[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 62 (Thursday, April 7, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2094-S2095]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KAINE (for himself and Mr. Booker):
  S. 4025. A bill to require additional disclosures with respect to 
nominees to serve as chiefs of missions, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations.
  Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, the United States places special trust and 
confidence in the integrity, judgement, and abilities of those men and 
women chosen to represent the United States abroad as an Ambassador. 
The Constitution balances the President's need to have officials 
overseas able to execute U.S. foreign policy as directed by the 
President, with Congress' interest in ensuring that these officials 
will serve honorably and ably in the positions for which they are 
nominated. Apart from the Foreign Service Act of 1980, the Ambassador 
nomination process has changed very little since our Nation was 
founded. However, it is fair to say that Presidents of all parties have 
on occasion appointed individuals Ambassadors whose profiles indicate 
political closeness with the President more than deep substantive 
experience in a particular foreign country.
  Historically, the majority of Ambassadors are selected from the 
career ranks of the State Department. Roughly 30 percent of Ambassadors 
are typically selected outside of those ranks, including from among 
political supporters of the President. This is not categorically 
problematic--Ambassadors who are not professional diplomats have long 
served our country admirably, from Benjamin Franklin in France to 
former Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield in Japan. A foreign 
country may benefit from having a U.S. Ambassador who has a close 
relationship with the President and the

[[Page S2095]]

ability to elevate issues to the highest levels or the independent 
gravitas to bring substantial public attention to that country's needs. 
That said, I do believe it is appropriate to ask Presidents and their 
Secretaries of State to explain their rationale for choosing Ambassador 
nominees outside of the Foreign and Civil Services so that the public 
can understand the rationale for these appointments. This would give 
both the U.S. public and foreign publics the assurance that the White 
House is not merely doling out political sinecures but is devoting 
meaningful thought to these selections.
  The legislation I am introducing today with Senator Booker would not 
constrain the President's discretion to choose appointees but would 
require him or her to justify these selections and explain to Congress 
why someone from outside the State Department is the optimal choice to 
represent America's interests abroad. I am proud to introduce this bill 
to ensure that U.S. foreign policy and our national security interests 
are advanced by the most qualified Americans, and I look forward to 
working with my colleagues to ensure that this legislation is swiftly 
considered by the Senate.
                                 ______