Menendez Opening Remarks at Full Committee Nominations Hearing
WASHINGTON – SFRC Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today delivered the following opening statement as this morning’s full Committee hearing to consider the nomination of the Honorable Richard R. Verma to be Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources.
“In recent years, State personnel have encountered a series of mounting and complex challenges—from rebuilding morale after years of decimation, to navigating COVID at home and abroad, to responding to urgent crises around the world. And yet, day in and day out, our diplomatic corps works tirelessly, often around-the-clock, to protect Americans overseas, advance U.S. interests, and meet the challenges of the 21st century,” Chairman Menendez said. “We owe them the support, resources, and leadership they need to succeed .… The future of our foreign policy and national security depends on it.”
Chairman Menendez expressed his commitment to again shepherd through comprehensive legislation reaffirming the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s role in providing authorities, setting funding levels, and establishing objectives for State Department operations. This year’s initiative would build upon authorization legislation passed both in 2022 and 2021, which broke a near 20-year streak of authorization bills not being enacted.
“When our diplomacy succeeds, the United States succeeds. That’s why—for the last two years—this Committee has worked diligently to re-establish the once-common practice of enacting State Department authorization bills,” Chairman Menendez added. “I look forward to working with Senator Risch—and members on this Committee—to keep up that progress by passing State Authorization again this year and regularly going forward.”
Find a copy of the Chairman’s remarks as delivered below.
“This hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will come to order.
Today, we are considering one of the most critical positions at the Department of State.
Ambassador Verma, welcome and thank you –— you have served with great distinction, and we appreciate your willingness to return to public service.
I understand that Senator Cardin wants the privilege of introducing you to the Committee, so I will now recognize him for that purpose.
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Thank you, Senator Cardin for that glowing introduction.
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The Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources is key to a functioning Department and effective U.S. diplomacy worldwide.
And there are no shortage of challenges.
In recent years, State personnel have encountered a series of mounting and complex challenges—from rebuilding morale after years of decimation, to navigating COVID at home and abroad, to responding to urgent crises around the world. And yet, day in and day out, our diplomatic corps works tirelessly, often around-the-clock, to protect Americans overseas, advance U.S. interests, and meet the challenges of the 21st century.
We owe them the support, resources, and leadership they need to succeed.
Because when our diplomacy succeeds, the United States succeeds.
That’s why—for the last two years—this Committee has worked diligently to re-establish the once-common practice of enacting State Department authorization bills.
I am proud that this has been a robust bipartisan effort, and I appreciate the partnership and contributions of the Ranking Member. It speaks volumes about the value that this Committee places on the Department, its personnel, and the importance of U.S. diplomacy.
I hope that message is heard loud and clear.
I look forward to working with Senator Risch—and members on this Committee—to keep up that progress by passing State Authorization again this year and regularly going forward.
Ambassador Verma, if confirmed, I will look to you to partner with us in that effort because we need to make good on the promise of modernizing our premier American foreign policy institution.
That means recruiting from all across America, from the cities and coasts of New Jersey to the foothills in Idaho.
It means cultivating and retaining a diverse and expert workforce to harness our nation’s technological advances and keep pace with other countries.
It means making a career where you move your family from country to country work for spouses, partners, and children.
It means making sure our overseas footprint reflects the reality of the global challenges facing us today and in the years to come—not 50 years ago.
And it means focusing on how we promote and retain personnel, so we don’t lose talented individuals after years of investment.
Ambassador Verma, as a former Ambassador, Assistant Secretary at of State, and Senate staffer, you certainly have the experience to be successful in this position.
I know that you are up to the task. We need you to be.
More than a year ago, Secretary Blinken laid out his vision for what needs to happen to make sure that the State Department is equipped and agile enough to address the global challenges facing us.
And while there has been progress, I have yet to see the bold action that is needed: the hard decisions and the reorienting of resources to make sure that we are competing with China; the efforts needed to push back on malign actors in backyards around the world; and the strategic focus on diplomacy to strengthen relationships where we need them most for the next 10, 20, 50 years.
So, I look forward to hearing your plans for how we meet this moment, how we make good on the promise of truly modernizing the Department, and support our personnel, from DC to South Carolina, and from to Abuja to Beijing.
Given the challenges we are facing, from climate change, to China, to the war in Ukraine, to food insecurity and global migration, we need to get this right.
The future of our foreign policy and national security depends on it.
With that let me turn to my friend the Ranking Member for his remarks.”
Remarks have been edited lightly for clarity.
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