Ranking Member Shaheen Opening Remarks at Nominations Hearing for Ambassadors to India, the Bahamas, Jordan and Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered opening remarks at a committee hearing on the nominations of Sergio Gor to be Ambassador to India, Herschel Walker to be Ambassador to the Bahamas, James Holtsnider to be Ambassador to Jordan and Andrew Veprek to be Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration. In her remarks, Ranking Member Shaheen underscored the Senate's duty to scrutinize nominees carefully and emphasized the stakes for U.S. diplomacy in regions where China and Russia are seeking to expand their influence.

You can watch her opening remarks here.

"Mr. Chairman, I appreciate that you have continued to push for more career nominees," said Ranking Member Shaheen. "I too, have been frustrated by the slow consideration of nominees. But I also believe that when a nominee requires further scrutiny-either for policy reasons or because of their backgrounds-that the Senate must do its job."

Ranking Member Shaheen then highlighted concerns about U.S. relations with India in light of their relationship with China and Russia.

"India is not only a major power in the region-its workforce will help drive the future of technology and economic growth," said Ranking Member Shaheen. "I was very concerned-as I am sure others on this Committee were-when I saw Prime Minister Modi standing alongside Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping at the summit in Beijing earlier this month. But I worry that meeting should not come as a surprise for those who have read the Committee's minority report, The Price of Retreat. China has been working diligently to capitalize on this moment of America's retreat. And pushing India into a closer relationship with China is a serious setback to U.S. interests."

Ranking Member Shaheen concluded her remarks by raising pressing questions for the nominees about their roles in countering global threats.

"Mr. Walker-if confirmed-you will serve as ambassador to the Bahamas," said Ranking Member Shaheen. "This nation is a close American neighbor off our coast of Florida and China has long sought to expand its influence there. I'd like to hear from you-what are your plans are to advance American interests in the Caribbean as China pushes deeper into the region?"

The Ranking Member's remarks, as delivered, are below.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Welcome to our nominees and to all your friends and families who are here with you today. Unfortunately, historically, both Republican and Democratic administrations have struggled with the Senate's slow confirmation process. Sometimes delays have been political. Other times they reflect legitimate concerns about the nominees themselves and their potential impact on American security.

Senator Risch and I spoke about the importance of advancing career nominees at our first business meeting of this Congress. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate that you have continued to push for more career nominees as part of that commitment. Thank you as well for agreeing to postpone consideration of the nominee for Kuwait as we wait for more information on his background.

All this is to say-I too, have been frustrated by the slow consideration of nominees. But I also believe that when a nominee requires further scrutiny-either for policy reasons or because of their backgrounds-that the Senate must do its job.

Now, the nominees before us today-like all of our nominees -require careful scrutiny. Take India, for example. Both Democratic and Republican administrations-including the last Trump Administration-have made serious investments in our relationship with India. India is not only a major power in the region-its workforce will help drive the future of technology and economic growth-and we heard both from the Chairman and Secretary Rubio how important that relationship is.

I was very concerned-as I am sure others on this Committee were-when I saw Prime Minister Modi standing alongside Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping at the summit in Beijing earlier this month. But I worry that meeting should not come as a surprise for those who have read the Committee's minority report, The Price of Retreat. China has been working diligently to capitalize on this moment of America's retreat. And pushing India into a closer relationship with China is a serious setback to U.S. interests.

Mr. Gor, you have been nominated to serve as ambassador to New Delhi. I hope you will speak about what you would do-if confirmed-to rebuild that critical U.S.-India relationship.

Mr. Walker­-if confirmed-you will serve as ambassador to the Bahamas. This nation is a close American neighbor off our coast of Florida and China has long sought to expand its influence there. I'd like to hear from you-what are your plans are to advance American interests in the Caribbean as China pushes deeper into the region?

Mr. Veprek, you have been nominated to be Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees and Migration. In the past this was a bureau that was focused on helping asylum seekers ranging from Russian journalists to Afghan women. Under President Trump, rather than supporting asylum seekers, the bureau, has to often, prioritized resettlement of-groups, like Afrikaners from South Africa. It is also supporting the Administration's efforts to deport people to countries where they have no ties-including to El Salvador, South Sudan or Rwanda. If confirmed-what will you do to ensure the U.S. is not sending people to places where they face torture, trafficking or sexual exploitation?

And finally, Mr. Holtsnider-if confirmed-you will serve as ambassador to Jordan. Jordan-as already has been outlined-is an important American partner in the Middle East. I was glad to visit last month-met with King Abudallah and saw some of the operations in Jordan that are very important to the United States. They work closely with the U.S. military and intelligence community and hosts thousands of Palestinian and Syrian refugees. I am pleased the Administration has nominated someone with experience and a long diplomatic career to this critical post.

So, I look forward to hearing from all of you. Thank you for your willingness to serve.

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