[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 14212-14213]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       NOMINATION OF GAYLE SMITH

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, the goodwill and humanitarian efforts of the 
United States are needed all across the world. Victims of civil wars, 
disease outbreaks, and natural disasters depend on the aid and 
compassion of the American people. To our credit, we try our best to 
help as much as possible.
  Take one example. The Syrian refugee crisis is the worst humanitarian 
crisis since World War II. Four million Syrians are now refugees 
because of the country's civil war, and thousands and thousands are 
fleeing to any place they can go. Most of them are winding up in Europe 
to escape the violence.
  There are almost another 8 million who are internally displaced 
within war-ravaged Syria. A lot of them are in cities and can't go 
anyplace. If they try to leave, they get killed. Tragically, 5\1/2\ 
million of these poor individuals are children. The United States is 
trying to help. We are the single largest donor of humanitarian aid to 
the Syrian crisis. There is not a close second.
  The U.S. Agency for International Development, known as USAID, is one 
of the principal organizations by which the United States administers 
civilian

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foreign aid. This Agency plays an essential role in administering our 
Nation's foreign policy. Yet, while all these events continue to unfold 
before the world's eyes, Senate Republicans are blocking the next 
Administrator from taking her place.
  Gayle Smith was nominated by President Obama 5 months ago. We had 
hearings weeks and weeks ago--now into months. It was right to nominate 
her. She is an experienced leader in administering international 
humanitarian assistance and global development, serving on the National 
Security Council at the White House.
  During her time at the White House, Gayle Smith has worked on major 
typhoons in Asia, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, and ongoing 
conflicts in Syria and Iraq. She has extensive experience in African 
affairs, both from her time at the National Security Council and from 
her work as a journalist covering international affairs for more than 
two decades. During her time as a journalist, she spent time in active 
war zones and other conflicts.
  Gayle Smith's credentials are impeccable, and her hearing in the 
Foreign Relations Committee in June reflected that. In September she 
was voted out unanimously in a voice vote. Yet here we are post-June--
that is an understatement. Her nomination was reported favorably, and 
we still have no confirmed Administrator.
  With all the news accounts we watch every day of these thousands and 
thousands of lost people, the United States is being hampered in its 
ability to help because we don't have anyone running the Agency. It is 
just the latest example of Republican obstruction for obstruction's 
sake.
  According to the Congressional Research Service, the current 
Republican Congress has confirmed far fewer nominees than any Congress 
in memory. Why?
  What are Republicans accomplishing by preventing a qualified nominee 
such as Gayle Smith from leading the U.S. Agency for International 
Development? They are doing it, and in so doing they are undermining 
U.S. foreign policy. They are undoing decades of admirable American 
humanitarian efforts. But even more unsettling is that Republicans are 
impeding our ability to assist those around the world who need help.
  It is time for the Republican leader and his Senators to change 
course and stop this blockade of the President's nominations.
  I look forward to the Senate Republicans releasing their obstruction 
on the Gayle Smith nomination and working with Democrats to confirm her 
as the next Administrator of USAID immediately. All the Republican 
leader has to do is bring it to the floor. We will vote on it. If 
someone doesn't want to vote for her, don't vote for her. But it is 
really wrong to have our great country at a time of this huge 
humanitarian crisis having no one leading the Agency that does more to 
alleviate the problems these people face than anyone we have in our 
government.
  Would the chair announce the business of the day.

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