[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 80 (Wednesday, May 8, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S3591]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CONFIRMATION OF DONNA ANN WELTON

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I come to the floor today in strong 
support of the confirmation of Donna Ann Welton to be the United States 
Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. This is a country 
that earned independence after centuries of colonial rule under the 
Dutch and, then, Indonesian Governments. Today, we still see senior 
figures coming to power in Indonesia that could drag up the Timor-
Leste's painful past.
  From helping our Peace Corps volunteers working in the country, to 
being a partner in Timor-Leste's energy transition, we need an 
Ambassador working in our Embassy that will support the democratic 
ambitions of Asia's youngest country.
  Ms. Welton's experience and expertise means she is ready to hit the 
ground running. She recently served as Acting Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Programs and Operations in the Bureau of Political-
Military Affairs. Ms. Welton began her career with the United States 
Information Agency in the Republic of Korea and has served in 
Afghanistan and Finland. She is a career member of the Senior Foreign 
Service and someone who will stand up for human rights and advance good 
governance efforts in this important part of the world.
  I am pleased that my colleagues voted to confirm Ms. Welton to be 
Ambassador to Timor-Leste.

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