[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 65 (Monday, April 23, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2337-S2338]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Nomination of Mike Pompeo

  Mr. President, this relates to Mike Pompeo, who is the nominee for 
Secretary of State. If there is one thing everyone in Washington seems 
to agree on these days--indeed, in our country--it is that we face very 
serious threats around the globe. From Russian aggression in Eastern 
Europe and Syria to China's expansion in the South China Sea, to Iran's 
increased threats against Israel, to a North Korean dictator who likes 
to fire off missiles and test nuclear weapons, to the collapse of 
Venezuela, to transnational criminal organizations contributing to the 
opioid epidemic at home, to trade issues, our country is facing big 
challenges. As we face these global threats, we need a well-qualified 
Secretary of State who understands diplomacy and is working to keep our 
country safe.
  It is hard to think of someone more qualified than Mike Pompeo. As 
Director of the CIA, a former Member of Congress, a top graduate of 
West Point, and editor of the Harvard Law Review, there are zero--I say 
zero--questions about his ability. That is what is troubling about our 
colleagues across the aisle who appear ready to oppose his nomination 
en masse for no other reason than that he is a Republican nominated by 
President Trump. It seems to be the latest example of Washington 
Democrats kowtowing to the so-called resistance movement, opposing 
anything and everything because they can't accept that Donald Trump was 
elected President of the United States.
  It used to be said that our partisan differences ended at the 
shoreline; that we presented a united face to the rest of the world. An 
extension of that is whom we select as Secretary of State. It is worth 
noting that the previous Secretaries of State appointed under President 
Obama had overwhelming

[[Page S2338]]

support, both from Democrats and Republicans, precisely because of the 
importance of having a Secretary of State in place in this challenging 
world but also, again, because partisan differences should not be 
reflected to the outside. In this case, that has been lost in the name 
of the resistance.
  When it comes to the critical position of Secretary of State, Mike 
Pompeo, in particular, would be the man for the job as we deal with 
Russia, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and other challenges. I urge my 
Democratic colleagues to do the right thing for our country instead of 
catering to the most extreme elements of their party.
  Most of my Senate colleagues supported Mike Pompeo when he was 
nominated to serve as CIA Director. They should support him now as 
Secretary of State so we can show the world that while we may have our 
political differences at home about any number of issues, we stand 
united as Americans when it comes to facing threats to our security 
abroad.
  I yield the floor.
  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. CASSIDY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Boozman). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.