[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 9, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1562]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                    Nomination of L. Felice Gorordo

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I come to the floor today in support of 
Felice Gorordo, the nominee to be the U.S. Alternate Executive Director 
of the World Bank.
  At a time when China is increasingly willing to use its economic 
power to pressure other nations to do its bidding, when Latin America 
is trying to recover from the economic impact of the COVID pandemic, 
when Putin's war in Ukraine threatens the food supply of developing 
nations around the world, strong, dependable leadership at the World 
Bank has never been more important. And Felice Gorordo has the 
experience and vision the United States needs to tackle the challenges 
the World Bank faces today.
  His journey starts the way mine does. He is the son of Cuban exiles 
who fled dictatorship in their country. His parents came to the United 
States in search of the American dream. His dad was in law enforcement, 
and his mom was a teacher. From them, Felice learned the importance of 
public service.
  He will be a tireless advocate for the democratic values that our 
Nation and both of our families hold so dear, and he will succeed 
because of his commitment to helping others, which he has demonstrated 
throughout his life and career.
  Felice founded Raices de Esperanza, which means the ``roots of 
hope.'' It is a nonprofit that empowers young people in Cuba through 
technology and entrepreneurship. He also worked for both the Bush and 
Obama administrations in advancing the U.S.'s national interests--no 
matter which party was in the White House.
  He should be in this post because, in the wake of COVID, his 
understanding of finance, economic statecraft, and technology will help 
the United States and its like-minded partners make the concerted push 
to prevent economic collapse in the developing world.
  He should be in this post because we need to make sure that China 
doesn't continue getting away with their malign influence at the 
institutions that we, the United States, created to shape the 
international order.
  If confirmed to his post at the World Bank, Felice will advocate for 
our values. He will stand up for democracy and human rights. So I urge 
my colleagues to support the nomination of Felice Gorordo to the post 
of U.S. Alternate Executive Director for the World Bank.
  I yield the floor.

                          ____________________