmed.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The motion to reconsider is considered made
and laid upon the table.
Under the previous order, the President will be immediately notified
of the Senate's action.
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I know Senator Kerry will be speaking
tomorrow, so I will be brief. I think I speak on behalf of every one of
us here that we so admire the job Senator Kerry has done in the many
different phases of his past life. We are excited he will be our
Secretary of State, and for John Kerry I think the best is yet to come.
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