[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Pages 3858-3859]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           EXECUTIVE SESSION

                                 ______
                                 

 NOMINATION OF ROSE EILENE GOTTEMOELLER TO BE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE 
              FOR ARMS CONTROL AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senate will 
proceed to executive session to consider the following nomination, 
which the clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read the nomination of Rose Eilene 
Gottemoeller, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of State for Arms 
Control and International Security.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the time until 11:20 
a.m. will be equally divided between the majority leader and the 
Republican leader or their designees.
  The Senator from New Jersey.
  Mr. MENENDEZ. It is always good to see my distinguished colleague 
from New Jersey presiding before the Senate.
  I come to the floor to support the nomination of Rose Gottemoeller 
for Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International 
Security. She has been the Acting Under Secretary since February 2012. 
It has been 2 years now.
  She is a distinguished public servant who over her long career has 
played a vital role in addressing the critical proliferation challenges 
the United States faces. In my mind, it would be difficult to find a 
person more appropriate to take on the variety of new and old 
proliferation threats we face.
  Rose Gottemoeller was the chief U.S. negotiator of the New Strategic 
Arms Reduction Treaty with the Russian Federation. During the Clinton 
administration she served in the Department of Energy overseeing its 
nuclear proliferation portfolio. During the critical period of 1993 to 
1994, she was at the National Security Council overseeing the 
denuclearization of Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Belarus--a topic of some 
importance given the current crisis in the Ukraine.
  As we consider this nomination, it is worthwhile reviewing the array 
of issues and nonproliferation threats we face.
  In Syria, we are facing ridding the regime of its chemical weapons 
arsenal, seeking to keep the pressure on Assad to fulfill his 
commitments and verify that Syria is in full compliance with provisions 
to destroy its chemical weapons production, mixing, and filling. The 
United States, along with the rest of the international community, is 
engaged in the complex process to transport and safely destroy Syria's 
chemical weapons stockpile.
  Second, on the issue of Iran's nuclear program, we are entering a 
critical stage in negotiations. As I noted in remarks on the floor last 
month, we must, in my view, maintain the pressure on Iran to dismantle 
its nuclear weapons program. As part of our negotiations, we must 
insist on the most stringent measures to verify whether Iran is in 
compliance with agreements it has signed. We need to ensure that any 
final deal that might be signed can be precisely monitored, providing 
us a warning signal at the first hint that Iran is seeking to achieve 
nuclear breakout.
  Third, in terms of North Korea, the United States has stated that we 
will not accept North Korea as a nuclear weapons state, which would 
potentially unleash an arms race in the region and threaten our 
security and the security of our allies.
  Fourth, we have to maintain and sharpen our efforts to prevent 
terrorists from getting their hands on and/or using nuclear, chemical, 
or biological weapons.
  Finally, despite all of our recent difficulties with Russia, it is 
vital that we continue to implement and verify the arms control 
treaties we have with them, particularly the New START treaty. These 
treaties are not something we do as a favor to Russia; they are a vital 
measure for limiting the potential dangerous nuclear escalation that 
might occur in a crisis.
  For all of these reasons and many others, we need to confirm the 
nomination of Rose Gottemoeller so she can fully assume her new 
responsibilities as Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and 
International Security. She has all the authority necessary to 
represent U.S. security interests in the international community.
  Having said that, I know there are differences within the Senate 
about the question as to how we should approach nonproliferation 
issues, but regardless of those differences, I believe there are a 
number of issues on which we can all agree.
  We can all agree that we face a new and more complex set of 
proliferation threats--the threat of terrorists getting their hands on 
nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons, the danger of regional armed 
nuclear adversaries, such as North Korea and Iran, using their nuclear 
capabilities to blackmail our partners and allies.
  In response to these threats, we all agree we need a more modern and 
flexible nuclear enterprise and updated policies that can respond to 
these new threats as well as the old threats we face. I hope we can 
agree that we need to confirm this nominee to be in a position with 
authority to help update and implement those policies with the full 
authority of the position.
  What I would say to the Senate is that at the end of the day there 
are some who may disagree on verification and compliance procedures or 
on the nature of the modernization of our program, but we cannot 
disagree on the significance of the threats we face and the need to 
have a team in place tasked with representing our security interests at 
the highest national level.
  This is not a time to say no to confirming a qualified, experienced 
nonproliferation expert when so much is at stake in Syria, North Korea, 
and Iran, and negotiations with Russia--not when we imagine the 
consequences of what the spread of these weapons can bring. I urge my 
colleagues to confirm this nominee in the national security interest of 
the United States and look forward to a strong support of her 
nomination.
  With that, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. JOHANNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

[[Page 3859]]


  Mr. JOHANNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak up to 7 
minutes as if in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.


                          Tribute to Jim Young

  Mr. JOHANNS. Mr. President, I rise today with a heavy heart that I 
pay tribute to the life and legacy of a friend, Jim Young. Jim passed 
away on February 15 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. 
My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Shirley, his children, and 
his grandchildren during a very difficult time.
  Even as we mourn his passing, though, we celebrate his deep love for 
his family, his tremendous commitment to his community, and his 
impressive example of leadership. Jim's family, friends, coworkers, and 
admirers from across Nebraska and our great Nation are mourning the 
loss of a life defined by great service and great leadership. It is my 
privilege today on the floor of the Senate to honor his legacy.
  Jim knew the importance of hard work and commitment to purpose. That 
is how he climbed the ladder of success to become the president and 
chief executive officer and, later, chairman of the board of Union 
Pacific Corporation.
  Jimmy's integrity was unquestioned. He loved his work. He carried his 
enthusiasm beyond UP as he led the American Association of Railroads 
and other professional organizations.
  Jimmy's leadership spurred impressive reinvestment and growth in the 
railroad, but many would say his true accomplishment was his focus on a 
positive work environment and taking care of his coworkers. His concern 
for their well-being was genuine, and they knew it.
  It would be difficult to categorize Jimmy's greatest contributions 
because beyond his tremendous impact on UP and the rail industry, Jim 
did everything. He loved our great State. He loved his hometown of 
Omaha. He set a shining example of what it means to give back to the 
community.
  The list of boards on which he served and organizations for which he 
volunteered could literally fill a book. From the Greater Omaha Chamber 
of Commerce to the Joslyn Art Museum, from the University of Nebraska 
to the Salvation Army, Jimmy's commitment to serving and to improving 
the lives of others is just simply unmatched.
  He did not take for granted his success, and he dedicated time and 
attention to assisting those who had less--those with fewer resources. 
Evidence of his generosity can be found in all corners of the 
community. It would range from the Jim and Shirley Young Scholarship 
Program at Jimmy's alma mater, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, to 
his involvement in the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben and his service as a 
church elder and a youth sports coach.
  I am so confident I speak for all Nebraskans when I say we have lost 
a great leader and a community partner. I feel as though I have lost a 
friend.
  Jim gave of himself in all he did. From the boardroom to the 
ballfield, his presence is going to be so missed.
  It is my sincere hope that Jimmy's wife Shirley, his children and his 
grandchildren, find comfort knowing that so many lives were made better 
because of his efforts.
  Jim leaves a vibrant legacy of leading by example, inspiring others 
by believing in every single person's potential, and of dedicating both 
time and treasure to opening doors of opportunity for those who just 
needed a champion. It would be difficult to imagine a more meaningful 
life legacy.
  Mr. President, I thank the Chair. I yield the floor, and I note the 
absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  All time has expired.
  The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination 
of Rose Eilene Gottemoeller, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of 
State for Arms Control and International Security?
  Mr. BARRASSO. I ask for the yeas and nays.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
  There appears to be a sufficient second.
  The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk called the roll.
  The result was announced--yeas 58, nays 42, as follows:

                       [Rollcall Vote No. 58 Ex.]

                                YEAS--58

     Alexander
     Baldwin
     Begich
     Bennet
     Blumenthal
     Booker
     Boxer
     Brown
     Cantwell
     Cardin
     Carper
     Casey
     Collins
     Coons
     Corker
     Donnelly
     Durbin
     Feinstein
     Flake
     Franken
     Gillibrand
     Hagan
     Harkin
     Heinrich
     Hirono
     Isakson
     Johnson (SD)
     Kaine
     King
     Klobuchar
     Landrieu
     Leahy
     Levin
     Manchin
     Markey
     McCaskill
     Menendez
     Merkley
     Mikulski
     Murkowski
     Murphy
     Murray
     Nelson
     Pryor
     Reed
     Reid
     Rockefeller
     Sanders
     Schatz
     Schumer
     Shaheen
     Stabenow
     Udall (CO)
     Udall (NM)
     Warner
     Warren
     Whitehouse
     Wyden

                                NAYS--42

     Ayotte
     Barrasso
     Blunt
     Boozman
     Burr
     Chambliss
     Coats
     Coburn
     Cochran
     Cornyn
     Crapo
     Cruz
     Enzi
     Fischer
     Graham
     Grassley
     Hatch
     Heitkamp
     Heller
     Hoeven
     Inhofe
     Johanns
     Johnson (WI)
     Kirk
     Lee
     McCain
     McConnell
     Moran
     Paul
     Portman
     Risch
     Roberts
     Rubio
     Scott
     Sessions
     Shelby
     Tester
     Thune
     Toomey
     Vitter
     Walsh
     Wicker
  The nomination was confirmed.

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