Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a business meeting during which members approved one piece of legislation, one treaty, 13 nominees, and nine Foreign Service Officer lists.
“I am glad that members of my committee came together today to debate a number of relevant and pressing foreign policy issues,” said Risch. “I am particularly pleased that we have reported the Treaty of Accession to NATO for North Macedonia out of our committee, and I look forward to considering the treaty in the full Senate in the coming months. Similarly, I am pleased to have committee approval of 13 of the president’s qualified nominees who are so badly needed in their roles, especially Ambassador Kelly Craft who we need in place at the UN. I expect we will see her pass the full Senate as early as next week.”
Full list of the legislation passed in the meeting is below, and will be available on foreign.senate.gov.
LEGISLATION:
S. 398, Saudi Arabia Accountability and Yemen Act of 2019
TREATIES:
Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on the Accession of the Republic of North Macedonia
NOMINATIONS:
Ms. Pamela Bates, of Virginia, to be Representative of the United States of America to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, with the rank of Ambassador
Mr. Jonathan R. Cohen, of California, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Arab Republic of Egypt
The Honorable Kelly Craft, of Kentucky, to be the Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, with the rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and the Representative of the United States of America in the Security Council of the United Nations and the Representative of the United States of America to the Sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations during her tenure of service as Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations
The Honorable Philip S. Goldberg, of the District of Columbia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Ambassador, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Colombia
Mr. Christopher Landau, of Maryland, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the United Mexican States
Ms. Jennifer D. Nordquist, of Virginia, to be United States Executive Director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for a term of two years
The Honorable Richard B. Norland, of Iowa, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Libya
Mr. John Rakolta, Jr., of Michigan, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the United Arab Emirates
Ms. Michelle A. Bekkering, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (Economic Policy, Economic Growth, Education, and Environment)
Mr. Richard K. Bell, of Pennsylvania, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire
Ms. Jessica E. Lapenn, of New York, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Representative of the United States of America to the African Union, with the rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
The Honorable Mary Beth Leonard, of Massachusetts, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Ms. Lana J. Marks, of Florida, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of South Africa
FSO LISTS:
Jennifer M. Adams, et al., dated April 10, 2019 (PN 605)
William S. Martin, dated April 10, 2019 (PN 608)
Christine Byrne, et al., dated April 10, 2019 (PN 609)
James J. Higgiston, et al., dated May 21, 2019 (PN 785)
Uchenna Nnayelugo Agu, et al., dated May 21, 2019 (PN787), as modified
Jennifer Ann Amos, et al., dated May 21, 2019 (PN 788), as modified
Allison Margaret Bartels, et al., dated May 21, 2019 (PN 789)
Vanessa L. Adams, et al., dated May 21, 2019 (PN 790)
Sonja Joy Anderson, et al., dated May 21, 2019 (PN 791)
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