[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 9, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2487-S2488]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                      Nomination of Mike Huckabee

  Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, today, I urge my Senate colleagues to 
confirm Gov. Mike Huckabee's nomination to be the next U.S. Ambassador 
to Israel.
  I have had the privilege of knowing Mike, his wife Janet, and his 
children John Mark, David, and Sarah, for many years.
  Mike's exemplary character, steadfast faith, and lifetime of servant 
leadership make him the right choice to represent the President in 
Israel, particularly at this critical moment.
  A friend, patriot, and fellow Arkansan, Mike graduated from Ouachita 
Baptist University with a degree in religion before attending 
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
  As minister at Immanuel Baptist Church in Pine Bluff and, later, 
pastor at Beech Street Baptist Church in Texarkana, Mike led 
congregations toward Christ-centered lives of faith, service, and 
charity. Throughout his time in ministry and, later, as president of 
the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, Mike encouraged others to grow 
in their faith by dedicating himself to spreading the good news of the 
Gospel to all.
  For some unknown and largely inexplicable reason, Mike left the 
pulpit and entered politics. Mysterious are the ways of the Lord 
indeed.
  As Governor of Arkansas for more than a decade, Mike led the Natural 
State toward a stronger, more prosperous future by building coalitions 
and gathering support from both sides of the aisle. Governor Huckabee 
cut taxes, created jobs, improved infrastructure, reformed education, 
and improved healthcare for all Arkansans. Mike was a solution-
oriented, pragmatic leader who left a lasting legacy for generations of 
Arkansans and their families. Word on the street is he even

[[Page S2488]]

played some small part in inspiring our current Governor into public 
service.
  Now as the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike will lead and strengthen 
our important diplomatic relationship with Israel with courage and 
conviction.
  Upon selecting Mike for this critical role, President Trump said:

       Mike will work tirelessly to bring peace in the Middle 
     East.

  I couldn't agree more.
  Mike has been a lifelong friend of Israel's and an ardent supporter 
and defender of Israel's right to exist.
  In 1973, Mike made his first trip to Israel as a recent high school 
graduate. The experience of visiting the Biblical sites at the center 
of history had such a profound impact on 17-year-old Mike Huckabee that 
he would go on to lead tens of thousands of people on similarly life-
changing visits. Over the course of approximately 100 trips since 1981, 
Mike developed deep friendships with the people of Israel--Jewish, 
Muslim, and Christian alike.
  Mike spent his career leading fellow Christians on journeys of faith, 
Arkansans toward a brighter future, and pilgrims on voyages of 
discovery. I am confident that he will lead the United States' 
relationship with Israel on a path toward peace and prosperity for both 
of our peoples.
  I urge my Senate colleagues to support his nomination and approve his 
nomination swiftly.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Idaho.
  Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I have come here today in support of 
President Trump's nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Gov. Mike 
Huckabee, who was reported out of our Foreign Relations Committee 
recently.
  For years, the previous administration wrung its hands and withheld 
American support for Israel in the wake of the horrendous, awful 
October 7 terror attack by Hamas. Despite this, Israel had the courage 
to confront Iran, Hamas, and its other proxies, and it has decimated 
them.
  Now, thanks to President Trump's negotiations and Israel's courage, 
Iran is at its weakest point in decades and hostages are returning 
home.
  Israel is one of America's greatest allies, a bastion of freedom in 
the Middle East, and our closest partner in countering Iran's 
destabilizing efforts in the region.
  To execute on President Trump's ironclad support of Israel, we 
urgently need a qualified ambassador in the region. I have no doubt 
Governor Huckabee is that person, and he will work alongside President 
Trump and Secretary Rubio and our friends in Israel to bring peace to a 
turbulent region and ensure both American and Israeli hostages are 
brought home from the clutches of Hamas.
  The other countries in the region, our Arab allies, our Arab friends, 
are desperate to see peace in the region. They want it as badly as 
anyone else does.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support Governor Huckabee and to fill 
this important national security position.