[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 21, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S4907]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                      Nomination of Amanda Bennett

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam President, I rise today in support of Amanda 
Bennett to be the Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. State Agency for 
Global Media.
  When autocrats around the world have been cracking down on 
independent media; when regimes silence opposition with repression and 
fear; when they shut down the internet, as we have seen in countries 
like Cuba and Iran; when they actively target the United States and 
like-minded democratic nations with disinformation campaigns, it is 
critical for the United States to have a champion of democracy and free 
speech leading the U.S. Agency for Global Media, someone who can meet 
the challenge posed by the spread of digital authoritarianism around 
the world.
  Ms. Bennett is prepared to take on that task. She has over two 
decades of experience in journalism, including as the director of Voice 
of America. For 23 years, she worked at the Wall Street Journal, 
including as a correspondent in Beijing, where she came face-to-face 
with China's authoritarianism. She has seen how their state security 
forces watch and detain journalists to suppress the truth.
  As a former director of Voice of America, she understands the 
importance of the U.S. Agency for Global Media's networks and American 
public diplomacy efforts.
  Over the course of her career, she served on the boards of the 
Lenfest Institute and Committee to Protect Journalists.
  In short, Ms. Bennett is without a doubt the right person for this 
position. She will be a tireless advocate for the journalists working 
at USAGM and an effective steward of its operations. She will also be 
an invaluable ally to USAGM's independent partners, including Radio 
Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia. She will defend the 
importance of Radio and TV Marti. And she will be accountable to 
Congress in these efforts.
  It has been almost 2 years since the Agency has had a Senate-
confirmed CEO at the helm. It is in dire need of steady leadership that 
supports independent media.
  I enthusiastically support Ms. Bennett. I respectfully urge my 
colleagues to support her confirmation as well.


                       Treaty Document No. 117-1

  Madam President, finally, before I yield the floor, I would also like 
to celebrate the Senate's historic vote today to approve the Kigali 
Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.
  In approving the Kigali Amendment, the Senate took an important step 
that will have enormous economic and trade benefits for American 
manufacturing and jobs, but it was also the single most important 
climate action the Senate and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee 
have taken in more than 30 years. As wildfires ravage the West, 
hurricanes devastate Puerto Rico, and catastrophic flooding inundates 
the Midwest, strong action to fight climate change has never been more 
urgent.
  By voting for the Kigali Amendment today, we voted for maintaining a 
livable planet with clean water to drink. We voted for a stable food 
supply for all of humanity. We voted, in a strong bipartisan coalition, 
to keep American innovation and business at the forefront of the 
transition to clean energy.
  Finally, I want to express my gratitude for the support and 
cooperation of the Foreign Relations Committee's ranking member, the 
senior Senator from Idaho, Senator Risch. His partnership and the 
tireless efforts of his staff were essential in the Senate's success on 
Kigali.
  I want to thank my staff on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: 
Damian Murphy, staff director; Andrew Keller, chief counsel; Josh 
Klein; Josh Kretman; Julia Greensfelder; and Megan Bartley. They were 
essential in getting it to the committee and making us successful.
  I urge a positive vote.
  I yield the floor.