[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 2, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S485-S486]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              Nominations

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to voice my 
strong support for four highly qualified nominees whom we are soon to 
vote on: Dr. Amy Gutmann to be the U.S. Ambassador to Germany; Mr. 
Scott Nathan to be the Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. 
International Development Finance Corporation; Ms. Lisa Carty to be the 
U.S. Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council; 
and Ms. Chantale Wong to be the U.S. Director of the Asian Development 
Bank.
  They are all highly qualified. I will speak for a minute or two on 
Dr. Gutmann and Mr. Nathan, in particular.
  Our partnership with European allies is evermore critical as we 
attempt to deter further Russian escalation and aggressive behavior 
toward Ukraine. Germany is key to this effort--absolutely critical to 
the work we need to do to prevent Vladimir Putin from furthering his 
aims to reclaim a sphere of influence and destabilize Europe.
  So while it was beyond irresponsible for some of our Republican 
colleagues to bottle up Dr. Gutmann's nomination for months, I am 
pleased that we are close to getting a confirmed ambassador in Berlin; 
an ambassador who will help coordinate our joint efforts to

[[Page S486]]

stop a Russian invasion of Ukraine; an ambassador who will help repair 
the previous administration's damage to the U.S.-German relationship; 
and an ambassador who will represent the United States with great skill 
and determination.
  I would also note that Dr. Gutmann's personal and professional 
background are a compelling fit for this position and for this moment. 
As the daughter of a German Jewish refugee who fled the Nazis and as an 
academic who has devoted her career to advancing freedom and democracy, 
she is the right person for the job in a moment where anti-Semitism is 
on the rise and dictators and autocrats around the world are 
emboldened.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support Dr. Gutmann's nomination, and 
I look forward to her arrival in Berlin in short order.
  President Biden also made an excellent decision in nominating Scott 
Nathan to be the next Chief Executive Officer of the Development 
Finance Corporation.
  The DFC, as that entity is known, is a critical tool for improving 
economic development outcomes in developing countries, advancing U.S. 
economic competitiveness, and creating new opportunities in underserved 
countries and communities.
  And while the DFC is only 2 years old, its importance to the 
advancement of U.S. foreign policy and international development 
priorities cannot be overstated.
  Mr. Nathan will be able to draw on his leadership experience in both 
the private sector and in public service to ensure the DFC effectively 
leverages public-private partnerships and maximizes strategic 
development opportunities around the globe. He has the skills necessary 
to lead the Agency to be competitive with China's Belt and Road 
Initiative, to promote renewable energy development, and to support 
COVID-19 recovery, and, at the same time, to recognize and grapple with 
the complexity of these challenges.
  I strongly support confirming Mr. Nathan, and I am eager to work with 
him once confirmed.
  So all of these nominees deserve a positive, strong vote.
  With that, I yield the floor.

                          ____________________