[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 199 (Thursday, December 12, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7030-S7031]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 453--HONORING THE EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
 STATE AND THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND 
                           FOR OTHER PURPOSES

  Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Cardin, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Coons, Mr. 
Udall, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Markey, Mr. Merkley, and Mr. Booker) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 453

       Whereas more than 81,000 people serve as employees of the 
     Department of State and the United States Agency for 
     International Development, including locally employed staff, 
     protecting and advancing national security, freedom, 
     democracy, development, and free markets, for the benefit of 
     the people of the United States and the international 
     community;
       Whereas employees of the Department of State and the United 
     States Agency for International Development together 
     represent the United States in maintaining diplomatic 
     relations in over 250 posts in 180 countries around the 
     world, including in many inhospitable and dangerous regions;
       Whereas employees of the Department of State and the United 
     States Agency for International Development promote American 
     values and interests at home and abroad

[[Page S7031]]

     through their work and actions, promoting the safety and 
     freedom of all Americans;
       Whereas employees of the Department of State and the United 
     States Agency for International Development are a central 
     component of our defense against international terrorism and 
     the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction;
       Whereas employees of the Department of State and the United 
     States Agency for International Development work to preserve 
     peace and freedom and promote economic prosperity and mutual 
     understanding around the world;
       Whereas employees of the Department of State and the United 
     States Agency for International Development daily work to 
     reduce poverty, end hunger and malnutrition, fight disease, 
     combat international crime and illegal drugs, and address 
     environmental degradation;
       Whereas employees of the Department of State and the United 
     States Agency for International Development daily work to 
     promote economic development, commercial enterprises, 
     economic prosperity, and United States job and trade 
     promotion;
       Whereas employees of the Department of State and the United 
     States Agency for International Development daily work to 
     promote American ideals and values, human rights, freedom, 
     gender equality, and democracy;
       Whereas employees of the Department of State and the United 
     States Agency for International Development daily work to 
     provide emergency and humanitarian assistance aid to respond 
     to crises around the globe;
       Whereas there are almost 50,000 local employees at posts 
     that aid and support the work of the United States and the 
     Department of State around the world;
       Whereas at least 250 United States citizen employees, as 
     well as family members, and many more locally employed staff, 
     of the Department of State and the United States Agency for 
     International Development have made the ultimate sacrifice on 
     behalf of their Nation;
       Whereas employees of the Department of State and the United 
     States Agency for International Development personify the 
     virtues of patriotism, sacrifice, service, and duty;
       Whereas the families of employees of the Department of 
     State and the United States Agency for International 
     Development make important and significant sacrifices for the 
     United States;
       Whereas multiple career Foreign Service and civil service 
     employees of the Department of State upheld their oaths to 
     defend the Constitution, uphold the law, and provide 
     testimony in response to lawful subpoenas from congressional 
     oversight hearings, risking their careers and personal safety 
     for service to their nation;
       Whereas these courageous employees of the Department of 
     State, individuals who have served the Nation with 
     distinction and represent our Nation's finest, include 
     Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, a distinguished career public 
     servant who dedicated 33 years of her life as a Foreign 
     Service Officer; Ambassador William Taylor, a diplomat who 
     started his 50-year public service as a West Point cadet and 
     served in every Administration since 1985; George Kent a 
     career foreign service officer with multiple postings 
     throughout the Department since 1992; Jennifer Williams, a 
     13-year veteran of the Foreign Service who has served 
     overseas in Beirut and Jamaica, managed the United States 
     Government's humanitarian assistance program for Syrian 
     refugees from 2011 to 2014, and, most recently, has served as 
     the Vice President's assistant on European and Russian 
     affairs since April 2019; Ambassador David Hale, who has 
     served around the world for more than three decades with the 
     Department, including as Ambassador to Pakistan, Lebanon and 
     Jordan, and in his current role as Under Secretary of State 
     for Political Affairs; David Holmes, who joined the foreign 
     service in 2002 and was awarded the William Rivkin award for 
     Constructive Dissent in 2014; Peter Michael McKinley, whose 
     career in the foreign service spanned more than 35 years and 
     included service as ambassador to Peru, Colombia, Afghanistan 
     and Brazil, and Senior Adviser to Secretary Mike Pompeo; 
     Philip Reeker, a 27-year veteran of the foreign service, 
     including as acting assistant secretary of the Bureau of 
     European and Eurasian Affairs; Catherine M. Croft, who has 
     served as a special advisor for Ukraine in the State 
     Department and on the National Security Council staff; and 
     Christopher Anderson, a foreign service officer since 2005, 
     who served at the United States Embassy in Kyiv from 2014 to 
     2017 and as the special adviser for Ukraine negotiations from 
     August 2017 to July 2019; and
       Whereas the Department of State has represented to Congress 
     that ``no employee has faced any adverse action by the 
     Department for testimony before Congress'' and committed that 
     ``the Department will not discipline any Department employee 
     for appearing before Congress in response to a subpoena'': 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) honors the employees of the Department of State and the 
     United States Agency for International Development;
       (2) calls on the people of the United States to reflect on 
     the service and sacrifice of employees of the Department of 
     State and the United States Agency for International 
     Development, wherever they serve, past, present, and future;
       (3) thanks the local employees for their aid and support in 
     the mission of the Department of State and the United States 
     Agency for International Development;
       (4) expresses the deep appreciation of a grateful Nation to 
     the employees of the Department of State and the United 
     States Agency for International Development who each and 
     every day courageously and publicly stand up for their 
     country and defend the Constitution, including those who have 
     provided testimony to Congress in response to lawful 
     subpoenas;
       (5) urges the Department to fully and faithfully implement 
     all its stated commitment to assist employees called to 
     testify before Congress with the cost of legal fees; and
       (6) calls on the Department to ensure that no personnel 
     will face any retaliatory action, adverse personnel action, 
     or other negative consequence for testifying or providing 
     requested information to Congress, and emphasizes that any 
     reprisal for testifying before Congress would be a violation 
     of law.

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