[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 7241-7242]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            BBG NOMINATIONS

  Mr. COBURN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have my letter 
to Mr. McConnell, dated April 28, 2010, concerning BBG nominations 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                                  U.S. Senate,

                                   Washington, DC, April 28, 2009.
     Hon. Mitch McConnell,
     Minority Leader, U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator McConnell: I am requesting that I be consulted 
     before the Senate enters into any unanimous consent 
     agreements regarding Presidential nominees to the 
     Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG). On April 13, 2010 the 
     Committee on Foreign Relations reported the following 
     nominations to the Senate: Walter Isaacson, of Louisiana, as 
     Chairman; Victor Ashe of Tennessee; Michael Lynton of 
     California; Susan McCue of Virginia; Dennis Mulhaupt of 
     California; and S. Enders Wimbush of Virginia.
       Additionally, the Committee on Foreign Relations is still 
     considering the nominations of Dana Perino of the District of 
     Columbia, and Michael Meehan of Virginia to the Broadcasting 
     Board of Governors. I request that I be consulted before the 
     Senate enters into any unanimous consent agreements for these 
     two nominations as well.
       I have had longstanding concerns regarding transparency and 
     effectiveness of our taxpayer funded international 
     broadcasting agencies under the purview of the Broadcasting 
     Board of Governors. In particular, I am troubled by the 
     operations and management of Voice of America (VOA) given 
     issues

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     raised by the media, Inspector General, and former employees 
     of VOA. Therefore, I have requested to meet with all the 
     prospective nominees to discuss these issues. The 
     Broadcasting Board of Governors performs a vital role 
     regarding oversight and management of our international 
     broadcasting. As the nation faces threats from the Middle 
     East and in fact throughout the world, transparent and 
     effective international broadcasting agencies are critical to 
     ensuring our international broadcasts are in fact fulfilling 
     the America's interests in securing peace for ourselves and 
     our allies.
       Again, thank you for protecting my rights on these 
     nominations.
           Sincerely,
                                              Tom A. Coburn, M.D.,
     U.S. Senator.

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