[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 14 (Monday, January 25, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S128]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   NOMINATION OF ANTONY JOHN BLINKEN

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, I rise to speak in support of Tony 
Blinken's nomination to be Secretary of State.
  I support Tony for Secretary of State for three key reasons. First, 
he has the diplomatic skills that our country needs at this pivotal 
moment to regain our leadership on the world stage. From 2015 to 2017, 
he served as Deputy Secretary of State, the Nation's second highest 
ranking diplomat. In that position, he helped lead U.S. efforts to 
combat terrorism, address rising concerns in Asia, and respond to 
Russian regional aggression. He is a crisis-tested leader who will hit 
the ground running at the State Department with critical knowledge and 
relationships with leaders worldwide.
  Second, Tony has a longstanding and trusted personal relationship 
with President Biden that will enable him to advise the President on 
key foreign policy issues. During President Obama's first term in 
office, he was National Security Advisor to then-Vice President Biden. 
Previously, Tony served as the Democratic staff director for the Senate 
Foreign Relations Committee for 6 years when then-Senator Biden was 
committee chairman. It is because of his relationship with President 
Biden and his career as a public servant that Tony understands that the 
job of Secretary of State is not just to serve the American people, but 
to help improve the lives of people struggling all over the world.
  Last but certainly not least, Tony has the experience of serving at 
the State Department that will help him rebuild the Department, 
recruiting needed Foreign Service Officers and civilians, ensuring 
State personnel have the training they need to be effective in their 
mission, restoring morale throughout the Department, and empowering our 
diplomats to speak on behalf of him and President Biden.
  Tony will help our country repair the damage of the last 4 years and 
restore the United States as a leader and trusted ally. I look forward 
to working with him to advance our mutual objectives of promoting peace 
and security, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of his 
confirmation.
  Thank you.

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