Political Quotes

“Madam President, while we are waiting for colleagues to come and join us on the floor to speak about the nomination of Dr. Ernest Moniz to be Secretary for the Department of Energy, I thought I would take a few moments and fill in my colleagues about a meeting I just returned from in Kiruna, Sweden. This was the Arctic Council ministerial meeting. The Arctic Council is comprised of the eight Arctic nations, of which the United States is one by virtue of the State of Alaska, but not to diminish the fact that we truly are an Arctic nation, and our role as such, involved with other Arctic neighbors, is a growing role and a role the rest of the world is looking at with great interest and great anticipation as to how the United States is going to step forward into this important arena. This is the second Arctic Council meeting I have attended. I was in Nuuk, Greenland, with Secretary Clinton and Secretary Salazar 2 years ago. That was the first time the United States had sent a Cabinet member, sent the Secretary of State to the Arctic Council, and it caused great waves throughout the Arctic world and certainly gained the attention of nations around the world. The sentiment was the United States is finally stepping up, the United States is moving forward, recognizing its role as an Arctic nation. So it was exceedingly important that Secretary Kerry continued that good work of Secretary Clinton in leading the United States in its role at this ministerial meeting.…”