[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 163 (Monday, September 21, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H4549]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONFIRMING JULIE FISHER TO BE AMBASSADOR TO REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

  (Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Madam Speaker, Ms. Julie Fisher is our nominee to be the 
U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Belarus. A confirmation vote is 
scheduled for tomorrow in the committee. Once confirmed, she leaves for 
her post. Upon arrival, she is to present her credentials to the duly 
elected President of the Republic of Belarus.
  Today, I am calling upon President Trump and Secretary of State Mike 
Pompeo to ensure that these credentials be presented to the duly 
elected President of the Republic of Belarus, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.
  A republic is a government having a chief of state who is not a 
monarch or a dictator and who, in modern times, is a president duly 
elected by the people. Svetlana clearly won the election, and her 
massive support continues to show itself by the peaceful protests 
numbering over 100,000 citizens.
  Another option would be for her to present her credentials to the 
governing council, which will help transition the country to fair and 
free elections within 6 months.
  Madam Speaker, I call upon all of our democratic allies to do the 
same.

                          ____________________