[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 189 (Tuesday, December 6, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6977-S6978]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                 Nomination of Elizabeth Frawley Bagley

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today in support of a dedicated and 
well-qualified individual who has been nominated by President Biden to 
fill an increasingly important role. That person is Elizabeth Bagley, 
who has been nominated to be the U.S. Ambassador to Brazil.
  Elizabeth Bagley has been involved in public service for decades. 
Twenty-eight years ago, as a matter of fact, she appeared before the 
U.S. Senate, then being considered as President Clinton's nominee to be 
Ambassador to Portugal. She went on to serve in that role from 1994 to 
1997, which was a period of growth and positive development in this 
important bilateral relationship.
  For the service in Portugal, she received distinguished awards from 
the Portuguese Navy and Air Force as well as the Grand Cross of Prince 
Henry the Navigator, which is the President of Portugal's highest 
civilian commendation.
  She is also the recipient of the Global Democracy Award from the 
International Women's Democracy Center, the Ellis Island Medal of 
Honor, and the 2013 Secretary of State's Distinguished Honor Award.
  In 2013, she served as Alternative Representative of the United 
States to the United Nations, and prior to that was the first Special 
Representative to the Secretary of State for Global Partnerships.
  In her years of diplomatic service, she has also worked as a senior 
adviser to Secretaries Kerry, Clinton, and the late Madeleine Albright.
  President Biden has nominated her to an especially critical role, and 
that is to be our Nation's Ambassador to Brazil--the largest economy in 
South America, a country that is going through dramatic transitions 
right now. As a matter of fact, Brazil will be inaugurating its new 
President at the beginning of January. And I believe--frankly, it has 
been an embarrassment that we have gone almost 2 years without an 
Ambassador to Brazil--I believe it is critically important that 
Ambassador Bagley be in Brasilia, having been presented her credentials 
in time for the inauguration of the new Brazilian President.
  As a matter of fact, in terms of north-south relations, our relations 
with Brazil are as critical as virtually any nation in the Southern 
Hemisphere. We have got lots and lots of work to do on this important 
relationship, and it is important that we move forward.
  Originally, I was going to come down and ask UC to both have 
Elizabeth Bagley discharged from committee and also confirmed now on 
the floor. Working with my Republican friends, I appreciate the fact 
that I believe they are going to allow us to move forward on the 
discharge from committee but not move forward on Ms. Bagley's 
confirmation as Ambassador. I know there may be some holds on all 
north-south Ambassadors at this point, but I implore my colleagues on 
the other side of the aisle. This is a talented, well-suited, 
appropriately experienced individual. This relationship between the 
United States and Brazil is absolutely critical now perhaps more than 
ever, and I hope that we can find some level of accommodation to move 
past the action we take today and make sure that Elizabeth Bagley is 
confirmed as our country's Ambassador to Brazil so that she can be in 
Brasilia by the time the new administration in Brazil comes into power 
in early January under President Lula.
  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to support 
Elizabeth Bagley's nomination to serve as Ambassador Extraordinary and 
Plenipotentiary to the Federative Republic of Brazil.
  Elizabeth brings to this position significant experience in 
diplomacy, law, and foreign affairs. Over the course of her incredible 
career, she has served our country as Ambassador to Portugal, as a 
senior adviser to multiple Secretaries of State, and as congressional 
liaison to the Helsinki Accords and the Camp David Treaties.
  At the State Department, she was the first person to serve as the 
Special Representative for Global Partnerships, an office which worked 
to advance foreign policy priorities through private sector engagement. 
She has a background in international law and shared that expertise 
with the students at Georgetown University Law Center. Through her 
years advising key leaders like Madeleine Albright, Hillary Clinton, 
and John Kerry, Elizabeth gained the experience needed to represent our 
country on the world stage.

[[Page S6978]]

  We all know about the key role Ambassadors play in diplomacy. U.S. 
and broader democratic efforts suffer when we do not have an Ambassador 
in place--someone to officially represent the U.S. Government, to lead 
our Foreign Service Officers abroad, and to strengthen diplomatic ties 
with other nations.
  This is particularly true of Brazil, a country that is home to a U.S. 
Embassy, four consulates, a branch office, and decades of partnership. 
More than 40,000 students, teachers, and professionals have 
participated in exchanges between the United States and Brazil. The 
United States is Brazil's second largest trading partner, and our 
governments and law enforcement agencies work closely together to 
combat money laundering, arms trafficking, and human trafficking.
  To manage the many challenges facing the world today--food shortages 
from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, rising temperatures and extreme 
weather events, continuing recovery from the pandemic, and China's 
growing influence around the world, we need capable Ambassadors in 
place to share democratic values and secure America's place in the 
world. Time and time again, Elizabeth Bagley has proven herself to be 
the kind of leader who is up for the task.
  Don't take it just from me. Elizabeth has been awarded the Secretary 
of State's Distinguished Honor Award, given for those who have made 
significant contributions to the Agency's mission, and the Portuguese 
Government has conferred upon her the Grand Cross of Prince Henry the 
Navigator, Portugal's highest civilian honor.
  I am proud to say I will be voting for Elizabeth Bagley as Ambassador 
to Brazil, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

                          ____________________