[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5164]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     NOMINATION OF ROBERTA JACOBSON

  Mr. FLAKE. Mr. President, it has been nearly 9 months since the 
United States had an ambassador to Mexico. The President's nominee to 
that post, Roberta Jacobson, is eminently qualified, as all of us know, 
to serve in that position. However, she has been waiting for the Senate 
to confirm her since the Foreign Relations Committee reported her 
nomination to the Senate in November of last year with a vote of 12 to 
7.
  Yesterday I took to the floor to talk about our important trade 
relationship with Mexico. That is not the only reason finalizing this 
nomination is so critical. The bilateral work on migration, security, 
and border issues of the United States and Mexico requires top-level 
leadership at our Embassy in Mexico City. It is critical for the United 
States to have an ambassador to ensure cooperation on border security 
issues and to identify threats to our national security.
  We continue to engage Mexico in disrupting organized criminal 
networks that facilitate human trafficking. According to Mexico's 
National Institute of Migration, Mexico apprehended more than 190,000 
migrants in 2015, including nearly 19,000 unaccompanied minors, 
children, better known as UACs. This is a significant increase from 
2014, when 127,000 migrants, including just over 11,000 UACs, were 
apprehended.
  It is clear these complex issues require top-level diplomacy, and we 
would benefit from an experienced leader who can navigate the nuances 
of these regional relations. In addition to these migration issues, the 
United States and Mexico need to address security challenges from 
transnational drug trafficking. As we hear all too often, we are 
witnessing an increase in heroin use leading to rising levels of 
violence and heroin-related deaths.
  While the United States and Mexico are cooperating on a strategy to 
fight heroin, this represents a priority that requires the leadership 
of an ambassador. We need someone in place as our top diplomat in 
Mexico with experience with Mexican security and with law and to engage 
the most senior Mexican Government officials on the narcotics issues.
  In addition, there are specific ongoing cases that necessitate having 
an ambassador in place to ensure that our Nation's interests are being 
represented. As I said yesterday, Mexico represents one of our most 
important bilateral relationships. It is clear the longer the United 
States goes without having an ambassador to Mexico, the greater our 
partnership will suffer.
  There is simply no reason to go any longer without an ambassador to 
Mexico when we have someone as qualified as Roberta Jacobson. I come 
with good news; that is, it is my understanding that a deal--an 
agreement--is in the works that will ultimately lead to the successful 
confirmation later this week. As such, I will not be making a unanimous 
consent request today, but I intend to come here as long as it takes, 
to keep up the pressure and to monitor this process, to ensure that it 
has a successful resolution.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. COONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Gardner). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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