Political Quotes

“let me now bring to the Chair's attention John Estrada to be our Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago. John Estrada has been waiting for confirmation on floor of the Senate for 217 days. The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean has been used as a way station for drug smugglers who are shipping their products to the United States, which has caused steadily increasing violence and drug activity. We all talk about the War on Drugs. We need a confirmed ambassador if we are going to have all hands on deck in our campaign to keep America safe. In 2015, the State Department gave the island nation the crime rating of ``critical.'' We need an American of impeccable standing who commands wide respect both here and in the United States and in Trinidad and Tobago itself to effectively represent our interests there. We are very fortunate that the President has nominated John Estrada, a leading business executive and a former 15th sergeant major of the Marine Corps. Mr. Estrada has a compelling American story. He was born in Trinidad and Tobago and immigrated to the United States when he was only 12 years of age. Mr. Estrada served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 34 years. In 2003 he was made sergeant major of the Marine Corps. I want to make sure my colleagues understand just what an honor that is. It is the ninth highest enlisted rank in the Marine Corps. The sergeant major is the senior enlisted adviser to the Commandant of the Marine Corps and a singular honor.…”