WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, released the following statement Thursday after the Senate voted to confirm Laura Holgate as U.S. Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency and the U.N. Vienna Office:
“I would like to congratulate Laura Holgate on her confirmation as Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency and the U.N. office in Vienna.
“For more than 27 years, Ms. Holgate has dedicated her career to the cause of reducing nuclear, biological, and chemical threats, and has served with both integrity and ability.
“Having this post filled with a highly qualified nominee has never been more critical.
“The position of U.S. Representative to the IAEA promotes and protects the national security interests of the United States. The IAEA responsibilities are greater today that at any point in its sixty year history. It already monitors the nuclear programs of over 1,200 nuclear facilities around the world to ensure these facilities are not used to produce nuclear weapons. In the coming years, the IAEA will be responsible for monitoring and verifying the nuclear agreement with Iran, confronting North Korea’s nuclear program, and dealing with variety of other non-proliferation threats.
“This position is also the U.S. Representative to multiple U.N. agencies as well as the IAEA, including the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the International Money Laundering Information Network, among many others.
“I know Ambassador Holgate will serve the United States well and with distinction in her new role.”
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