[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 21, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S5001]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NOMINATION OF BONNIE D. JENKINS

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I rise today to express my support for 
the nomination of Bonnie Jenkins to be the next Under Secretary for 
Arms Control and International Security.
  The position for which Ambassador Jenkins has been nominated is one 
of the most vital senior security positions in the Department of State. 
This individual is responsible for overseeing nuclear policy and 
nonproliferation efforts, directing U.S. arms sales and security 
assistance policy, dealing with the legacies of unexploded munitions 
and landmines, and orchestrating global cooperation among both allies 
and adversaries on critical national security issues.
  As the United States is preparing for its first Strategic Stability 
Dialogue with Russia, which will occur later this month, it is 
absolutely critical we have a Senate-confirmed leader in the State 
Department to effectively compete with and confront Moscow's challenges 
to our national security. This meeting will set the tone for U.S. 
diplomatic efforts to limit Russia's nuclear arsenal, which is crucial 
at a time when we are also witnessing the initial stages of a major 
build-up of Chinese nuclear forces.
  I am pleased to be supporting Ambassador Jenkins's nomination for 
this position, and I am confident that her extensive experience in the 
State Department and her 22 years in the Air Force and Naval Reserves 
provide her with the type of background and knowledge required to meet 
the challenges that await her, if confirmed.
  During the Obama administration, Ambassador Jenkins' spearheaded 
efforts to fight nuclear terrorism. She helped coordinate four nuclear 
security summits which sought to persuade nations around the world to 
secure vulnerable nuclear material that might fall into the hands of 
dangerous actors.
  For over 20 years, she served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. 
Naval Reserves, retiring as a lieutenant commander. She also holds 
multiple degrees, including a Ph.D., a master of laws, a law degree, 
and a master in public administration.
  Outside of government she has consistently empowered voices rarely 
heard in national security debates, providing a different but important 
perspective on how the United States should tackle the threats we 
confront.
  The fact that Ambassador Jenkin's nomination, someone whose 
leadership is so essential to the State Department and to our national 
security, has languished on the Senate floor for 56 days is a travesty.
  I urge my colleagues to support her nomination and make sure that 
this critical national security position is filled without further 
delay.


                       Vote on Jenkins Nomination

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the question is, 
Will the Senate advise and consent to the Jenkins nomination?
  Mrs. MURRAY. I ask for the yeas and nays.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
  There appears to be a sufficient second.
  The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk called the roll.
  (Mr. BENNET assumed the Chair.)
  (Mr. HICKENLOOPER assumed the Chair.)
  (Ms. BALDWIN assumed the Chair.)
  The result was announced--yeas 52, nays 48, as follows:

                      [Rollcall Vote No. 275 Ex.]

                                YEAS--52

     Baldwin
     Bennet
     Blumenthal
     Booker
     Brown
     Cantwell
     Cardin
     Carper
     Casey
     Collins
     Coons
     Cortez Masto
     Duckworth
     Durbin
     Feinstein
     Gillibrand
     Hassan
     Heinrich
     Hickenlooper
     Hirono
     Kaine
     Kelly
     King
     Klobuchar
     Leahy
     Lujan
     Manchin
     Markey
     Menendez
     Merkley
     Murphy
     Murray
     Ossoff
     Padilla
     Paul
     Peters
     Reed
     Rosen
     Sanders
     Schatz
     Schumer
     Shaheen
     Sinema
     Smith
     Stabenow
     Tester
     Van Hollen
     Warner
     Warnock
     Warren
     Whitehouse
     Wyden

                                NAYS--48

     Barrasso
     Blackburn
     Blunt
     Boozman
     Braun
     Burr
     Capito
     Cassidy
     Cornyn
     Cotton
     Cramer
     Crapo
     Cruz
     Daines
     Ernst
     Fischer
     Graham
     Grassley
     Hagerty
     Hawley
     Hoeven
     Hyde-Smith
     Inhofe
     Johnson
     Kennedy
     Lankford
     Lee
     Lummis
     Marshall
     McConnell
     Moran
     Murkowski
     Portman
     Risch
     Romney
     Rounds
     Rubio
     Sasse
     Scott (FL)
     Scott (SC)
     Shelby
     Sullivan
     Thune
     Tillis
     Toomey
     Tuberville
     Wicker
     Young
  The nomination was confirmed.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the motion to 
reconsider is considered made and laid upon the table and the President 
will be immediately notified of the Senate's actions.

                          ____________________