[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 8, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E194-E195]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE DEPARTURE OF AMBASSADOR ARTHUR SINODINOS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 8, 2023

  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the occasion of the 
departure of a true friend to the United States, the Honorable

[[Page E195]]

Australian Ambassador Arthur Sinodinos. On March 18, 2023, Mr. 
Sinodinos is to step down as Australian Ambassador to the United States 
after more than three years of service in this role. He has been an 
extraordinary public servant who has strengthened the bridge between 
the United States and our Indo-Pacific ally through 2 U.S. 
administrations and a global pandemic.
  Mr. Sinodinos history in public service extends far beyond his time 
as Australian Ambassador. Upon his graduation from the University of 
New Castle in 1979, he immediately picked up work in the federal civil 
service of the Albanese government, transitioning between rising roles 
in both the Department of Finance and Treasury. Throughout these years, 
Mr. Sinodinos had proven his skill in both policy and process, and he 
ultimately joined the Howard Administration as Chief of Staff upon 
Prime Minister John Howard's election in 1996. Notably, Mr. Sinodinos 
worked as the senior advisor to the leader of Australia's Liberal Party 
near through to the conclusion of Prime Minister Howard's tenure, 
leaving the government in 2006.
  After a brief stint in the private sector, Mr. Sinodinos joined the 
Australian Senate in 2011, representing his home state of New South 
Wales. He earned reelection to the Senate in 2013, and worked in 
several cabinet positions throughout this tenure of public service 
including Minister of Industry, Innovation and Science. Though he was 
one of the stronger voices in the Liberal Party, Mr. Sinodinos 
maintained a respected reputation across both sides of the aisle until 
his time in the Senate ended in 2019.
  That brings us to 2020, Mr. Speaker, when Mr. Sinodinos was appointed 
to the position of Australian Ambassador. With more than 4 decades of 
experience advancing the interests of the Australian people, a more 
suitable person could not have been chosen to strengthen the already 
immense partnership formed between our 2 democratic nations.
  As co-chair of the Friends of Australia Caucus, Chairman and more 
recently Ranking Member of the Seapower and Projection Forces 
Subcommittee, I have had the opportunity to work closely with 
Ambassador Sinodinos on a number of bilateral priorities, including 
leading a bipartisan group of members to advocate for closer digital 
trade partnerships between the United States and Australia.
  Our degree of coordination exploded into a new era in 2021, with the 
joint announcement of the Australia-United Kingdom-United States 
(AUKUS) alliance, geared toward ensuring security and the rule of law 
in the Indo-Pacific region. Upon the formation of this alliance, here 
in Congress we also established the bipartisan AUKUS Working Group to 
highlight legislative opportunities that will prioritize the efficacy 
of the alignment. Ambassador Sinodinos has been a tenacious advocate 
throughout each of our endeavors together, and was tremendous in 
supporting our legislative priorities on AUKUS including the first ever 
legislative action to allow Australian submariners to attend Nuclear 
Power School in the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, Ambassador Sinodinos' presence in the United States has 
been a testament to the unique bond between our nation and Australia. 
It will be absolutely critical that those who follow in his footsteps 
engage with the same degree of sincerity and hard work. As Mr. 
Sinodinos, his wife, Elizabeth, and their three children embark on the 
next chapter of their lives, I ask that my colleagues in the House join 
me in thanking them for their long line of service.

                          ____________________