[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 143 (Thursday, November 20, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6178-S6180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 NOMINATION OF JAMES D. PETTIT, A CAREER MEMBER OF THE SENIOR FOREIGN 
 SERVICE, CLASS OF MINISTER-COUNSELOR, TO BE AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY 
AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC OF 
                                MOLDOVA

    
                                 ______
                                 

  NOMINATION OF PAMELA LEORA SPRATLEN, A CAREER MEMBER OF THE SENIOR 
    FOREIGN SERVICE, CLASS OF MINISTER-COUNSELOR, TO BE AMBASSADOR 
 EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO 
                       THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN

    
                                 ______
                                 

 NOMINATION OF TAMARA WENDA ASHFORD TO BE A JUDGE OF THE UNITED STATES 
                 TAX COURT FOR A TERM OF FIFTEEN YEARS

    
                                 ______
                                 

 NOMINATION OF L. PAIGE MARVEL TO BE A JUDGE OF THE UNITED STATES TAX 
                   COURT FOR A TERM OF FIFTEEN YEARS

    
                                 ______
                                 

NOMINATION OF CARY DOUGLAS PUGH TO BE A JUDGE OF THE UNITED STATES TAX 
                   COURT FOR A TERM OF FIFTEEN YEARS

    
                                 ______
                                 

   NOMINATION OF RAMIN TOLOUI TO BE A DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY OF THE 
                                TREASURY

    

[[Page S6179]]

                                 ______
                                 

    NOMINATION OF LISA AFUA SERWAH MENSAH TO BE UNDER SECRETARY OF 
                   AGRICULTURE FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT

    
                                 ______
                                 

NOMINATION OF GEORGE ALBERT KROL, A CAREER MEMBER OF THE SENIOR FOREIGN 
 SERVICE, CLASS OF MINISTER-COUNSELOR, TO BE AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY 
AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC OF 
                               KAZAKHSTAN

    
                                 ______
                                 

  NOMINATION OF LUIS G. MORENO, A CAREER MEMBER OF THE SENIOR FOREIGN 
 SERVICE, CLASS OF MINISTER-COUNSELOR, TO BE AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY 
     AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO JAMAICA

    
                                 ______
                                 

NOMINATION OF DONALD LU, A CAREER MEMBER OF THE SENIOR FOREIGN SERVICE, 
    CLASS OF MINISTER-COUNSELOR, TO BE AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND 
  PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC OF 
                                ALBANIA

    
                                 ______
                                 

   NOMINATION OF BRENT ROBERT HARTLEY, A CAREER MEMBER OF THE SENIOR 
FOREIGN SERVICE, CLASS OF COUNSELOR, TO BE AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND 
  PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC OF 
                                SLOVENIA

    
                                 ______
                                 

        ROBERT M. SPEER TO BE AN ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE ARMY

  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Warren). Under the previous order, the 
Senate will consider the following nominations, which the clerk will 
report.
  The assistant bill clerk read the nominations of James D. Pettit, of 
Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of 
Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary 
of the United States of America to the Republic of Moldova; Pamela 
Leora Spratlen, of California, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign 
Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary 
and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of 
Uzbekistan; Tamara Wenda Ashford, of Virginia, to be a Judge of the 
United States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years; L. Paige Marvel, 
of Maryland, to be a Judge of the United States Tax Court for a term of 
fifteen years; Cary Douglas Pugh, of Virginia, to be a Judge of the 
United States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years; Ramin Toloui, of 
Iowa, to be a Deputy Under Secretary of the Treasury; Lisa Afua Serwah 
Mensah, of Maryland, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural 
Development; George Albert Krol, of New Jersey, a Career Member of the 
Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador 
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to 
the Republic of Kazakhstan; Luis G. Moreno, of Texas, a Career Member 
of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be 
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of 
America to Jamaica; Donald Lu, of California, a Career Member of the 
Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador 
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to 
the Republic of Albania; Brent Robert Hartley, of Oregon, a Career 
Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be 
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of 
America to the Republic of Slovenia; and Robert M. Speer, of Virginia, 
to be an Assistant Secretary of the Army.


                       Vote On Pettit Nomination

  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Warren). Under the previous order, there 
will be 2 minutes of debate prior to a vote on the Pettit nomination.
  Mr. MENENDEZ. I yield back all time on the nominations.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, all time is yielded back.
  The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination 
of James D. Pettit, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign 
Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary 
and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of 
Moldova?
  The nomination was confirmed.


                      Vote On Spratlen Nomination

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is, Will the Senate advise and 
consent to the nomination of Pamela Leora Spratlen, of California, a 
Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-
Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the 
United States of America to the Republic of Uzbekistan?
  The nomination was confirmed.


                       Vote On Ashford Nomination

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is, Will the Senate advise and 
consent to the nomination of Tamara Wenda Ashford, of Virginia, to be a 
Judge of the United States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years?
  The nomination was confirmed.


                       Vote On Marvel Nomination

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is, Will the Senate advise and 
consent to the nomination of L. Paige Marvel, of Maryland, to be a 
Judge of the United States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years?
  The nomination was confirmed.


                        Vote On Pugh Nomination

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is, Will the Senate advise and 
consent to the nomination of Cary Douglas Pugh, of Virginia, to be a 
Judge of the United States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years?
  The nomination was confirmed.


                       Vote On Toloui Nomination

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is, Will the Senate advise and 
consent to the nomination of Ramin Toloui, of Iowa, to be a Deputy 
Under Secretary of the Treasury?
  The nomination was confirmed.


                       Vote On Mensah Nomination

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is, Will the Senate advise and 
consent to the nomination of Lisa Afua Serwah Mensah, of Maryland, to 
be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development?
  The nomination was confirmed.


                        Vote On Krol Nomination

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is, Will the Senate advise and 
consent to the nomination of George Albert Krol, of New Jersey, a 
Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-
Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the 
United States of America to the Republic of Kazakhstan?
  The nomination was confirmed.


                       Vote On Moreno Nomination

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is, Will the Senate advise and 
consent to the nomination of Luis G. Moreno, of Texas, a Career Member 
of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be 
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of 
America to Jamaica?
  The nomination was confirmed.


                         Vote On Lu Nomination

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is, Will the Senate advise and 
consent to the nomination of Donald Lu, of California, a Career Member 
of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be 
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of 
America to the Republic of Albania?
  The nomination was confirmed.


                       Vote On Hartley Nomination

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is, Will the Senate advise and 
consent to the nomination of Brent Robert Hartley, of Oregon, a Career 
Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be 
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of 
America to the Republic of Slovenia?
  The nomination was confirmed.


                        Vote On Speer Nomination

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is, Will the Senate advise and 
consent to the nomination of Robert M. Speer, of Virginia, to be an 
Assistant Secretary of the Army?
  The nomination was confirmed.

[[Page S6180]]

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the motions to 
reconsider are considered made and laid upon the table, and the 
President will be immediately notified of the Senate's action.


                           MARVEL NOMINATION

  Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I would like to say a few words of 
congratulations to these nominees and particularly to Judge Paige 
Marvel, a great Marylander, on her reappointment to the Tax Court.
  As we know, the Tax Court serves a crucial role in this country's tax 
system. It is a highly specialized court that provides an important 
forum in which taxpayers can dispute determinations by the IRS. Tax 
Court judges have the difficult task of ably and fairly analyzing the 
highly technical legal issues that arise under our complex tax code.
  At the close of Judge Marvel's first term on the U.S. Tax Court, I 
was a strong supporter of her reappointment, and I am an equally strong 
supporter of her confirmation. Judge Marvel has served on the court 
with distinction, and it is in the best interests of this country to 
keep someone with her integrity and expertise on the Tax Court bench. 
This integrity and expertise was also apparent prior to Judge Marvel's 
assumption of her current office. I worked extensively with her on a 
variety of issues when I served in the Maryland General Assembly in 
Annapolis.
  My colleagues on the Finance Committee, including Chairman Wyden and 
Ranking Member Hatch, have worked hard and in a bipartisan manner to 
bring these nominations forward, for which I am grateful. And, I am 
extremely proud that a fellow Marylander has been nominated to continue 
the important work of fairly interpreting and applying our tax laws, 
which affect the lives of every American citizen and resident.

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