WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor in advance of the final vote for U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) to be secretary of State. He made the following remarks:
“Mr. President, it is an honor to be here today to vote to confirm Trump’s first appointment, that being our colleague, Marco Rubio, to be the 72nd secretary of State of this great country.
“His nomination was voted positively and unanimously out of the Foreign Relations Committee just moments ago. Sixteen years ago, I came here and sat down in the Foreign Relations Committee and took a seat at the very end. That afternoon I got on the Intelligence Committee and took a seat at the very end. Two years later Marco came in and sat next to me. During that time, he and I have worked together a tremendous number of hours on many issues.
“We’re in a time when America faces threats from nearly every corner of the world. It’s no secret that hostile powers - from China to Russia, from North Korea to Iran – have formed an authoritarian axis bent on weakening the United States. We need a principled, action-oriented chief diplomat like Marco Rubio to take them on.
“Our challenges in the foreign relations and national security lanes are enormous and complicated. I can’t think of another person better equipped to tackle these issues than our colleague Marco Rubio. I would encourage anyone who wants a clear understanding of United States foreign policy to watch the recording of Marco Rubio’s nomination hearing before the Foreign Relations Committee last week. I would say to you his performance was flawless.
“Marco’s qualification and ability to stand in the shoes of Thomas Jefferson, our first secretary of State and the 70 who followed him, are unchallengeable.
“I urge you all to join me in voting for Marco Rubio.”
The final vote to confirm Rubio was 99-0.
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