[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 18654-18656]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           EXECUTIVE SESSION

                                 ______
                                 

                           EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senate will now 
proceed to executive session to consider the following nomination, 
which the clerk will report.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read the nomination of Gayle 
Smith, of Ohio, to be Administrator of the United States Agency for 
International Development.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, there will now be 30 
minutes of debate, equally divided in the usual form.
  Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, 2 months ago I came to the Senate floor 
to urge the majority leader to schedule a vote on the nomination of 
Gayle Smith to serve as Administrator of the U.S. Agency for 
International Development, also known as USAID. Here we are, 7 months 
after the President nominated her to fill this position. The Senate 
will have a chance in a few minutes to vote on Gayle Smith's nomination 
to head USAID.
  I fully expect that today's vote will lead to her confirmation. We 
are witnessing a humanitarian crisis in Syria and across the Middle 
East that grows worse by the day, posing a risk to European stability 
and cohesion. Having someone at the head of USAID is absolutely 
critical. The United States, with our unparalleled capacity to mobilize 
international support for humanitarian relief, should continue to play 
a leading role in assisting both Syrian refugees and the neighboring 
countries that are hosting them.
  Having an effective leader such as Gayle Smith at USAID is a critical 
part of that effort. Last month I had the opportunity to lead a 
delegation of three other Senators to Greece and Germany. Senator 
Durbin, Senator Warren, Senator Klobuchar, and I all went to see 
firsthand the plight of refugees from the war in Syria and the 
incredible burden that both Greece and Germany are under as a result of 
these unprecedented refugee flows.
  Many of us--and we heard this when we were in Greece--believed that 
the rate of refugee arrivals would slow with the coming of cold 
weather. In fact, the exact opposite has happened, and the humanitarian 
situation has only become worse.
  Of course, USAID's work is not only limited to the situation in 
Syria; it extends to the 60 countries and regional USAID missions 
around the world, including in Afghanistan, where USAID development 
work is critical to the long-term success and security of that country.
  I am relieved that we are finally going to get to vote on Gayle Smith 
and that the majority has overcome the objections of the one Member 
who,

[[Page 18655]]

for the last 7 months, has been holding up her nomination. That Member 
was willing to put at risk the massive investment of resources the 
United States has made in Afghanistan and other parts of the world just 
to score political points on an issue that was completely outside of 
Gayle Smith's portfolio at USAID.
  As things have moved on Gayle Smith, I am hoping this type of 
obstruction is going to end, and we will soon vote not only on Ms. 
Smith's nomination but also to confirm other critical national security 
nominees, especially the pending Foreign Service nominations that have 
been approved by the Foreign Relations Committee and that could be 
voted on by the full Senate today.
  For example, in May the President nominated Tom Melia to be Assistant 
Administrator for USAID for Europe and Eurasia. This is a critical 
position not only because of the development work but because these are 
two regions that are under extreme pressure from Vladimir Putin. These 
regions would both benefit from USAID programs that would bolster their 
ability to act independently of Russian influence. Tom Melia is still 
unconfirmed, despite the fact that the Foreign Relations Committee 
approved his nomination in July. In addition, the nominee to serve as 
U.S. Ambassador to Sweden has been pending for over a year. Sweden has 
become a much more critical ally in terms of the refugee issue that 
Europe is facing. The nominee to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Norway--
again another critical ally--has been pending since May. The nominee to 
serve as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, a critical post for the United 
States, one of our neighbors and main allies in this hemisphere--these 
have all been pending since June.
  At a time when the world is facing national security challenges on a 
number of fronts and nations are looking to the United States for 
leadership, we cannot afford to sideline ourselves by failing to 
confirm nominees for these diplomatic posts.
  I recognize Senator Corker, the chairman of the Senate Foreign 
Relations Committee as well as his Democratic counterpart, Senator 
Cardin, who have worked very hard to secure the confirmation vote for 
Gayle Smith to serve as Administrator for USAID. I know we are working 
hard to get these other nominees to the floor, but at a time when our 
leadership is so important, when there are so many challenges facing us 
around the world, to fail to have those key spokespeople for the United 
States in positions of so many critical situations is unacceptable. We 
need to move these nominees. We need to continue the work of U.S. 
foreign policy.
  I am sure we will have a very broad bipartisan vote in support of 
Gayle Smith. What is unfortunate is that we couldn't have done it 7 
months ago when she passed through the committee.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maryland.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, first I thank Senator Shaheen for her 
leadership on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and for her 
leadership with regard to the nomination of Gayle Smith to be the 
Administrator of USAID.
  This is the U.S. Agency for International Development. I mention that 
because we are talking about a national security position. Our national 
security depends on having a strong military, but it also depends upon 
having a strong position in international development assistance in 
dealing with our diplomacy. The director of USAID is a critical member 
of our national security team.
  We couldn't have a stronger person for that position than Gayle 
Smith. I wholeheartedly support her confirmation.
  I thank Senator Corker, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations 
Committee, for the manner in which this nomination has been brought 
forward. He has been a strong proponent of Gayle Smith, and I thank him 
very much for his help in getting this nomination to the floor.
  I said that I couldn't find a stronger person to fill this position. 
She is currently a Special Assistant to the President and Senior 
Director at the National Security Council, where she is responsible for 
global development, democracy, and humanitarian assistance issues. She 
was previously a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, 
cochair of the Enough Project, and the cofounder of the Modernizing 
Foreign Assistance Network. During the Clinton administration, Gayle 
Smith served as the Special Assistant to the President and Senior 
Director for African Affairs at the NSC, so she has broad experience 
over a long career in Foreign Service and in serving in regard to 
development assistance issues.
  For over 37 years of her professional career she has served in Egypt, 
Sudan, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. She has worked as a journalist and as a 
consultant to aid groups. She has worked as a senior adviser to the 
Administrator and Chief of Staff for USAID/East Africa. She has served 
twice on the National Security Council as Special Assistant to the 
President. She has been hailed as a strong and effective advocate on 
global development issues. She was voted out of the Senate Foreign 
Relations Committee, on which I serve as a ranking member, by a 
unanimous vote. I am very pleased that we are now able to vote tonight 
for her confirmation to be the Administrator of the USAID.
  I have already pointed out that this is a position critically 
important to our national security, but let me also point out that the 
world is facing a host of humanitarian crises--including food 
insecurity and displacement in Syria, the Europe migration crisis, the 
Rohingya refugee crisis of Southeast Asia, and the millions of people 
who are displaced and starving in South Sudan, which require American 
leadership and assistance.
  Growing humanitarian needs worldwide are outstripping available 
resources. The Administrator of USAID is a key leadership post in the 
effort of the United States to shape the world's reaction to crisis and 
instability.
  I would go into a bit of detail on just one of the crises that the 
Administrator of USAID faces so that everyone can truly understand the 
scale we are talking about. As a result of the war in South Sudan, 1.5 
million people are internally displaced. More than 730,000 have crossed 
borders into Sudan, Ethiopia, and Uganda as refugees. The number of 
people facing severe food insecurity has almost doubled since the start 
of the year, from 2.5 million to an estimated 4.6 million people, 
including approximately 874,000 children under the age of 5. This is 
just one example and I could give you many more examples why it is 
critically important that we have a confirmed Administrator for USAID.
  Gayle Smith is the right person for the right time to serve our 
country. I encourage my colleagues to support her nomination. This is a 
person who will serve our country, continue to serve our country well, 
and I am proud to support her.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of Calendar Nos. 387, 388, 390, 391, and 
all nominations on the Secretary's desk in the Air Force, Army, and 
Navy; that the nominations be confirmed en bloc and the motions to 
reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no 
intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order; that 
any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record; and 
that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The nominations considered and confirmed en bloc are as follows:


                              coast guard

       The following named officers for appointment in the grade 
     indicated to the United

[[Page 18656]]

     States Coast Guard under title 14, U.S.C., section 271(d):

                           To be rear admiral

     Peter J. Brown
     Scott A. Buschman
     Michael F. McAllister
     June E. Ryan
     Joseph M. Vojvodich


                               air force

       The following Air National Guard of the United States 
     officer for appointment in the Reserve of the Air Force to 
     the grade indicated under title 10, U.S.C., sections 12203 
     and 12212:

                        To be brigadier general

     Col. Robert J. Becklund


                                  army

       The following named officer for appointment in the Reserve 
     of the Army to the grade indicated under title 10, U.S.C., 
     section 12203:

                          To be major general

     Brig. Gen. Arlen R. Royalty


                                  navy

       The following named officer for appointment in the United 
     States Navy to the grade indicated under title 10, U.S.C., 
     section 624:

                    To be rear admiral (lower half)

     Capt. Michelle C. Skubic

               Nominations Placed on the Secretary's Desk


                               air force

       PN807 AIR FORCE nominations (4) beginning DONNETTE A. BOYD, 
     and ending PAUL D. SUTTER, which nominations were received by 
     the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of 
     September 9, 2015.
       PN810 AIR FORCE nominations (37) beginning MARIA J. 
     BELMONTE, and ending DEVERIL A. WINT, which nominations were 
     received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional 
     Record of September 9, 2015.
       PN923 AIR FORCE nomination of Alan D. Murdock, which was 
     received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional 
     Record of October 28, 2015.


                                  army

       PN856 ARMY nomination of David M. Jackson, which was 
     received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional 
     Record of September 16, 2015.
       PN905 ARMY nomination of Tarnjit S. Saini, which was 
     received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional 
     Record of October 8, 2015.
       PN924 ARMY nominations (16) beginning OLGA M. ANDERSON, and 
     ending ERIC W. YOUNG, which nominations were received by the 
     Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of October 
     28, 2015.
       PN925 ARMY nominations (17) beginning JIMMY C. DAVIS, JR., 
     and ending ROBERT E. WICHMAN, which nominations were received 
     by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of 
     October 28, 2015.
       PN926 ARMY nomination of Spencer T. Price, which was 
     received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional 
     Record of October 28, 2015.


                                  navy

       PN907 NAVY nomination of Jessica L. Morera, which was 
     received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional 
     Record of October 8, 2015.
       PN908 NAVY nomination of Kari J. Tereick, which was 
     received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional 
     Record of October 8, 2015.
       PN928 NAVY nominations (52) beginning JOSHUA C. ANDRES, and 
     ending BETHANY R. ZMITROVICH, which nominations were received 
     by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of 
     October 28, 2015.
       PN929 NAVY nomination of Calvin M. Foster, which was 
     received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional 
     Record of October 28, 2015.
       PN930 NAVY nomination of Tara A. Feher, which was received 
     by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of 
     October 28, 2015.

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